Snoops, Inc. # 4 - The Vanishing Treasure

This series has been a fun little series of easy reads, with some perfectly plotted mysteries that are aptly suited for the young reader age group at which the books are aimed.  Yes, the stories are short (after all, they are intended for fourth graders - although, honestly, I could have easily read these in third grade, and probably second as well), and there are plenty of fantastic illustrations in each chapter drawn by the extremely talented Mariano Epelbaum; but, quite frankly, if you want a twenty or thirty minute escape from the pressures of real life, these are the perfect go-to books!

 

The Vanishing Treasure is the fourth book in the series, which features the twin crime solving siblings, Hayden and Jaden Williams, with their two best friends, Keisha Turner and Carlos Diaz.  Together, these four are Snoops, Inc. - four junior detectives who are ready, willing, and able to help when needed.  As the tag line reads:  "No case too small ... we solve them all!" As with the previous books, the first chapter opens with the conclusion of a case - in this instance, the Snoops have set a trap to capture a bicycle thief, and their coordinated stake-out results in trapping the culprit when she attempts to steal Jaden's shiny red bike, which was used as bait.  With that case behind them, Hayden is free to focus on her upcoming challenge - the annual Math-tastic Regional Tournament!  About the only mystery there is the identity of Hayden's online friend, with whom she has been chatting about the tournament for weeks.  The two plan to meet for the first time at the tournament, and Hayden could not be more excited!

 

Of course, a real mystery gets in the way when the two Math-tastic trophies - one for the winning team and one for the highest-achieving individual - are both stolen from a locked case in the school lobby.  Hayden calls in the rest of her Snoops team, and they are on the case.  Hayden is concerned that the thief could turn out to be her online friend, who she believes to be Anya, a new contender in the math tournament.  All clues do seem to point to her, but Hayden does not want to believe it.  The culrpit could also be Warren Garvey, the student from Hayden's own school who was disqualified by their teacher for cheating on an exam - and boy, is he angry about not being able to participate!  Can the school win without him?  There's also Newt Loggins, a quiet young boy that does not seem to fit in.  As the saying goes, you can never really tell about the quiet ones!  A crumpled up practice test, some saw dust on the floor around the trophy case, a mask that looks like one of the suspects, and a witness's description of a person fleeing the scene all lead the Snoops to only one conclusion - the wrong one!

 

Author Brandon Terrell creates a fun surprise near the end when he reveals not only the real thief, but also the reason for the theft and the true identity of Hayden's online friend.  It all leads them into the school basement, where they get trapped in the boiler room just minutes before Hayden is supposed to be back on stage for the final math competition.  It's a race against time to get Hayden back in the competition and stop the trophy thief before he pulls off one final steal!

 

Enjoyed Terrell's side-story about Jaden's attempts to learn how to perform magic tricks.  Sure, he may have been bumbling around in the beginning, but those tricks turn out to be very important when the kids are locked in the boiler room - a well-placed subplot that seemed to have no importance whatsoever actually worked right into the main mystery quite nicely.  Kudos to Terrell!

 

Another winning read - as I say every time, it's a shame this series didn't last.

 

RATING:  8 grape suckers out of 10 for a calculatingly good mystery featuring a few surprising twists and turns! 

Snoops, Inc. # 3 - The Cursed Stage

Every once in a while, you want a really quick read, but at the same time, you want a story that is enjoyable.  That may not always be easy to find, but fortunately, with the Snoops, Inc. series, I have the perfect combination of both.  Written by Brandon Terrell, with plenty of internal illustrations by Mariano Epelbaum, these early reader stories may only be 100 pages or so in length, with large font and one or two full or half page illustrations in each chapter, but they are chock full of fun mysteries.  Terrell is a self-proclaimed lover of mystery stories, and his author blurb in the back of the book reveals he has more than 200 Hardy Boys books in his collection!  That definitely gives him a heads-up in the mystery department - and it clearly shows in his writing of this series.

