Sly runs a detective agency called “Sleuth for Hire,” but she only takes cases that her cat, Taxi, would care about. She is smart and serious and is kept in business by her friends. In Case #1, she is hired by her pal Jack, known for his sudden appearances, to figure out why there’s always a flock of birds hanging out on the soccer field. After collecting a few clues, Sly discovers a custodial mishap. Case #2 deals with her friend’s missing ballet slippers, disappearing swim fins and appearing baseball cleats. Sly is given to moments of self-doubt, jealousy and grumpiness, but ultimately her gumshoe skills pay off. In Case #3, the question is why Brian, her lively four-year-old neighbor, suddenly wants to be rolled by a rolling-pin, dangle from trees and take long soaks in the tub. In this trio of trifles there is not a nail-biting moment to be found, but Sly and her friends do deliver a pleasant read and some clues to the mysteries of friendship. (Fiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: April 1, 2006
ISBN: 0-8037-2994-4
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2006
The Spy In The Attic (64 pp.; $13.95; PLB $13.88; Apr. 1, 1997; 1-55858-727-6; PLB 1-55858-728-4): When Mr. Leon, a new upstairs neighbor, receives some deliveries late at night that appear to be a coffin and a cannon, Martin is suspicious. He meets Mr. Leon and finds out that he wears a wig, sunglasses, and gloves, and becomes certain that their apartment building is harboring a spy. Then Mr. Leon asks Martin to walk his dog, providing the perfect opportunity for some spying of his own. Despite a too-neat ending—all mysterious behavior is explained away—the story is entertaining and well-written, a step above the usual easy reading fare. Unzner provides endearing color illustrations on every page of this amiable book. (Fiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: April 1, 1997
ISBN: 1-55858-727-6
Page Count: 64
Publisher: NorthSouth
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1997
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Nate the Great is back and in fine form. In this latest story, he has come to San Francisco to visit his wealthy cousin and fellow detective, Olivia Sharp. Olivia, unable to meet him at the airport due to the demands of her detecting schedule, sends her chauffeur and fancy limo to pick him up. After going up and down the hills of San Francisco, they arrive at Olivia’s house. Even though Nate is slightly out of his element in San Francisco, being in a strange city, unaccompanied by his usual entourage of friends, it doesn’t take him long to become drawn into a case—the case of the lost joke book. Olivia’s friend Duncan has lost his brand-new joke book, desperately needs the punch line to a joke, and needs to have it in three hours. Nate, resourceful and inventive as always, solves the mystery. The illustrations, done in the style of Marc Simont, are less distinctive than Mr. Simont’s and are somewhat tepid in comparison, but are perfectly fine. Young readers, though they’ll notice the difference in style, will still feel that they’re in Nate’s familiar world. As usual with the Nate the Great books, this story will be great fun for the first- or second-grade reader. (Easy reader. 7-9)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-385-32605-X
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2000
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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