About This Book:
In the fifth Isla of Adventure chapter book, Isla discovers a surprising competition hosted by the animals of Sol!
Isla’s grandparents, the reigning pastry champions, are once again participating in the annual Sol Bake-Off! Isla can’t wait to help, but when sets off in search of the freshest ingredients Sol has to offer, she notices the bushes have no berries, no coconuts hang from the palm trees, and even the creatures of Sol have gone silent. That’s when she uncovers a festival the creatures of Sol host for themselves: The Critter Café!
With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Isla of Adventure chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.
*Review Contributed By Olivia Farr, Staff Reviewer*
delightful early chapter book
THE CRITTER CAFE is a delightful new book in the Isla of Adventure series. Isla is excited for the upcoming Sol baking contest, which her Abuela is famous for winning. However, when they begin the process, they find that the berries they need are all gone from their backyard – and when Isla goes into town, the supermarket is also out. So where have all the berries gone?
Soon, Isla follows a strangely behaving mouse to find the Critter Cafe, run by a chef who dreams of winning the baking competition. Together, they make a compote that will enter the competition with Isla’s Abuela’s scones – but will it be good enough to win?
What I loved: This is an absolutely fantastic series with a clever and unforgettable main character, Isla Verde. Each book features a light mystery to be solved with the help of her special ability, talking to animals. Isla is always accompanied by her best friend and gecko, Fitz, and together, they work to save the day. Here, the mystery is about what happened to all the berries on the island of Sol, and they find themselves once again needing to talk to the animals on the island to get to the bottom of things.
Ultimately, this is a story of teamwork, sharing credit, and going for your goals. Isla is able to find compromises and craft a way for everyone to come out on top. With plenty of cute animal antics and delightful characters, this is another great adventure to remember (and inspire some baking!).
The book is written in an approachable early chapter book style with plenty of fantastic illustrations. Each page spread has a detailed image that really captures the story and characters. This helps to keep young chapter book readers engaged as well as to help them picture the action. Combined with the plot, this is a really great story that parents and young readers can both enjoy, working for a range of elementary school ages.
Final verdict: Featuring the lovable and unforgettable Isla and Fitz, THE CRITTER CAFE is a delightful early chapter book that young readers are sure to love. While readers do not have to have read the books in order, with each one featuring its own insular story, this series is definitely worth picking up in its entirety!