The Cursed Stage is the third book in the Snoops, Inc. series, and with it, I was pleased to find two of my favorite past times merged into this one mystery - comics and theater!  The book opens with twins, Hayden and Jaden Williams, and their two best friends, Keisha Turner and Carlos Diaz, who are the four members of Snoops, Inc. ("No Case Two Small ... We Solve Them All!"), hiding out in The Comic Vault in order to catch a thief.  And catch a thief they do!  The four spring a trap that catches an employee of the store who has been pilfering high-valued comics and selling them on the side to make himself some easy money.  It's always funny to see authors create fake names for books, comics, movies, and other pop culture things in order to avoid any copyright problems - so, in this story, we get Metal Miracle, Zom-Borg, and Arachno-Boy instead of Iron Man, (not sure of the middle one - a combination of zombie and cyborg, perhaps?), and Spider-Man.  And, of course, Action Man is an obvious placeholder for Superman (who first appeared in Action Comics back in the day).

 

By Chapter Two, Terrell and Epelaum move us into the actual mystery that is the focus of this book, as Hayden, Jaden, Keisha, and Carlos are helping out their middle school drama teacher with the school play for the year.  All four are working behind the scenes, but poor Jaden just cannot help but be enamored with the star of the play, a fellow classmate by the name of Frankie Dixon (gee, wonder how the author came up with that name?  If you can't figure it out based on what I told you in the first paragraph of this post, then do some research....).  Frankie is a former BFF of Keisha, but the two parted ways for reasons not explained in this book (maybe a future story?), and she is definitely a high-maintenance diva.  Frankie knows she's a star (even if her Daddy donated a lot of things to the school and the pay to help earn her that spot), and she will not let anyone take the spotlight away from her - not even the ghost that is haunting the play.

 

What, what?  A ghost?! That's right.  Terrell gives us a haunted theater (or, a cursed stage, as the title proclaims) for the Snoops, Inc. team to figure out.  Ghosts aren't real, as the kids know, but someone is clearly "haunting" the theater.  Someone does not want the production of Wagons West! to go forward ... or, is it more specific?  Does someone not want Frankie Dixon to be the star of the play?  While astute readers will be able to spot the culprit from the get-go, I must say the mystery is well-plotted, with little clues placed conveniently along the way so that the age-group for which this series is intended can have fun trying to pick them out and solving the mystery right along with the Snoops, Inc. gang.

 

Epelbaum's illustrations are beautiful and add so much to the story.  They really make me miss all of the internals that the Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Bobbsey Twins, and other series books used to have back in the day.  I think the publishers are really missing the mark when they do not include illustrations in their stories.  It is not just grade schoolers and middle schoolers who enjoy the illustrations - older readers like them as well! (Kensington publishers got it right back in the late '70s and early '80s when they produced the line of illustrated Gothic novels and Mystery Puzzler novels for adults!)  Epelbaum's illustrations capture some great suspenseful moments in the story, and some of them even add an element of clues to the story if the reader studies them carefully!

 

(The one thing the author did forget is the stage light - every theater always has one single light that remains on at all times - it's a superstition that goes back many, many years, and pretty much every theater I have ever seen has one!) 

 

It's rather a shame this series did not last beyond its six book run back in 2017 - not sure if that was the author's choice or the publisher's decision, but both need to take another look at it!  These kids deserve more stories!

 

RATING:  8 falling western-town-painted flats out of 10 for a hauntingly good tale of ghosts, mysteries, and tons of theater fun!

Snoops, Inc. # 2 - Science Fair Sabotage

It's been more than a few months since I read the first book in this series, but I do remember finding the first book to be rather cute.  Thus, when I picked up this second in the series, I was expecting to find the same level of enjoyment, and I did.  This is a fun little series about four middle school children who have formed a mystery-solving squad they call "Snoops, Inc."  While the books are relatively short, with tons of internal illustrations, the stories are actually well-plotted, and readers have the opportunity to pick up on clues right along with the Snoops to try and solve the case before they do.  I know as a young reader, I would have thoroughly enjoyed these books.

Science Fair Sabotage is set at a school science fair (obviously), when twin sixth-graders Hayden and Jaden Williams have projects they are hoping will win.  Jaden has the cliched volcano, set with a timer that will cause the "lava" to erupt; while Hayden has developed an app that she hopes will be able to scan fingerprints just like the computers police use.  Their friends, and fellow snoopers, seventh-grader Keisha Turner and eighth-grader Carlos Diaz, are there to support them.  But after they and their fellow classmates set up their projects the night before, they come in the next day to discover their projects have been sabotaged!  Jaden's volcano erupts well before the start of the science fair; the microchip that stores the app on Hayden's computer is missing; a girl's backpack that has the blueprints for her project has gone missing; and a boy's robot has had the hard drive removed from its back.  Four projects damaged, while the project of another young boy named Tariq - who has no problem boasting about how his project will win the fair - was left alone.  Needless to say, all signs point to Tariq ... or do they?

