Elizabeth Bush (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, January 2004 (Vol. 57, No. 5))
Twelve of the thirteen households on Chickadee Court have long cooperated on an annual outdoor display featuring symbols from the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas," but the tradition is threatened this year by a series of thefts. The birds disappear--from the cheesy gold-painted, cardboard-beaked rubber duck that masquerades as a partridge, to the meticulously handcrafted calling bird--only to reappear a day or so later. When the police fail to take this seeming prank seriously, Alex Parakeet and his best friend Yasmeen shoulder the sleuthing responsibilities and uncover a connection between the front yard heists and a break-in at the local toy store, from which the entire stock of the year’s hottest toy, Super Macho Military Mice, has been purloined. Neighbors are prime suspects, and the holiday bonhomie around the cul-de-sac steadily withers until the kids face off with the culprit and clear the name of the gruff loner (the holiday holdout in the thirteenth house), who proves himself a hero and a friend. Freeman doles out kid-sized clues designed to challenge, but not frustrate, budding investigators. Alex’s narration, particularly his keen observations of the adult species, are wry and witty, but never unnaturally precocious. Alex and Yasmeen succeed where adults fail because they’re normal kids with normal kid knowledge that eludes their elders, and readers will instinctively appreciate the righteousness of their success. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2004, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2003, Holiday House, 200p, $16.95. Grades 3-5.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2004)
There's a "Christmas crime wave" on nine-year-old Alex's street, which features a popular "Twelve Days of Christmas" display every year. The police are writing it off as a kids' prank, so it's up to Alex, his best friend, Yasmeen, and his "ace detective" cat, Luau, to track down clues, conduct interviews, and try to piece together the evidence. The amiable mystery is entertaining and moves at a brisk pace. Category: Intermediate Fiction. 2003, Holiday, 200pp, $16.95. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average.

Candice Bonds (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 16, No. 3))
Alex and Yasmeen are involved in a mystery. Someone is stealing the yard decorations that depict the twelve days of Christmas. Added to that is the theft of Super Macho Military Mice from the Mega-Menagerie store. This book has believable characters that display both humor and understanding. Alex's cat, Luau, adds even more humor to the story as she travels around the neighborhood. Young readers will find much to hold their interest as they try to figure out, "who done it." Fiction. Grades 4-5. 2003, Holiday House, 200p., $16.95. Ages 9 to 11.