I received this book for free from Author, Laura Fabiani iRead Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Inspector Dewey by Kristen Heimerl
Published by Orange Frazer Press on September 2015
Genres: Childrens, Picture Books
Pages: 32
Source: Author, Laura Fabiani iRead Book Tours
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

My name is Dewey--Inspector Dewey. I live in the big green house on Hampshire Avenue with my family: Thumper, Lily, and Anna. I am the Big Cat responsible for keeping everyone safe and in order. I do this quite well, in spite of the fact that managing my family is like, well, herding cats!

Mostly our life is peaceful. But one night it wasn't. That was the night the bad guy showed up on our block. Of course, I knew exactly how to out-smart the outlaw, but--miserable mullet!--would Anna and the police understand my instructions?

To find out how the adventure ended, you'll have to read my book. But I'll give you a hint: there's a reason I'm called INSPECTOR Dewey

Interview With Kristen Heimerl

What inspired you to write your first book?

I’ve got three big-bellied jolly makers at home. What could be more inspiring than that? The Three Norwegians amuse me with their never-ending need for love and outrageous child’s play. All their world’s a stage—and I’m delighted to be among the audience! When the bad guy showed up on our block two years ago and I was crawling with the kitties across the floor of my home to reach the phone to call the police, I knew our experience would someday become a children’s story. Dewey took the helm, seriously sleuthing. Lily graced my right side, giggling and wriggling in glee. And sweet Thumper trotted behind, steadily securing the rear. That moment became an illustration in my book, and it’s probably my favorite.

When did you first start writing?

I’ve always loved to write and, more generally, to communicate in a way that inspires emotion or moves audiences to action. I delight in words—spelling them, seeing them, and saying them. There are SO many fabulous words! (Paradigm, for example. Isn’t it marvelous?)

My passion for writing started with spelling exercises and developing research papers in school; then it shifted to corporate communications and the rare, but ever-so-delightful, advertising copy assignment as a professional. My basic joy of putting pen to paper ultimately spawned a habit of daily journal writing.

Before the bad guy showed up on our block, I never once thought I’d write a book—although I think it may be everyone’s secret dream. I didn’t have the confidence to entertain that notion until I joined a small group of amazing women writers who offered encouragement and supported my words on the page.

When did you finish the first book?

Never! I still open the pages of Inspector Dewey and see changes in design and text that I will make if I should be so fortunate as to get to a second printing.

How did you choose the genre you write in?

I can’t imagine writing anything but picture books—or “big kid” books with pictures in them. I’m a design geek. I obsess over things like color and fonts and paper and texture, and I could go on and on and on. I can’t speak for others, but for me, every visual—be it a word or an image—evokes an emotion. The ultimate creative challenge is to combine design and emotional elements in a way that results in a distinctive, beautiful, compelling product and, more importantly, experience of that product. Now that gets me jazzed!

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Right now I’m REALLY into illustrators. There are so many fabulous illustrators in the children’s book market today. I amaze at their work as if they were old masters hanging in the Louvre. It’s crazy, I know, but I have so much respect and admiration for creative talent—this coming from a woman who aspired to be Vincent Van Gogh and has not so much as an inkling of talent to draw stick people!

I’m taken breathless when I view the works of Julie Morstad in Swan by Laurel Snyder. Emily Winfield Martin’s dreamy strokes and sweet-faced babes in The Wonderful Things You Will Be makes me smile uncontrollably. And the bold watercolor spreads in Little Kunochi Ninja Girl by Sanae Ishida are absolutely exquisite. I could look at the intricate, somber—almost dark—drawings of Katie May Green in Seen and Not Heard just about all day long. I savor these treasures. And I collect them like I collected Lip Smackers as a kid. Only I’ll never throw away my beloved picture-book collection—I’m saving it for a special little one someday or a library collection in need.

What is your favorite type of tea?

I have very developed tea tastes—not so much through expertise of the leaves but through the emotions elicited through memorable tea-sharing experiences.

