King & Kayla and the Case of the Secret Code

King & Kayla #2

by Dori Hillestad Butler, Nancy Meyers (Illustrator)

King & Kayla are back on the case in this laugh-out-loud mystery from the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Award-winning series.

King and Kayla receive a mysterious letter written in code. Mason received an almost identical letter. How can they crack the code?

Kayla notices that there aren't any vowels in most of the words; you can't write words without vowels. When she compares her letter to Mason's, only one word is different. Sensitive King notices that the letter smells like Jillian. Why would Jillian write them letters in code?

With simple, straightforward language and great verbal and visual humor, the King & Kayla series is perfect for newly independent readers. King and Kayla model excellent problem-solving skills, including working as a team, gathering facts, making lists, and evaluating evidence.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Dogs, Fiction, Chapter Books, Humor, Animals

48 pages, Hardcover

Published March 7, 2017

About the author

Dori Hillestad Butler is an American author of more than 40 children's books, as well as magazine stories, plays and educational materials. Her first book, The Great Tooth Fairy Rip-Off, was published in 1997. She is known particularly for The Truth about Truman School, a 2008 young adult title focusing on the subject of cyber bullying, and for My Mom's Having a Baby (illustrated by Carol Thompson), which in 2011 appeared on the American Library Association's list of most commonly challenged books in the United States for its portrayal of conception and childbirth. Her 2010 mystery title, Buddy Files: Case of the Last Boy, won the 2011 Edgar Award for the best juvenile mystery published in 2010. Before becoming a children's author, Butler worked for three years as a page at a library.

Reviews

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A chapter book series featuring a suburban African American girl and her dog who helps her solve simple mysteries. Each book contains a terrific demonstration of deductive reasoning as Kayla writes down what she knows about the case, what she doesn't know, and then makes a plan based on these facts. Kayla's human friends, Jillian and Mason, are Caucasian, though this is never mentioned in the text, which advances the idea that it is perfectly normal to have friends of different races. The full-color illustrations are a real treat and add a lot of personality to the story.

In this second series installment, Kayla receives a note with a coded message. The code is cracked too easily and mostly by guesswork.

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great introduction to mysteries for young readers. Kayla and her friend Mason receive letters in code that they just can't read. (Isn't that what words like to young children before they learn to decode?) Poor King, Kayla's dog just wants a piece of cheese while he subtly offers hints to the identity of the sender, but no one seems to listen. Dori Hillestad Butler's book is a very creative and illustrator Nancy Meyers offers many visual clues.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this early middle-grade series! Clever mystery, wonderful interplay of dog/human communication and miscommunication, and sweet illustrations. Can't wait for #3!

[Beth P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining, humorous, engaging--a must-have for primary classrooms and libraries.

[Jessica Vohwinkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This quick read features a clever dog named King and his human, Kayla. The second in the series, this mystery centers on a strange letter left at Kayla's doorstep. King catches on quickly, and tries to clue the humans in. While they can't speak dog, they do put their brains together to crack the code and discover the letter's message. The author's choice to tell the story through the perspective of the dog lends humor and a unique voice that young readers will be excited to engage with.

I would use this book with my students to make predictions about the story. I would pause after Kayla and Mason have discovered their letters, and ask students what they think will happen next. Challenging them to predict what the letter might say would engage their creativity and use of background knowledge. I'd also ask students to think about how the voice of King the dog makes the story more enjoyable for us as readers. How might the book be different if it were told from Kayla's perspective instead?

[Barbara Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the mystery series featuring Kayla and her golden retriever, King. I enjoyed the author's approach of first introducing the dog and later his human, Kayla. King is frustrated that he cannot communicate to his owner in words, so he uses actions to express himself. By the end of the tale, readers learn more about King's intelligence.

Kayla and King answer the doorbell. No one is there but a letter has been left on the doorstep. When Kayla's friend Mason comes to visit, he reveals that he has received a letter as well. Neither of the friends can read the letter because it is written in secret code. Kayla and Nathan set out to decode the letters. They find that only the second word is different. King is sure he knows the author, but the humans don't understand what he is saying. A chance meeting with Jillian, who lives a few houses away may hold the key to the mystery.

