***** THE WISHING SHELF BOOK AWARDS FINALIST Prepare for a hilarious ride with "Saygar the Detective," the uproarious third installment in the Saygar Books series! Ever wondered what kind of chaos an ant could bring into a boy's life? Saygar is that ant-turned-mischievous kid, always ready to dive headfirst into outrageous escapades in his new human world! Joseph's patience wears thin with his troublesome cousin, Little Noodle, who seems to specialize in creating chaos wherever he goes. When Little Noodle vanishes into thin air, Joseph's ordinary day takes a wild turn. With the help of Saygar and his incredible ant skills, they embark on a zany quest filled with twists and turns. Join this oddball duo and their quirky friends as they stumble through a maze of laughter, uncovering secrets and facing hilarious challenges along the way. "Saygar the Detective" is a riotous adventure that will leave you in stitches as you cheer for these unlikely heroes to crack the case! "Jurado's Saygar, an ant, is back for a new adventure in this children's chapter book, this time as a detective solving a missing person case. Saygar isn't an ordinary ant; he's fully kid-sized and needs to eat constantly to keep from shrinking. You'd think it would be tough for anxious third grader Joseph Mateo to keep his science project-turned-best friend (the reasons for Saygar's startling size remain a mystery) under wraps, but Saygar actually masquerades rather well as a student in Joseph's class. By the time this third installment in the Saygar series takes place, Joseph is well practiced at deceiving everyone. This includes his own Spanish-speaking family, which unfortunately includes two members that he wishes he didn't have to know at all: his cousins Julia, a 4-year-old, and Saul Sam, a toddler also known as Little Noodle. When Joseph's mom leaves him and Saygar to babysit these two troublemakers, Little Noodle disappears, and it's up to Joseph, Julia, their neighbor Amanda Chavez, and Detective Saygar to find him in their Texas town before the adults come home from running errands. Joseph laments, "I wanted to un-family Little Noodle, but I didn't want to get rid of him." This early elementary chapter book mystery drops enticing clues for readers in an entertaining, often humorous manner that still manages to explore deeper themes, especially those regarding family. The book is peppered with illustrator Villalobos' fun, cartoonish black-and-white drawings that highlight key moments of Jurado's story. The plot moves at a steady pace that incorporates the danger of local villains (like the mean neighborhood kid known as the Moose), wacky hijinks (hiding Saygar's true identity as an ant), and kooky neighbors (Mrs. Rosales and her many cats). This book may appeal to fans of series like the Geronimo Stilton books by Elisabetta Dami and Tadgh Bentley's Dino Detectives, which similarly keep their readers on their toes. A tightly written early readers mystery that will leave kids hungry for more." - Kirkus Review Step into the magical world of Elizabeth Jurado, where stories come alive with characters bursting with imagination, hilarious humor, and a strong sense of family. With a lifetime passion for storytelling and a deep love for children's and middle grade literature, Elizabeth's writing is not only captivating but also enriching for young readers. From the mischievous ant to the shy boy, her characters come to life in unique and adventurous tales that keep readers wanting more. Using her experiences as an educator and devoted parent, Elizabeth has created a loyal fan base eager for her latest releases. Join the journey and let Elizabeth Jurado's enchanting words inspire and delight you. Elizabeth Jurado is a children's and middle grade author, a mom to three sons, and a keeper of three gray cats. Elizabeth used her experiences as a teacher and a mother to her extremely energetic sons to write her adventurous tale of a shy boy and a mischievous ant. Her writing has produced stories resonating with characters oozing imagination, witty humor, and a strong sense of family.