Captain Coconut and the Case of the Missing Bananas

With his substantial mustache, turban, and idea-generating "brainwaves," Captain Coconut is on the case when four of Mrs. Y's bananas disappear. Moderately competent yet supremely confident, Coconut is more Clousseau than Poirot, and the math-driven mystery that unfolds in this graphic novel%E2%80%93style chapter book features drily funny narration%E2%80%94"Captain Coconut said nothing. He just tapped his hard head (which contained his brilliant brain)"%E2%80%94a fair amount of addition and subtraction, and a touch of scatological humor. (With three musical interludes that sing Captain Coconut's praises, the mystery almost feels like a Bollywood musical writ small.) Sundram's digital collages strike a modern note while playing up the story's comedy, blending motifs of bananas, brains, and puzzle pieces with photographic elements and intricately patterned textiles. A charmingly hapless sleuth, an enticing Indian setting, and fresh graphics worth framing%E2%80%94what more could you ask for? Ages 8%E2%80%93up. (June)