Love the illustrations. Azaleah is a smart, high achieving kid who is part of a loving family. The book does a great job of presenting believable everyday life for a busy family, from juggling time with parents around their jobs, to sometimes challenging sibling dynamics. Azaleah is a kind and thoughtful sleuth for minor mysteries, and skilled at creative arts as well. The only thing I was a little surprised at is the density of text per page -- it's quite dense. ( )

Eight-year-old Azaleah loves life in her Washington D. C. neighborhood. Her father is a lawyer and her mother owns a restaurant, but they're never too busy to support their kids. Usually. But a whole lot of things have happened all at once and Azaleah has got several problems on her hands.

First, she's got a big project coming due, a diorama from their class trip to the zoo. She wants it to be the best-ever, and completely different, and she's got a plan in mind. But her little sister's favorite toy is missing and and until she solves the mystery, nobody will be getting anything done! Her parents aren't able to help as usual, since they've both got extra work on the weekend, her big sister is absorbed by her new lead in the school musical, and even Auntie Sam, their nanny and relative, can't seem to help. Will Azaleah ever get her work done?

Azaleah's family is African-American, the only other person shown is their elderly white neighbor. They are upper class, living in a large house (Azaleah calls it "the White House") and there is a strong sense of culture and community throughout the story. Azaleah's sister is taking part in The Wiz, the family has a supportive structure, and the neighbors and school are portrayed as warm and supportive. It's great to see an African-American family portrayed outside of the stereotypical urban and lower-income environment, so this is a nice addition to beginning chapter books in that area.

The story itself is rather weak - I have a hard time picturing readers being that interested in the "mystery" of Tiana's stolen frog and the overall story falls a bit flat. The spot art is colorful but the adults look like teenagers.

Verdict: This is worth purchasing if you are looking to diversify your collection and if you have an audience for this kind of family story in chapter books. An additional bonus is that these are Picture Window, so quite affordable - the discounted price on the library/hardcover is only a little over $10.

ISBN: 9781515844648; Published 2020 by Picture Window/Capstone; Review copy provided by publisher