Guinea PI(G): Pet Shop Private Eye graphic novel series is a new on the scene. We currently have books 1-4 in this series (I have read them all) and they were so surprisingly fun to read, that I had to recommend them! The cartoons are fun, cute, and interesting to look at, and the story lines are so funny. Every animal in the shop has such great personalities, you can't help but love every goofy character. The kid in me just adores these books, and I think kids of all ages who are looking for a good laugh will love them too.
Hamster and Cheese:
Reading Level 2.3/ .5 pts
This is the first book in the series where we meet the main characters Sasspants PI(G), a very smart and creative guinea pig, and Hamisher, a wanna-be side kick and hyper hamster. They, and the other animals, live in Mr. Venezi's pet shop. Unfortunately for the pets, Mr. Venezie knows nothing about animals, and is constantly mislabeling them (for example: he labeled the hamsters as 'koalas'), feeding them the wrong food, and putting them in the wrong cagest. That's enough for the pets to deal with already, but now there's a sandwich thief in their midst. Hamisher thinks she is a PI (private investigator) since her cage label says Guinea Pi (but in actuality the G has just fallen off). So, he asks her to investigate, and after some convincing she agrees and together they take on the mystery of the serial Sandwich-Napper
And Then There Were Gnomes:
Reading Level 2.6/ .5pts
In second book we meet up with Sasspants and Hamisher again. Hamisher is ready for another mystery and is dying to be side kick to Sasspants, but Sasspants has no intention of continuing to be a private eye... one time was enough! But soon enough, Hamisher notices that all the mice are disappearing and the other pets in the shop start to worry. When Sasspants wont help him, Hamisher decides to take on the case himself. Will Hamisher be able to solve this case on his own, or will the case of the missing mice go unsolved?
The Ferret's a Foot:
Reading Level 2.4/ .5pts
The third book in this series begins with Mr. Venenzi hanging up a help wanted sign. Poor Mr. Venenzi really doesn't know much about the animals, but what if the new person isn't nice? So Sasspants and Hamisher volunteer to help out Mr. Venenzi and make new signs for the animal cages with little pictures of the animals on them. Then Mr. Venenzi won't have to hire any one! Soon, however, something is amiss.... all the signs have been changed! The Lizards were now Blizards and the Chinchillas were Gorillas! Every one suspects the new ferrets, but it's up to Sasspants and Hamisher to discover the truth behind this mystery.
Fish You Were Here:
Reading Level 2.4/ 1pts
The fourth book begins with Mr. Venenzi interviewing potential employees. He's already turned away so many nice sounding people, the pets are starting to wonder if they will be lucky enough to get some one who actually knows what they're doing! Then Viola comes in, friendly and knowledgeable about the animals. Mr. Venenzi hires her on the spot. She is perfect for the job and is takes over all the care for the pets... so well that Mr. Venenzi becomes depressed and feels like he isn't needed any more. Then, one day, Mr. Venenzi doesn't come in at all! Suddenly, Viola starts neglecting the animals and sits at the desk watching TV all day. They animals panic... what happened to Mr. Venenzi? Will he ever come back? Sasspants is determined to find out what happened to Mr. Venenzi, but even if they find out where he is... will it be too late?
