Watch Kids' Reviews of
UPTON CHARLES-DOG DETECTIVE: MISSING MAP

Missing Map from the Upton Charles-Dog Detective series is an enjoyable read. The story is told from the perspective of a dog and we read his thoughts and ideas. It makes one wonder if dogs know more than you think and, if only they could speak, would you be amazed. My favorite part of the book is when he proves the librarian wrong by solving a mystery.

The Missing Map follows a dog names Upton on his journey to recover the Waldorf Map. Along the way he encounters many clues while sniffing around a librarian's van. He gets help from his cat friend and his Great Dane friend and faces a few challenges from a doubting librarian. Will the clues lead to the map or will he have to start back at Square One? The story, told from the perspective of a dog, sparks the imagination. The vocabulary is easy to understand. The drawings make a fun addition.

Told in Upton's voice, this story is easy to follow, engaging, and appeals to the imaginative child. The storyline flows well. The story happens over the course of a few hours, which keeps the reader on their toes. It holds your interest from start to finish, because there are constantly new clues and hints to solving the mystery. The story is entirely fictional. It portrays very positive interactions with a specific focus on the interaction between humans and animals. Everyone is treated with respect except for the potential antagonist -- the librarian. She is sometimes mean to the protagonist because she does not believe in him. Problem-solving is central to the story. There are many things that go wrong and the clues don't always lead you in the right direction. They are developed in a very age-appropriate way. The vocabulary and concepts are very suitable for its audience. While some words might be harder for kids under the age of eight, they can still understand the story from the context. For example, the word surreal is used, which is not a common word for younger children. The cover is very detailed and has a good image of the dog, the protagonist. Each chapter has an image that helps you visualize the scenery and location where that chapter takes place. This book will encourage kids to read because it is engaging, fun and entertaining.

This book might encourage children to think about animals or pets and wonder whether they have deeper thoughts.

I give Missing Map: Upton Charles-Dog Detective 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 9. It is available online where books are sold.

By Nyara A., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

Missing Map (Upton Charles-Dog Detective Series) is a detective story with an interesting twist - the detective is a dog. I recommend this book to people who admire this kind of tale. My favorite part is when they all decide to go to the autumn festival. It reminds me of festivals from other cultures.

The book tells the story of a dog and a cat that go out with their owners to an autumn festival and meet a policeman who discusses a case where a very famous painting has been stolen from the neighborhood library and they get involved in the case and solve the mystery. The book is full of life lessons, has a good mystery, and is enjoyable to read.

The storyline develops very well. I looked forward to discovering who stole the painting and the story kept me interested through to the end. It refers to historical places, which connect the story point to point. In the course of the story, they show and talk to different characters, and the dialogue is very intelligent. Problem-solving is built into the plot. The vocabulary suits the target audience. This is an E-book. It is easy to access and fast. You can easily continue where you left off. Kids will enjoy the characters, especially the dog who is very attractive.

The message is that what you love, money can't buy. It also emphasizes how helping people is an act of kindness.

I give Missing Map (Upton Charles-Dog Detective Series 4.5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18. It is available online wherever books are sold.

By Anna Clara B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

Missing Map: Upton Charles-Dog Detective is a little slow to start. I like that it's a cute little story about a dog detective.

The story starts out on a nice, spring day when the Charles family decides they want to go to an event at a park and when they arrive they discover that a map has vanished. A dog named Upton thinks like a detective and takes on the case to find out how it left the display case.

I like how friendly the structure is and how the story is written. It is very suitable for a young audience. I was curious to see how the dog detective would act. The story is developed as a mystery to find the missing map and have a little adventure. The illustrations in the book are nicely drawn. I love the front cover.

The book teaches kids a little bit about dogs, such as how they are color blind. It could motivate kids to act like a detective and problem solve.

I give Missing Map: Upton Charles-Dog Detective 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. It is an e-book and can be found online wherever e-books are sold.

By Ethan P, KIDS FIRST! F

The Chief of Police asks the entire Charles family to help find the missing map, including Upton, who is a Bichon Frise (that's "BEE-shon free-ZEY"), a little white dog, with well-honed canine detective skills and Watson, his feline assistant.