Jigsaw Mystery in the Mail

In this enchanting story by Bob Graham, the Kelly family receives a large jigsaw puzzle that becomes a year-long project. When the final piece is missing, Mom, Dad, Kitty, and Katy embark on a determined search, even venturing to the local dump. The narrative beautifully illustrates themes of teamwork, perseverance, and the power of positive thinking, all while showcasing Graham's signature detailed illustrations and wordless sequences. It's a gentle, heartwarming tale that celebrates family bonds and the joy of shared experiences, culminating in a delightful and hopeful resolution.

Serendipity and positive thinking come into play as a family searches for a missing puzzle piece in Bob Graham’s enchanting story with a sweet surprise ending. “Oh, let’s do it!” say Kitty and Katy and Mom when a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle mysteriously arrives in the mail. “I have time on my hands,” agrees Dad. Starting in winter with the edges, by autumn they’re almost done, only to discover that one piece is missing. Mom is sure that it must have accidentally gone out with the trash, so the Kellys pile into the car to comb through the local dump (“shouldn’t take long”). There they uncover forgotten letters, train tickets, discarded newspapers, and old photos yellow with age, but finding the missing piece is starting to seem like wishful thinking. “Let’s wish, then,” says Katy. As in all of Bob Graham’s work, the beauty here is in the details, with visual perspectives that offer a bird’s-eye view or take us underfoot, wordless sequences letting us in on a secret. Is it sheer luck—or perhaps the power of hope—that creates an ending to the story?