On the Trail of the Missing Pets Review and Giveaway: The Perfect Mystery Book for Young Readers

This week I’m extra wiggly with excitement because I get to share a brand-new adventure from my stack of family-friendly book recommendations. Mommy and I curled up for our On the Trail of the Missing Pets review, and things got mysterious in the best way. One minute we were just reading together like always, and the next we were whisked off on a time‑traveling mission full of clues, giggles, and very important pets who needed our help.

Mommy and I traveled back in time and helped solve a mystery! It was a great adventure. How often do you get to solve a mystery, let alone time travel? It was very exciting, and I have been looking forward to telling you all about it.

It all began last week when our copy of On the Trail of the Missing Pets arrived in the mail. Mommy and I didn’t have much information on this book, and we had no idea what to expect. Excited to find out more, we flipped through the pages and quickly realized that this book is full of beautiful illustrations. Clearly this is a book any child would enjoy.

I was eager to get started on this book, but we were in the middle of another story, and Mommy likes to finish one book before starting another. We finished off our reading over the weekend, and as of Monday we started On the Trail of the Missing Pets. It was worth the wait!

On the Trail of the Missing Pets Review

I am super excited to tell you about this book. The last several book reviews I did were for books that are written for grown-ups. While I am very mature and an advanced reader, I do prefer books with cute stories and pretty pictures. I finally get to tell you about a book written not for Mommy, but for me!

On the Trail of the Missing Pets is a book for kids of all ages. I have already mentioned the illustrations, but I am so enamored with these lovely pictures that I just have to tell you more. Every page of this story is covered in large and colorful illustrations that bring so much life to the story. The pictures are my favorite part!

Mommy and I were surprised to find out that this book is written in rhyming verse. I enjoy that because rhyme adds a certain rhythm and melody to the words. It really brings another facet to reading. It’s strange, and I can’t really explain it, but stories that rhyme feel magical to me.

The story itself is very good too, and both Mommy and I were swept away by it. The main character is a lady by the name of Violet Vintage. I found her pleasant but somewhat unremarkable. I was much more charmed by Spike, her assistant and companion.

The Amazing Spike!

Spike is a dog, and I have been learning about dogs at the park. We don’t have dogs, but we do have two cats. Dogs are a bit like cats, except that they seem to come in a large assortment of shapes and sizes. Spike is a large dog with brown fur. I like Spike!

Violet and Spike travel through time with the help of Violet’s wardrobe. It doesn’t take long before they find themselves transported to 1944. The story takes place in London during World War II. There are all sorts of scary but exciting things going on while Spike and Violet try to figure out where they are.

Things move along at a good pace, and we quickly discover our mission. With all the chaos of war going on within the city, pets have been going missing. The kindhearted Violet and her trusty assistant Spike eagerly agree to help, and we all set off in search of the missing pets.

Soon a mysterious figure appears from the shadows. He seems to be the one responsible for the pets’ disappearance. Spike and Violet are in pursuit, but will they find the man in time? Can they save the pets before it’s too late? Is Spike in danger of being abducted himself? You’ll have to read the story to find out!

More Than a Story

At the end of the book are a few pages of facts about life during World War II. I have actually never heard about World War II before, so this was an enlightening read for me. It has made me much more appreciative of being born in 2015. We don’t have to worry about getting enough food to eat or finding clothes to wear.

Reading On the Trail of the Missing Pets was fun, exciting, and informative. One question remains. Will Violet and Spike have more adventures? If Violet’s wardrobe has the potential of transporting them to any place in history, there could be endless adventures in store for them. I can’t wait to find out where they go next!

As we wrap up our On the Trail of the Missing Pets review, Mommy and I are adding this charming adventure straight to our list of family-friendly book recommendations. It’s the kind of story that sparks curiosity, invites cuddles, and leaves you dreaming about where Violet and Spike might travel next. If you’re looking for a sweet mystery to enjoy together, this book is definitely one you’ll want to share with your little explorers at story time.

On the Trail of the Missing Pets was both written and illustrated by Marianne Su Yin. Marianne is the mother of two boys and the owner of the real Spike. They live on the Isle of Wight, where Marianne spends her time writing and creating historical fashion pieces. Please take a moment to visit Marianne on Facebook and say hello. I’m sure she would love to hear from you.

The Giveaway

Time for the best part! Enter our giveaway for a chance to win your own copy of On the Trail of the Missing Pets and find out what happens to Violet, Spike, and all the missing pets. Click below to enter.

The giveaway is over 🙁 but you can get your own copy of On the Trail of the Missing Pets right here.

* We were given a free copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All views and opinions are honest and our own.