I would consider this book more of a chapter book than an easy reader. Children in second and third grade will better understand the nuances and messages of the plot. This book presents multicultural characters and interactive learning opportunities. Recommended for boys and girls in the seven to nine age range.

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

King and Kayla receive a mysterious letter. Inside the words are gibberish, but King knows who the letter came from. He makes every effort to tell Kayla, but she just doesn’t seem to get it. When their friend Mason stops by with a similar letter they sit down to figure out what they know and what steps to take next to break the code. With the help of King they get a clue from friend Jillian. Will the code be hard to crack?

Author Dori Hillestad Butler has created an interactive story for kids. Young readers transitioning from picture books to this early chapter book will find it easy to read and navigate. They will have fun figuring out the mystery themselves too. Parents and teachers can use this as a tool to create their own secret codes in the classroom or at home.

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a really fun series for girls. It features a girl named Kayla and her dog named King. I love how the dog is always trying to tell his human (Kayla) things but she cannot understand him. It features lots of simple, everyday mysteries and a nice approach to solving them. It includes situations kids will relate to easily. There is a boy in the story, so even though it seems a bit girly I think boys might like it, too. In this particular book, a mysterious letter arrives at Kayla’s front door and she cannot read it because it is written in a secret code. She tries to figure out what it saying. It is a great transitional chapter book for Grades 2- 3. Highly recommended. Lots of humor and nice illustrations throughout.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short, simple chapter book is perfect for independent readers who are moving on from beginning readers. The text is large, with wide margins and very short paragraphs or lines of dialogue. Cartoon pencil drawings with digital color are found on every spread. Readers are privy to King’s thoughts, although the humans in the story cannot understand what he tries to say; this confusion, along with King’s many expressions, adds humor to the book. The code is simple and the illustrations show how it is deciphered. Budding detectives in grades 2-4 can attempt to solve the mystery alongside Kayla and King.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

King is a dog and Kayla is his human. This cute story is told through the eyes of King as he tries to help his human crack the code of a mysterious letter - and get some cheese. This book has likable characters, a slightly predictable but believable mystery plot, and a gentle dose of humor. The secret code is easy to replicate and something kids will enjoy trying out for themselves when they're done reading. I love this as an early introduction to mysteries for new readers. I also love that I can hand this to my early reader and know there are more in the series that they are bound to love when they're done.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much about this series that kids will love. King narrates and tries to get his human, Kayla, to understand what he wants, which in this book is cheese, to start with. But their morning is interrupted by the doorbell with a mysterious letter on the doormat. But the letter can't be deciphered! Kayla is on the case to try to figure out the code, although King is a few steps ahead. He knows who left the letter, thanks to his sense of smell.

Kids will love this one. I'm sure they'll have fun trying to figure out the code. And, of course, King is a lovable narrator.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kayla and Mason both receive strange letters that they can’t make any sense of. They have a mystery on their hands as they try to find out who sent the letters to them and what they say. King, all the while, with his doggie sense of smell, knows exactly who dropped the letters off and helps the kids to solve that part of the mystery. Then it’s up to the kids to figure out what their letters say.

This was a humorous read as King tries to communicate with his human Kayla but is often misunderstood. There’s also some good problem solving and decoding done to figure out what the letters say.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clever early chapter book where the reader is invited into the perspectives of both the humans (kids) and the pet dog (who talks to the reader). There is a mystery to be solved and a letter written in code- all favorites of 2nd and 3rd graders. The book is funny and well written with great illustrations on each page and text at 2nd grade reading level. Great to use as a discussion starter about communicating- how we communicate with animals and they with us, and how we interpret human communication and sometimes have to spend some time to figure out it’s true meaning. Love it!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this delightful early chapter book, King and his person, Kayla, must solve the puzzle of a coded message left on their porch. But King, the dog, has a clue that Kayla does not, he knows, thanks to his talented nose, who dropped it off. But Kayla and her friend, Mason are puzzled. It's up to King to find the clues necessary to figure out the mystery. The short text and cute illustrations make this a great series for readers who are ready to move up to short chapter books.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

King helps his human, Kayla, solve mysteries. In this case, Kayla gets a mystery note written in a secret code. King figures out who delivered it right away because of his excellent sense of smell. He tries to explain to Kayla, but she thinks he just wants to go outside. She ends up cracking the code along with a friend, and the mystery is solved.

