Zeb and Bel: A Case of Bird Problems
by Rachel Elliott; illus. by the author
Primary, Intermediate    HarperAlley/HarperCollins    160 pp.
1/26    9780063354302    $24.99
Paper ed.  9780063354296    $15.99

Elliott follows her debut middle-grade graphic novel, The Real Riley Mayes (rev. 7/22), with the first book in a sleuth series featuring cat and dog pair Bel and Zeb. Sly black cat Bel likes to be right in the action with her detective notebook and binoculars. Sweet, eager Zeb, with his shaggy fur in different shades of brown, is there to back her up. When the pets’ neighbor, Payton Parakeet, goes missing, it’s up to this brother-and-sister team to bring their friend home. With information from a winged FBI (Feathered Bureau of Investigation) agent and a little detective work, the two quickly solve the case. Zeb and Bel’s human cohabitant, Josephine, and her friends make entertaining side characters for the neighborhood animals’ antics. Elliott’s illustrations are a perfect match for this lively and energetic story. Crisp lines and cheerful colors delightfully portray everything from Bel’s expression of shock while being bird-dived to Zeb’s playful poses as he vies for his whisker-sister’s attention. This first installment includes the story of how Zeb and Bel met, which is sure to pull on readers’ heartstrings. Budding comic-book artists will get a kick out of the back matter, which includes a guide to drawing both furry main characters.

From the January/February 2026 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.