Description

From the bestselling, award-winning author-illustrator team of Doreen Cronin and Kevin Cornell comes the first book in a heavily illustrated, hilarious chapter book series about the adventures of a dog detective. Perfect for fans of Sara Pennypacker's Clementine series and Jarrett J. Krosoczka's Lunch Lady series. 

J.J. Tully is a former search-and-rescue dog who is trying to enjoy his retirement after years of performing daring missions saving lives. So he's not terribly impressed when two chicks named Dirt and Sugar (who look like popcorn on legs) and their chicken mom show up demanding his help to find their missing siblings. Driven by the promise of a cheeseburger, J.J. begins to track down clues. Is Vince the Funnel hiding something? Are there dark forces at work—or is J.J. not smelling the evidence that's right in front of him?


  • A Reluctant K-9 Detective: J.J. Tully is a retired search-and-rescue star who’s more interested in his nap than a new case. Especially when his clients are frantic chickens.
  • A Baffling Barnyard Case: Two little chicks are missing, and a suspicious dog named Vince the Funnel is the top suspect. Can J.J. crack the case for the price of a cheeseburger?
  • Hilarious Talking Animals: Get ready for a cast of unforgettable characters, from two fluffy chicks named Dirt and Sugar to the grumpiest dog detective you’ll ever meet.
  • Illustrated First-in-a-Series: The perfect start to a laugh-out-loud chapter book series, with engaging art that brings this quirky animal mystery to life for young readers.

About the author(s)

Doreen Cronin is the New York Times bestselling author of Diary of a Worm, Diary of a Spider, and Diary of a Fly as well as Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, a Caldecott Honor Book, and Giggle, Giggle, Quack. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and their daughters.

Kevin Cornell rests his head in Philadelphia, where he and his wife match wits daily with a terrifying dachshund. Other monsters Kevin has recently tamed include The Terrible Two series by Mac Barnett and Jory John, Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett, and Lulus Mysterious Mission by Judith Viorst.

Reviews

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A FLY: “Will have kids laughing out loud.” - School Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A FLY: “Impeccable comedic timing.” - Horn Book Magazine

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A FLY: “Like its predecessors, this diary is a crowd-pleaser.” - ALA Booklist

“It would behoove you to have a rendezvous with this uproarious tale of JJ the search and rescue hound, as he solves the mystery of the missing chicks, and comes face to face with Vince the Funnel. Be prepared for a full-feathered flight of fancy, with a most surprising twist.” - Kathi Appelt, Newbery Honor winner for THE UNDERNEATH

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A FLY: “Irresistible and undeniably super.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A FLY: “Teeming with funny vignettes.” - New York Times

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A SPIDER: “Hits squarely on the middle-grade funnybone.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A SPIDER: “Once again, brilliantly hilarious.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A SPIDER: “A rib-tickling sequel.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Cronin brings her droll humor to the chapter book set with great success. Fast-paced and funny, with interesting vocabulary and a well-constructed plot, this is terrific fare for readers who are ready to move beyond picture books, but are intimidated by longer works.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The noirlike detective Tully and the funny chickens running around, well, like chickens make appealing characters, especially as drawn by Cornell, who knows how to get TV cartoon–style humor out of the action.” - Booklist

More by Doreen Cronin

More Readers / Chapter Books

More Juvenile Fiction

More Activity Books

More Friendship

More Social Themes

More Fantasy & Magic

More Lifestyles / Farm & Ranch Life

More Humorous Stories

More Mysteries & Detective Stories

More Family

More Dogs

More Animals

More Pets

More Farm Animals