Unicorn Detective 1: Who Stole the Mermaid’s Purse?

· Unicorns, mermaids, sasquatches—oh my! A laugh-out-loud chapter book mystery featuring a cast of mythical creatures, led by an unforgettable unicorn detective and his lovable yeti sidekick.
· Blends wacky humor with social-emotional themes, including teamwork, intuition, fairness, and first impressions.
· For fans of Inspector Flytrap, InvestiGators, and Unicorn Diaries—this is the perfect bridge from picture books to chapter books for ages 6–9.
· Packed with cinematic storytelling, cliffhanger chapter endings, and clever banter, ideal for reluctant readers or classroom read-alouds.
· Mythical world-building meets detective noir, featuring secret organizations, decoy villains, and a mystery with a cheese-based twist no one will see coming.
· Backmatter includes fun facts based on the characters and storylines from the book, presented as Detective Notes.

Becky Baines is a children's book writer and editor. Formerly the editorial director at National Geographic Kids, she has written books for kids on topics ranging from dogs to bones to eggs to spiders. She lives in Arlington, Virginia with her dog, Dolly Pawton.


Hannah Marks is an award-winning illustrator based in Hertfordshire, England. She creates her artwork digitally and likes to use brushes that emulate traditional media and texture. Hannah has worked in children's publishing for over ten years and has illustrated children’s books for clients such as Penguin Random House, Bloomsbury, Capstone, Running Press Kids, and Scholastic, among others.