Now that fandom has become more acceptable and doesn’t make its practitioners social pariahs, and earlier fan generations now have children or grandchildren, you get some very interesting products for young ones. Previously disposable entertainment is often transformed so that adults can share their love with their kids (whether the kids are interested or not).
Take, for example, the first in the Mini Mysteries children’s book line, Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles, as written by Marci Kay Monson and illustrated by Greg Paprocki. I wouldn’t have thought that a murder mystery would make an acceptable or entertaining children’s book. And yes, there is murder. Although all we see is the body’s feet and read a mention of poison.
The book opens with character introductions, particularly “renowned private detective Hercule Poirot”. Captain Hastings, instead of being a former army officer, is a mouse, “Poirot’s shy rodent friend.” It’s part of the game to find him on each double-page spread.
The book proper is told in rhyme.
“I am Hercule Poirot, you know.
I’m sure you’re heard my name.
Or at least you’ve heard of my moustache!
Solving mysteries is my game.”
There are 12 additional spreads, once Monsieur Poirot is introduced, each with 12 lines of poetry and an illustration, as well as an activity, such as identifying visual emotions or finding objects in the picture. The book ends with a glossary which includes how to pronounce the famous detective’s name.
It’s an amusing book, an excellent choice for a child interested, perhaps, in those detective shows their parents watch. I was entertained by how the mystery was fit into such a small space, with the key points still present. (Helped by having just watched the Poirot TV adaptation, the first episode of the third season.)
The next Mini Mysteries book will be The Mystery of the Blue Train in fall 2025.
English (US) · 