RAMON FELLINI THE DOG DETECTIVE

A guileless child, a duplicitous “dog,” and an ill-fated fish cross paths.

A shout tears through a quiet night. The young narrator’s beloved pet fish is lying on the ground, surrounded by broken glass. (Luckily, the child finds the fish a makeshift home in time.) Who could have done such a dastardly deed? Just then, Ramon Fellini the Dog Detective arrives. While Ramon may look like an ordinary tuxedo cat, he tells the protagonist that he’s “a dog in a cat costume”—and a Master of Disguise. Ramon peppers the child with rapid-fire questions, then decides to take the investigation, and the hapless victim, outside—you know, in order “to recognize the suspect.” Nothing to see here! Ramon returns alone, having reached a truly unbelievable conclusion. All’s well that ends well…or is it? Though the protagonist remains blissfully unaware, the illustrations and Ramon’s slip of the (scratchy) tongue make it crystal clear who’s to blame for this catastrophe, earning this Brazilian import, translated from Portuguese by the author, a well-deserved spot amid the slew of stories in which the main character skips blithely into disaster while a delighted audience screams, “You’re going the wrong way!” The expressive artwork is appealing; the light-skinned, wide-eyed, bespectacled moppet is all worry and naïveté, while self-assured Ramon, with his magnifying glass and case file, is a delightfully devious detective. This is a charming read for those who like their stories a little macabre—and a lot tongue-in-cheek.

A hilarious reminder for all: Beware the cats—especially those with dubious claims and credentials.