Nate the Great and the Phony Clue

This book is ideal for children whose logical, intellectual muscles need to be strained. Nate is a young boy who calls himself "the great" because of his ability to solve puzzles. Early one morning he encounters a torn piece of paper with the letters "VITA" on his doorstep. This is equivalent to a major dare, so Nate and his faithful dog Sludge embark on an exploration to discover what the message. After several small adventures and some excellent deductive work, the riddle is solved and Nate ends up where he was supposed to be at the appropriate time. The story reads easily and there are a few clues that appear early that a sharp eye may spot. It is an excellent story for the second or third grader.

Nate the Great is a "great" series for kids in the 2-4th grades. My son enjoys reading about Nate's adventures, and the large selectionof other Nate stories makes it an excellent way to get a kid hooked on reading.Another book featuring a young girl as the lead character who solves mysteries is "Abby and the Bicycle Caper."

My two boys and I have read all of the Nate the Great books, and this is one of their favorites. If you're paying close attention, you can even spot some clues long before Nate does, and help him solve the case.