Watts & Whiskerton: Buried Bones and Troublesome Treasure

Watts the dog comes from a family of detectives, but he hasn’t been allowed to investigate a case; his famous detective parents have always told him he’s too young.  

However, when Watts meets the super smart Pearl Whiskerton (a cat) on holiday in Little Gossip, strange events are afoot at her home, the grand Whiskerton Manor. Someone has moved Count Whiskerton’s roses, and Watts discovers a mysterious dinosaur tooth in the grounds. What on earth can be going on? 

Following clues and taking copious notes, Watts and Pearl’s investigations lead them to Little Gossip’s museum and the evasive Dr Arty Fact, a palaeontologist. Is there some kind of connection between the tooth in Pearl’s garden and the dinosaur bones at the museum? And, if so, what is it? Can Watts and Whiskerton save the day? 

This brilliant illustrated chapter book by Meg McLaren is a visual treat, being both clear and easy to follow but also full of lovely details in the illustration. Children will love the excerpts from Watts’ investigation notebook, clips from the newspaper, and brilliant maps and diagrams alongside cute and characterful illustration.

The gentle crime-solving theme is perfect for the mid-primary age, with nothing at all scary, but still an intriguing mystery to solve.