When Horace the elephant turns 11, he celebrates in style by inviting his exotic friends to a splendid costume party. But a mystery is afoot, for in the midst of the games, music, and revelry, someone has eaten the birthday feast.

The culprit could be any of a number of exotically costumed animal guests, from a pig dressed as an admiral to a pair of giraffes in tutus to a zebra gone punk.

The fun of poring over the artwork for hidden messages and significant clues is matched by the joy of a birthday as described in the text--witty, clever, laugh-out-loud verses that are unusual, surprising, and full of life.

It will take a clever sleuth to deduce the thief's identity. But don't worry, you can sneak a peek at the top-secret solution if you need to. No, it won't be easy, but the joy in a Graeme Base book can be the thrill of the chase.

As in Base's hugely popular bestseller Animalia, his lush, intricately detailed illustrations in The Eleventh Hour comprise a sort of visual hide-and-seek. The rhyming text and lavish illustrations each provide clues, and it's up to the reader to piece them together and decide whodunit.

Whether you or your child is a huge fan of the international sensation Animalia, has read all the Graeme Base picture books, or is new to the worlds that Base creates, this beautiful, full-color book will bring joy to bedtime, story time, a rainy day, or anytime!