A charming early reader in graphic form draws on the classic theme of friendship to show that being new—or different—doesn’t have to mean being lonely.

Pocketville is a small town, set in its ways, and the arrival of a stranger causes a stir. Monti the mole is stunned one morning to find Leo the lizard hogging his special reading rock. When Monti visits the bakery and the library, he learns that the last cinnamon roll has been purchased, and the book he was waiting for has been checked out. What’s a fastidious mole to do? When Monti confronts Leo, the newcomer turns out to be agreeable in the extreme, and friendship is a given. Now to convince the town’s cantankerous baker, Ms. Sheep, to stop turning everyone against Leo. Together, Monti and Leo hatch a plot that will have Ms. Sheep singing Leo’s praises in no time. This reassuring tale of friendship against the odds from the creator of the graphic memoir Sylvie draws on the author’s experiences as an immigrant and will appeal to anyone who has struggled to fit in in a new place.

A Mystery in Pocketville

by Sylvie Kantorovitz

Published 4 February 2025
A mania for collecting—and a mysterious thief—have Pocketville abuzz in Monti and Leo’s endearing second graphic adventure. Will their friendship pass the test of loyalty?

Mrs. Sheep has loaned her storied collection of figurines to the library, and Pocketville is all aflutter. When Monti and Leo attend the exhibit and discuss their favorites with the crowd, Monti’s turns out to be the same as Mrs. Sheep’s. Later, while Leo shows Monti his treasured rock collection, the town enters a frenzy of collecting—everything from old bottles and red yo-yos to feathers and pine cones. Monti wants a collection, too, but can’t decide what to collect. The mood turns dire when one of Mrs. Sheep’s figurines mysteriously goes missing—her favorite! All eyes turn to Monti as, one by one, other prize objects vanish, setting off a storm of suspicion and accusation. Will Monti take the fall? Not if Detective Leo can help it. With clean, simple panel design and appealing art, this reassuring early reader in graphic form mines classic themes of friendship, trust, and loyalty.