Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In a brand-new series a girl and a dog are detectives, finding mysteries in everyday events.King is a dog (a golden retriever), and Kayla is his human (a brown-skinned gal with springy brown hair). Through King's narration, readers get a glimpse of a dog's innermost thoughtswhich mostly revolve around food and not going outside (a common mistake made by humans). Kayla's inability to understand King's dialogue, rendered in perfect English both within the text and in thought bubbles, is a running joke in the series. In their first book, Kayla prepares King's favorite snack, peanut-butter treats. But alas, they are not for him! They are for her friend's new puppy, Thor. When some of the treats go missing, King seems to be the prime suspect. But his nose has picked up the scent of an intruder. How can he convey this to Kayla? In true detective fashion, Kayla makes a list of known and unknown facts. In the second book, published simultaneously, King Kayla and the Case of the Secret Code (2017), Kayla again employs this strategy to solve the crime. Readers will connect with this charmingly misunderstood pup (along with his exasperated howls, excited tail wagging, and sheepish grins). The author of The Buddy Files whips up a light mystery fare for the younger set. (Early reader. 6-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Three dog treats are missing, and Kayla thinks that the culprit is her golden retriever, King. But he knows the truth there is an intruder in the house! Welcome to the world of Kayla and King, a new early reader series with dog and human perspectives on life. In this opening title, Kayla, brown-skinned and curly-haired, is making treats because Jillian, her friend with lighter skin and blond hair, has a new puppy, Thor. Five chapters help break down the narrative into manageable bites while keeping up the pace and intrigue. Kids will join in with Kayla, King, and friends as they list off facts and questions to solve the case. The hand-drawn, digitally colored illustrations bring out the giggles and smiles, especially when King and Thor meet with wagging tails and puppy play. This title is a delightful series start that will have kids returning to read more about Kayla and King. It's also a great introduction to mysteries, gathering facts, and analytical thinking for an unusually young set.--Ginman, Karen Copyright 2017 Booklist