Right on the cusp of easy readers and chapter books. A good choice for kids who like mysteries and/or dogs.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kayla finds a mysterious letter at the door after she and King hear a knock. But she can't read the gibberish in it. Who sent the letter and why?

A nice introduction to codes and ciphers for littles. Kids will love King's sillyness, though he also makes some important observations for the case. Kayla's got a good head on her shoulders, which is important since she can't understand King. Highly recommended.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A letter is left on Kayla's porch but it is in code. Kayla and her friend Mason, who got a letter too, try to figure out who left it. Kayla writes a list of what they know, another of what they don't, and tries to come up with a plan. Kind, who is her dog, knows that it smells like oatmeal and leads them to the person who loves oatmeal.
Humorous. We get to read King's thoughts.
Getting ready for book club.

[BiblioBickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun mystery involving a letter written with cut-out letters that do not make any sense. Kayla methodically works with her friend Mason to solve the mystery of who left the letter and what it means (they figure out it's in code). Meanwhile, King, Kayla's dog, tries to help, but the humans do not understand what he is trying to tell them. Good for ages 7-8 or younger more advanced readers.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 4 out of 5]

1/5/2018 ~~ As with the others in the series, I love King's voice. He gets so frustrated when Kayla and her friends don't understand him. I also like Kayla's approach to solving problems - write ideas in a notebook. I do wish she'd had one more strategy for solving the mystery: What word do letters usually begin with?

I know I'll have readers for this book in my elementary library.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, this installment of King and Kayla made me laugh out loud as King is trying to get Kayla to understand he wants cheese! My dog loves cheese more than anything! This will be popular with kids and I predict many letters in code will be floating around afterward. Another fun book in the series. I think this may be my favorite so far!

[Denise Kettering · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kayla receives a letter with a code and she is trying to figure out what is happening. Her friend also receives a coded letter and they have to try to figure out the code and determine what it means. King notices a familiar smell and tries to help solve the mystery. The characters are cute and this is a good series for kids to think about how parts of a plot can fit together.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! This is my favorite one so far. I loved the introduction of a simple code that readers could absolutely use to create their own secret messages. Also, the miscommunication between King and Kayla regarding what he wants is continuously amusing.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and fun, although I thought Kayla was a pretty clueless dog owner. King obviously wants cheese, girl! Frankly, Kayla is sort of a non-presence in this book. King is the star. He's the cute one and the smart one. What a good dog.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fun read! Often books for young readers can be a bit formulaic and dull, but this is not the case for King & Kayla! I loved that King knew how to solve the case but wasn't able to communicate this to Kayla. This is a spectacular series for young readers ready for short chapter books.

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book and the whole series but I didn’t really like how it always says the same things in all the books. For example, in the beginning of every book it says, “I am king. This is Kayla. She is my human” I like when they do that but I also find it sometimes weird.

[May Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and cozy mystery for kids

This is nice and cute. It may be quite long, but the advantage of it is it felt like a full-blown story if you know what I mean. This will do if you do not want to invest in a lengthy mystery like Nancy Drew.

[Kelly Ewing · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute! Great for 2nd grade readers or low 3rd grade readers. A starter chapter book that’s just right for readers. Very cute story about figuring out a puzzle without giving up. Good lesson for the reader to learn. And King’s narration is always funny!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5 stars)

[Aaliyah Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!!I liked it

[MaryLibrarianOH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kayla (African American girl) and King (her dog) work to decipher a friend's coded letter.