Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked

Detective Rick Zengo arrives for his first day as a new recruit on the Platypus Police Squad, where he's partnered with veteran detective Corey O'Malley. The rookie-veteran duo must investigate a case involving illegal synthetic fish sales at Kalamazoo Junior High School. As Zengo and O'Malley pursue leads throughout their city, they encounter an array of animal citizens including local business owners, school administrators, and possible criminal elements. Their investigation reveals connections between the illegal fish trade and Pandini's, a restaurant run by a smooth-talking panda. The book combines police procedural elements with middle-grade humor and animal characters in a fully realized urban setting. Through the lens of this unlikely detective partnership, the story explores themes of mentorship, trust, and the importance of looking beyond first impressions.

Readers describe this book as a detective story with wordplay and humor aimed at grades 3-6. Many note that the illustrations help bring the characters to life and break up the text for young readers. Liked: - Animal characters make the detective genre accessible to kids - Black and white illustrations throughout - Puns and jokes appeal to the target age group - Fast-paced plot keeps reluctant readers engaged Disliked: - Some parents found the criminal themes too mature - Plot can be confusing for younger readers - Several mention it's not as engaging for adults reading along Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (650+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (50+ reviews) Scholastic: 4/5 Notable review quotes: "Perfect for fans of Geronimo Stilton who are ready for longer chapters" - School librarian on Goodreads "My 9-year-old finished it in two days and asked for the next one" - Amazon reviewer "The noir style went over my 7-year-old's head" - Parent reviewer

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🦆 Author Jarrett J. Krosoczka wrote and illustrated this book as a noir-style detective story featuring anthropomorphic animals, combining classic crime fiction elements with kid-friendly humor. 🎨 Before writing novels, Krosoczka was best known for his "Lunch Lady" graphic novel series, which was optioned for a movie starring Amy Poehler. 🦎 The book's setting, Kalamazoo City, is populated entirely by water-dwelling creatures, creating a unique aquatic twist on the traditional urban crime story. 📚 The story follows Detective Rick Zengo and Detective Corey O'Malley, a platypus duo inspired by classic police partnerships like those in "Miami Vice" and "Lethal Weapon." 🎭 The author developed the characters while performing improv comedy, where he created voices for the different animals that would later become the main characters in the book.