THE BEAR DETECTIVES: The Case of the Missing Pumpkin

In joint pursuit of whoever stole farmer Ben's prize pumpkin, bumbling Papa bear follows his hound and his instincts while the young bears are guided by their detective book. When the book finally tells them to follow their noses the mystery is solved: ""The pumpkin was pied by Mrs. Ben."" The rhyme, the frenetic chase and the slapstick false leads might keep beginners on the trail, but as easy reading sleuths go The Bear Detectives have nothing like the class of our favorite, Nate the Great.