I grew up in Minneapolis. As a teen, my mother would take my sister, Kelly, and me to The Good Earth Restaurant for lunch after we walked out from Bonaventure’s posh Rocco Altobelli Hair Salon with our beautiful haircuts. Good Earth supported all things green and good and organic before green and good and organic became hot. Good Earth serves the most exquisite tea—aromatic, spicy, dense, and mildly sweet. Like the best handmade chai you ever had—but better! I was thrilled when I discovered it available at my grocer in Cincinnati a few years ago (although, as you might imagine, it’s not quite as good). It’s called “Original Good Earth Tea,” and if you have the opportunity to pick it up at your local grocer or visit the restaurant now located in Edina, MN, do so. It’s the stuff of memories.

And then, of course, there’s the incomparable high-tea experience at the Ritz Carlton in London (or any Ritz Carlton, actually). Traditional English teas complemented with lovely little tea cakes and cookies on a shimmery sterling silver tiered serving tray. But the best part? The scones—no, the scones with the clotted cream! What could be a more fabulous memory than that?

Here again, my magnificent momma made sure my sister and I had the opportunity to experience—at least once—all of life’s magical moments as a child.

Do you have a favorite food recipe to go with your tea?

There’s this tiny little tea house and patisserie in Cincinnati, The Bonbonerie, that makes the most delectable delights. This is SERIOUS sweets for the SERIOUS sweet tooth! The Bonbonerie serves all the tiny tea treats and then some. But my favorite are the mini blueberry-lemon scones with, yup, clotted cream! In America, virtually no one knows what clotted cream is, much less serves it. But it’s a ritual and a delight NOT to be missed. So if I were to provide one favorite food recipe to go with tea, it would be scones and clotted cream. Please, please, please experience this in your lifetime if you haven’t already. Mmmmmm . . . Heaven.

Food historian and storyteller, Tori Avey has a nice overview of the history of clotted cream on her website. The article, by Sharon Biggs Waller, includes a recipe for scones and clotted cream—including a fun, old recipe published by the Women’s Institute in 1929.

http://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/2013/08/clotted-cream-scones/

Review

Tymbrel (9)
What’s your favorite part of the story?:
I love cats so my favorite part of the book is how this story was told from the perspective of inspector Dewey.

What’s your least favorite part of the story?
I don’t have a least favorite part, I loved the whole book and thought it was a great story and super cute.

What did you learn from the story?
That we should always work together as a family to keep each other safe.

I loved the whole book and think that Kristen Heimerl & Inspector Dewey should write more books. The whole book was amazing, the illustations, the story, everything! I can’t wait for more books.

Mom
This book came beautifully packaged, not that I really got to see it because as soon as it came my daughter knowing it was a childrens book tore into the package. She said look at this mom, and almost before I could she had it out of the beautiful yellow wrapping and was happily reading.

First what a wonderful way to take something that is scary, and can make a person feel unsafe in their own home into a positive message for children. I think if we all took our bad experiences and made them into art the world would be a better place.

Inspector Dewey is an exciting tale based on a true story about a charming and witty feline detective named Dewey that saves his family Lilly, Thumper, and Anna from an outlaw. I really enjoyed the story and all the fish puns, they made me laugh. The book is written in such a way that it is enjoyable for children, and parents alike. The illustrations in this book are beautifully done and really bring the story to life.

Cat lovers, mystery lovers and anyone with children will enjoy this story.

Probably one of my favorite things about this books is not the story itself though fantastic, but the fact that 50% of all the proceeds from Inspector Dewey goes to helping provide veterinary care for families in financial need. This is something that is dear to me because I remember getting told by a Vet, that if I couldn’t afford emergency care for my dog then I shouldn’t own one. I was told that poor people shouldn’t have pets. Well we were not poor but emergency vets are insanely expensive and No one should have to hear something like that.

So, check out the cause and buy the book for yourself, a family member and your friends, you will all get a great story and be helping out a great cause. 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Kym

Kym is a Homeschooling mom, that loves to travel, read and drink copious amounts of tea.

The post Review & Interview:Inspector Dewey by Kristen Heimerl appeared first on Tea And A Book.