Encyclopedia Brown Lends a Hand

Our 7 yr old son loves this book series; we have bought MANY of them. This is each nights reading when we go to bed; we have to read at least 2 cases each evening, and figure out the clues. These books are fun reading, and actually challenge your kids to remember, comprehend and apply what they have read to figure out the answer to each case (and the solve for each case is found in the rear section of the book). Most boys would really enjoy these; I figure the girls would too, we just don't have any at our house to take a vote on that!!!

Leroy (Encyclopedia) Brown is a ten-year old boy who solves simple mysteries in his neighborhood. His specialty is using his vast knowledge to find the inconsistency in people's statements or actions to solve the puzzle. This book contains ten of his most difficult cases. Each takes only a few pages to state and the solutions are given at the end of the book. The cases are difficult to solve as they rely on very subtle differences. For example one case is resolved because the perpetrator claims he found a statement on the last page of the newspaper, which he claimed had an odd page number. Since the last page must have had an even number, Encyclopedia knew the boy was lying. These stories are written at just the right level of difficulty for the late elementary or early middle school child. They involve activities that are easily understandable, ones that could be part of any child's day at home or at school. Reading and attempting to solve these puzzles will stimulate your brain and encourage you to read more carefully.

ISBN 0590405314 - THIS Leroy Brown is the "baddest" detective in the whole darn town. Idaville is the only crime-free city in the country, and Encyclopedia is the reason. Always a big fan of mysteries and detectives for any age, I have to rank Encyclopedia among my favorites. As a kid, I felt challenged to be more observant after Encyclopedia beat me to the answer over and over. I find not much has changed as an adult, and I love it! With several short cases in the book, younger readers will find it easy to keep up - none of that putting the book down and coming back to it a little lost about where you were in the story. Older readers will only find themselves disappointed that the book came to an end! That, and they were outsmarted by a kid. - AnnaLovesBooks