Kid’s Corner:

Dog Meets Dog on the Loose in London by Dan Yaccarino with illustrations by Ethan Long

Sherlock Roach and the Case of the Crunch Crumb by Joe McGee and illustrated by Jannie Ho

These are the first titles that I have read in this series for early readers. I really like what these books do. I think that they will engage and encourage young readers with their mix of entertaining illustrations and fun story lines. I am all for anything that gets young kids wanting to read. Perfect for those not ready for longer and/or unillustrated chapter books.

Note that kids may need help with reading some of the words in these books.

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: o5 May 2026

Description for Dog Meets Dog:

from the publisher

Star Chapter Books are the perfect bridge for kids moving beyond beginning readers but not yet ready for longer chapter books. With short chapters, bold two-color illustrations, and fast-paced, funny stories, these confidence-building books make reading fun and rewarding.

In this tip-top tale of chaos and mayhem, dog siblings Betsy and Bones take London by storm—bungling plans, muddling maps, and turning their sightseeing into one hilarious disaster after another!

On their latest vacation, Betsy wants to stick to her carefully organized itinerary, but Bones is determined to follow his own whims. From Big Ben to Buckingham Palace to Tower Bridge, the siblings’ clashing styles turn every stop into comic confusion—but when it counts, they will need to work together to make the most of their London trip.

Each Star Chapter Book is 112 pages long, divided into six to eight short chapters with illustrated panels on every page to keep kids engaged from start to finish. This highly visual early chapter book format supports the transition from leveled readers to chapter books, making Star Chapter Books a perfect fit for independent reading, classroom libraries, or shared story time.

Look for more Star Chapter Books adventures to help kids grow confident and discover the joy of reading, including Betsy and Bones’s next adventure, Framed in Paris!.

Description for Sherlock Roach and the Case of the Crunch Crumb

from the publisher:

Star Chapter Books are the perfect bridge for kids moving beyond beginning readers but not yet ready for longer chapter books. With short chapters, bold two-color illustrations, and fast-paced, funny stories, these confidence-building books make reading fun and rewarding.

In this quirky animal mystery, Bugopolis’s greatest detective takes on his tastiest case yet—the hunt for a missing crumb!

Sherlock Roach and his loyal partner Dr. Wormston are more than just a detective duo—they’re friends who always stick together. When a very important crumb vanishes without a trace, the pair hunts for clues throughout the insect underworld in a mystery that’s easy to follow, fun to read, and filled with laughs. Can they crack the case before all the crumbs disappear for good?

Each Star Chapter Book is 112 pages long, divided into six to eight short chapters with illustrated panels on every page to keep kids engaged from start to finish. This highly visual early chapter book format supports the transition from leveled readers to chapter books, making Star Chapter Books a perfect fit for independent reading, classroom libraries, or shared story time.

Look for more Star Chapter Books adventures to help kids grow confident and develop a love of reading, including The Super Roomies in the Lake of Slime!