The Case of the Abandoned Sea Otters: Magic Seashell Mysteries #1

By Katie Pelon

Three young friends are transported by a magic seashell to solve an environmental mystery: sea otter pups are being abandoned by their mothers outside of the aquarium, and no one knows why!

Riley, a shy third grader, puts her skills as an artist to the test when she becomes the lead detective on the case, drawing every clue she

• Language: English
• Publisher: Environerd Studios
• Release date: Feb 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088097816

Book preview

The Case of the Abandoned Sea Otters

Magic Seashell Mysteries #1

Katie Pelon

Environerd Studios

For Andy

Copyright © 2023 by Katie Pelon

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. The story, all names, characters, places, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

First edition February 2023

Audience: Grades 1-3

Book Cover and Illustrations by Katie Pelon

ISBN 978-1-0880-9773-1 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-0880-9781-6 (ebook)

Published by Environerd Studios

www.environerd.com

Contents

1. After School

2. Snack Time

3. Attic Clubhouse

4. A Mystery Revealed

5. Meeting Katrina

6. The Magic Seashell Society

7. Kelp Forest

8. Surf Shop

9. Seashell Shop

10. Cannery Tour

11. Eating Sardines

12. Suspect List

13. Fishermen

14. Two More Pups

15. A New Suspect

16. Paddleboarding

17. Mystery Solved

The End

Glossary of Vocabulary Words

Educational Connections

About the Author

Also By Katie Pelon

Chapter 1

After School

In the last few minutes of school on a Friday afternoon, I was adding the final details inside of my notebook for my blueprint for my super-secret clubhouse.

For months, my big sister Sophie, our best friend Gemma and I had been carefully planning the transformation of our attic into the most awesome clubhouse ever, and today we were finally going to get started.

The blueprint had everything we would need to have fun after school: a beanbag chair, movie corner, an arts and crafts table, a treasure chest for all the things we find at our town’s beach, and of course, lots of books for us to read.

I penciled in little piles of magazines in a cozy corner next to the bookshelf. I loved to flip through the pages of pictures with wild animals from all over the world. Then, I would sketch my version of those animals in my notebook, dreaming of all the places I would get to visit one day. In our clubhouse, I could collect so many magazines that I’d never run out of animals to draw.

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I was so focused on the details that I didn’t notice the teacher stop by my desk. I sat up in surprise when a piece of paper appeared on top of my drawing.

Excellent work on your project, Riley, Ms. Winters said. Your drawings of the Arctic animals really made your descriptions come to life.

Thank you, Ms. Winters. I especially had fun drawing the polar bear, I replied.

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As the teacher walked away, I heard a muffled laugh coming from behind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw Jasper giggling and whispering into his twin sister Juniper’s ear.

Still spending all your time on your drawings in your notebook, Riley? We’re in third grade now. When are you going to make some real friends and grow up? Jasper demanded and burst into laughter with his sister.

I turned back around and slammed my notebook shut. I could feel my cheeks getting hot and tears pooling in my eyes. I had really hoped that third grade would be better than last year.

The school bell rang, and as he passed my desk, Jasper swiped my Arctic project onto the floor, and I sat frozen as I watched my classmates trample it in their rush out the door.

After everyone had left, I picked up what was left of the paper and shoved it in my backpack.

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By the time I met Sophie and Gemma at our usual spot underneath the tallest palm tree next to the entrance to our school, I had brushed away the tears and felt like I could breathe a little easier. Since their fourth grade classroom was much closer to this spot, Sophie and Gemma always got here first, and they would wait for me so we could walk home together. The sun was