The Eleventh Hour
By Graeme Base
The Story
An elephant named Horace turns eleven and throws a costume party for his exotically dressed animal friends, but when it's time for the feast, someone has already eaten it all.
Why It's Special
For the kid who wants to solve the mystery before anyone can tell them the answer, this book turns bedtime into a stakeout.
- Big idea: Paying close attention pays off — the real story is hiding in plain sight for anyone patient enough to look.
- Vibes: Puzzling, lavish, and a little sly, with a birthday-party sparkle underneath the whodunit.
Perfect For Kids Who
- love to hunt for hidden clues on the page
- enjoy solving mysteries and guessing whodunit
- are working on close observation and logical thinking
- respond well to rhyming, witty verse
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: Who do you think ate Horace's birthday feast, and why?
- Imagination: If you went to Horace's costume party, what animal costume would you wear?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever thrown or been to a birthday party with games like Horace's?
- Story & problem-solving: What clues in the pictures make you suspect one guest more than the others?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Horace felt when he found out his feast was gone?
