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Cover of Ada Twist and the Disappearing Dogs
Illustrated · ages 6–9

Ada Twist and the Disappearing Dogs

The Questioneers Book #5

Written by Andrea Beaty · Illustrated by David Roberts

Book 5 in The QuestioneersView the full series

Top giftable

The fifth Questioneers chapter book: when pets start vanishing from Blue River Creek, Ada Twist refuses to jump to conclusions and follows the facts instead—modelling how a scientist cracks a real-life mystery without panic.

  • Best for6–9
  • FormatIllustrated
Where to buyPaperback
Waterstones
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The vibe

What it’s like.

Style

  • Conversational

Tone

  • Funny
  • Warm
  • Exciting
  • Inspirational

Themes

On the pagescientific method, mystery, pets, dogs, problem solving

Experience meters

Energy3/ 5
Humour3/ 5
Scariness1/ 5
Peril2/ 5
Wonder2/ 5
Cosiness3/ 5
Emotional intensity2/ 5
Conceptual intensity2/ 5

What’s it about?

The story.

Blue River Creek has a problem: pets are disappearing, and Sofia and Iggy are convinced a pet thief is on the loose after their own animals go missing. But Ada Twist is a scientist, and she knows better than to jump to conclusions. Instead of panicking, she makes a hypothesis, collects data and runs experiments to find out what's really happening—before even more pets vanish. As the Questioneers set traps, gather clues and follow the evidence, Aaron Slater's funny warning posters keep the neighbourhood on alert and the team works together toward a logical answer. From the bestselling Beaty–Roberts team, this illustrated chapter book turns the scientific method into detective work, showing young readers how to slow down, question assumptions and let facts lead the way. David Roberts's lively illustrations capture the worried pet owners, the homemade trap and the whole diverse gang of friends. Warm, funny and full of real thinking, it's a reassuring mystery for animal-loving readers.

Fit check

Right for your child?

Where it lands by age

Best for 6–9s reading independently, with short chapters and lots of illustration to carry newer readers. It reads aloud happily from about 5 and appeals especially to animal-loving children and fans of the Ada Twist Netflix series.

  • 1
  • 3
  • 5
  • 7
  • 9
  • 11
  • 13
  • Best fit · 6–9
  • Read aloud · 5–8
  • Independent · 6–9

Prose load

Light

Visual support

High

Reluctant-reader friendly

Very

Read-aloud quality

Strong

Works well for

  • Reading aloud
  • Reading together
  • Gift-buying
  • Reluctant readers
Low sensitivityNo content warnings

Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.

Bedtime suitability

3 / 5 · Workable

Sensitive-child

4 / 5 · Good fit

Graphic intensity

1 / 5 · None

Best for

  • Stem for kids
  • Gentle mysteries
  • Animal lovers
  • First chapter books

Avoid if

  • Wants high peril

Particularly good for children who are…

  • Interested in science

Why it lands

Why they love it.

Why kids love it

Missing dogs, homemade traps and a real mystery to crack—kids get to play detective alongside Ada while she refuses to guess and insists on evidence. Aaron's silly warning posters keep the whole hunt fizzing with fun.

  • Being a detective
  • Secret skill
  • Making a difference
  • Friendship and belonging

Why parents love it

It quietly teaches a brilliant lesson—don't jump to conclusions, gather data—inside a warm, funny pet mystery. Short chapters and David Roberts's illustrations support growing readers, and the diverse, complementary team of friends is a joy.

  • Educational for adult too
  • Conversation starter

In the series

The Questioneers.

7 books · open the series →

About the creators

About the creators.

AB

Andrea Beaty

Writer · United States

Andrea Beaty is an American children's author and the creator of the Questioneers — the runaway-bestselling series that began with the picture books Iggy Peck, Architect, Rosie Revere, Engineer and Ada Twist, Scientist and grew into a family of illustrated chapter books. A former software engineer who studied biology and computer science, Beaty writes funny, quietly rigorous stories that treat curiosity as a superpower: her young heroes ask questions, make mistakes, gather evidence and try again. Illustrated throughout by David Roberts, the Questioneers champion science, creativity and perseverance with a diverse, complementary cast, and inspired the Emmy-winning Netflix series Ada Twist, Scientist. Beaty's books have become classroom and bedtime staples for children who want to know how the world works.

More from Andrea Beaty
DR

David Roberts

Illustrator · United Kingdom · b. 1970

David Roberts is a British illustrator, born in Liverpool in 1970, who came to children's books after a string of odd jobs and a spell as a milliner — a background that shows in his stylish, spindly, fashion-conscious line. He is best known as the illustrator of Andrea Beaty's multi-million-selling Questioneers, from the Iggy Peck and Ada Twist picture books to the illustrated chapter-book series that follows the same diverse gang of curious, problem-solving children through STEM adventures, gentle mysteries and civic scrapes. His detailed, characterful drawings give each Questioneer a distinct personality and turn settings — a haunted mansion, a stormy night — into characters in their own right. A four-time Kate Greenaway shortlistee, Roberts is one of the most recognisable illustrators in contemporary children's publishing.

More from David Roberts

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Come into this from…

Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.

Where to go next…

Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.

Last reviewed · July 2026Suggest a correctionHow we recommend

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