By Blue Balliett
When a famous Vermeer painting vanishes on its way to a museum, two classmates chase the thief using patterns, coincidences, and a code hidden in the pictures.
Petra and Calder don't have much in common except a sharp teacher and a habit of noticing things. When a priceless Vermeer painting disappears in transit and a mysterious letter appears in the newspaper, the two of them start piecing the mystery together out of strange coincidences, Calder's set of pentomino puzzle pieces, and clues that seem to be aimed straight at them. There's even a hidden code tucked into Brett Helquist's illustrations for your child to hunt down and crack while they read.
This is the puzzle book for a reader who likes to think sideways. It's less about action and more about noticing, patterns, coincidences, the odd detail that turns out to matter, so it rewards a reader who enjoys puzzling something out slowly. The pentomino thread and the picture code make the puzzling literally hands-on. A thoughtful child who finds a chase story too loud will love how quiet and clever this one is.