THE MAGIC BOX

Want to solve a good mystery? Do you have what it takes to be a good detective? Well, join Max and Larry to find out what happened to the little girl named Daisy. Max Monroe is a smart young boy in The Magic Box. When Max’s mother dies and his father becomes increasing busy at work, Max goes to stay with his grandfather, Harry.  Upon arriving at his grandfather’s house Max begins to hear crying from behind the house. When he goes after the sound he stumbles upon a small house behind the bushes with a sign reading “The Monroe Detective Agency.”  Max’s excitement fills the air as he rushes to his grandfather to learn more about the old wooden detective house. To his surprise, Max meets his grandfather's brother, Larry, the ghost. Yes, you read correctly-- a ghost.

As soon as Max comes to the understanding that Larry is really a ghost, his grandfather tells him to spend time with Larry.  Max and Larry take a look around the old wooden detective house when they get a phone call for detective work.  Both Max and Larry must work together to find out what happened to Daisy, the girl who disappeared from her own birthday party.

The Magic Box is the first book in The Ghost and Max Monroe series by L.M. Falcone.  Those that love detective stories will also love this humorous, early chapter book. The pages have very minimal black and white illustrations.

For grades 2 and up.

THE CHICKEN SQUAD: THE FIRST MISADVENTURE

When in a jam call the Chicken Squad. Dirt, Sweetie, Poppy, and Sugar are cute, short, and fluffy chickens. And these are not their real names. Well here is a story of their first misadventure. So, Dirt, Sweetie, Poppy, and Sugar live in Barbara’s backyard with their mother, Moosh, and J.J. Tully, a retired search and rescue dog. Given there are other animals that come around; for example; Tail the squirrel.  


Well their first misadventure happens when Tail frantically runs into the chicken coop. From here on, Dirt and Sugar try to help by doing detective work in hopes of figuring out what Tail is afraid of.  Unfortunately, Tail’s limited vocabulary slows down their detective work.  Dirt and Sugar start with sketching basic shapes; however, Tail uses words such as “big, scary, enormous, and frightening” to describe what he is afraid of.  It takes hard work to help the terrified Tail.

Read The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure by Doreen Cronin to find out what Tail was afraid of.  This is a light, humorous chapter book that introduces shapes.

For 2^nd – 4^th grade.

DETECTIVE MURILLA IS BACK

Murrilla Gorrilla is back with another case in Murilla Gorilla and the Missing Yellow Parasol by Jennifer Lloyd.  

Parrot's yellow parasol is missing and he wants Murrilla, the detective, to help him find it.  Murrilla is easily distracted by other yellow things she sees while looking for clues.  Will Murrilla ever find Parrot's yellow umbrella?  

 For beginning readers to practice their reading skills

A NEW DETECTIVE IN THE JUNGLE

The Banana muffins have gone missing from  Ms. Chimpanzee's stand at the Mango Market.  Murilla Gorilla has been hired to find out who stole the muffins?  Was it Frog? Was it Okapi? Was it Hippo? Murilla Gorilla must follow the clues and work very hard to solve this case.

Murilla Gorilla Jungle Detective by Jennifer LLoyd is great or beginning readers and those who enjoy Dodsworth and similar stories.  

READING IS DELICIOUS...IF YOU HAVE A SWEET TOOTH

Another delicious read about food as we gear up for our 2013 summer reading theme, Reading isSo Delicious.  

Alexander McCall Smith is hitting all the right notes with a new series based on his famous and popular adult detective, Precious Ramotswe.  In The Great Cake Mystery:  Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case, everyone suspects the fat round boy in their school of taking the sweets from their bags.  But Precious is not convinced on such flimsy evidence, Poloko's sticky hands.  Precious is determined to find the true thief and  proof of Poloko's innocence.  

A clever and thoughtful new detective and a great new beginning chapter book series for readers in 2nd-4th grade is here.  

WHAT A GOOFBALL

Growing up, Jeff Butler always did funny things, and that is where he got the nickname “Goofball.”  Ever since the first grade, he and his friends Brian, Mara and Kelly, started solving mysteries and expanded this into “the Goofball private eyes.”   From one case to another, the goofball private eyes kept themselves very busy solving small mysteries around town.  When Thunder, a pony, goes missing, his owner Randall Crandall asks them to help find his pony.  Will the Goofball private eyes find Thunder and bring him back home?   Will they be able to gather all their clues in time to find Thunder, or will this remain one mystery that stays unsolved?

Goofballs: The crazy case of the Missing Thunder by Tony Abbott is the first in the series.  This is a pleasant story for children who enjoy reading mystery and detective stories with elements of humor.  For 2^nd grade and older.

SPIES IN THE LIBRARY

Steve loves the Bailey Brothers stories, detectives extraordinaire, and has read all their books. He studied everything there is to know about being a detective and hopes to become one just like them. His hopes are realized when he is mistaken a "bad guy" while doing research for a homework assignment at the library! Now he must figure out who the real spy selling government secrets is in order to save himself. Who knew that the library could be such a dangerous place and that librarians are really secret agents?

The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity: A Brixton Brothers Series by Mac Barnett is for readers in 4th through 6th grade looking for some action.

CASE OF THE CRYPTIC CRYNOLINE

Enola meets Florence Nightingale, a woman of definite independence and progressive ideals, when her landlady asks Enola for help after getting threatening messages. Enola, this time crosses paths with her older and famous brother, Sherlock, as both work on the same case but from different angles. Determined to help her landlady Enola discovers that maybe Florence Nightingale was not just a nurse during the Crimea War, but perhaps also a SPY!

Another super suspenseful adventure in which Enola Holmes tries to outwit her brother and villanous lords. The Case of the Cryptic Crynoline by Nancy Springer is for 6th - 8th graders.

HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A P.I.?

Well, this is the tale of one boy who wanted it more than anything else.

There was an Irish boy named Fletcher Moom, who only wanted one thing and that was to be a private investigator. He even took the online course from Bob Bernstein, the famous FBI agent turned private eye. He was first in his class and had a real badge to prove it, too. He just wanted to do some good and be a voice for justice against those who would bully and lie and cheat. You can see where this is heading....

One day, his badge was stolen and everyone doubted his abilities despite all his boasting. To prove himself and get it back, he took on a case for April Deveraux. As he got closer to finding the thief who stole her special lock of hair, Fletcher was accused of arson and jailed. His nemesis, a member of the notorious criminal Sharkey family, sprang him from police custody and together they forged an uncomfortable alliance to clear both their names of the recent rash of thefts and mayhem in the town.

A great detective novel full of twists and red herrings written with humor and full of characters you'll want to root for.

Half-Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer is for fluent readers 6th and up.

THE MONEY BUSH

What's a girl to do when she finds a huge wad of cash in the bushes? After an internal ethical struggle, she spends it of course. A little for Grandma, a little on herself, something for a few friends. Before Sammy gets to spend it all, suspicious things start to happen.

Another great mystery where Sammy learns a lesson- money doesn't grown in bushes. Sammy Keyes and the Cold Hard Cash by Wendelin Van Draanen is perfect for readers in 6th & up.

CATCH HER IF YOU CAN, SHERLOCK

Sherlock Holmes' much younger sister is once again entangled in a mystery where she herself is now in danger. In the midst of trying to start a new life for herself, Enola opens up a detective investigation agency using multiple disguises and pretenses, but things prove difficult when she becomes a victim herself while looking for a missing baronet's daughter. All the while trying to dodge her brother Sherlock.

The Case of the Left-Handed Lady: An Enola Holmes Mystery by Nancy Springer is a suspenseful detective novel with a great heroine. For middle school readers and those who enjoy Sherlock Holmes mysteries.

MYSTERY IN THE HLLS

The Hollywood Sisters: Backstage Pass by Mary Wilcox is a new mystery series about the Ortiz sisters newly plunked into their rented Beverly Hills mansion from more humble digs in Anaheim. Jessie, the shy and younger sister of the now famous Eva, is determined to stop the bad press, but she seems to only be getting in the way and creating ill feelings with the crew and cast members instead.

For readers in 4th-6th grade.