Jaden, Hayden, Keisha, and Carlos are on the case, looking for clues, determined to get to the bottom of the science fair sabotage.  A miscolored footprint near Jaden's volcano; the girl's blueprints found under a table, but without her backpack; some small rubber bands near the boy's damaged robot; and a mysterious hooded figure running out of the school carrying a suspiciously familiar-looking backpack lead the four kids on a chase to catch the saboteur.  With only 104 pages and larger than typical font, the story moves very fast, and it isn't long before the culprit is revealed and the reason for his (or her!) actions are brought to light.

 

One element about the story that I thought was well done was Jaden's insecurity about not only his science project, but about his place on the team.  Hayden is the computer genius, Carlos is the face of the team, and Keisha is the brawn - so where does that leave him?  He has doubts throughout the story, but by the end, he does come to the realization that he does have a very important place on the team, and his contribution is just as important as the others.  A nice moral for young readers to remember that they do not have to have the same skills and qualities as others to still be important!

As I was reading the story, it dawned on me how similar this series is to the Zebra Mystery Puzzlers that I read as a kid (and am now re-reading as an adult).  The cover illustration, as well as the interior ones, have clues to the identity of the saboteur, and the clues in the story itself are pretty straightforward.  While the Zebra Mystery Puzzlers are not as easily discernible (after all, that series is written for adults, not middle-schoolers), the clues are there if you know how to spot them.  And I have no doubt that middle-school children who love to read will enjoy trying to spot them in the story and illustrations.

This is most certainly a series I would recommend for those with young readers (and even for adults if you have an hour to kill and want a quick, easy read!).

RATING:  8 Burger BOOM! Double Bacon Cheeseburgers out of 10 for keeping it short and sweet, but thoroughly enjoyable.

Snoops, Inc. # 1 - Tracking Champ

I've had this series for quite a while - came across it on Amazon and thought it looked rather cute.  I bought all six books in the series (there were never any published after the sixth volume), and I've had them sitting on my "to-be-read" shelf for ... well, let's just say it's been about five years and leave it at that.  Not sure why I haven't picked one up to read before now, other than I simply continue to buy more books than I can possibly keep up with and read, so this one managed to stay near the bottom of the stack.  Well, I happened to glance at them when deciding what to read next, and I figured, "what the heck - let's see whether these were worth buying."  And they were!

Tracking Champ is the first of the Snoops Inc. series for young readers.  Written by Brandon Terrell, with illustrations by Mariano Epelbaum, Snoops Inc. is the name of the mystery club consisting of four middle schoolers who love to solve mysteries:  thirteen year old Keisha Turner, twelve year old twins Hayden and Jaden Williams, and fourteen year old Carlos Diaz.  While they may be in different grades, the four friends manage to work well together to solve any case - as the tagline on the back cover says, "No case too small ... we solve them all!"  And this first book finds the Snoops looking for their school's missing mascot, Champ.

It seems their principal has introduced the students to the school's new mascot - a slobbering bulldog named Champ, who also happens to be the principal's new pet.  Not everyone is thrilled about the new mascot.  The star basketball player is allergic, and the head cheerleader (who used to be friends with Keisha, but now they are at odds) would prefer a costumed mascot.  Well, someone has it out for the poor dog, because before one day even passes, the dog goes missing! The principal believes his student assistant was neglectful and failed to fasten the dog's cage, but she swears she locked the door.  The Snoops are on the case, determined to find out what really happened and where Champ is now!

Despite being a series for young readers (aimed at upper elementary and middle school age children), the book is actually written with a rather well-crafted mystery.  Terrell provides several likely suspects, uses a few red herrings to mislead the reader, and the actual culprit comes as a surprise, as it is not one of the likely suspects at all.  Epelbaum provides some wonderfully drawn illustrations inside, with one or two drawings in each chapter.  I admit to liking this, as I miss the days when the children's mystery books had interior illustrations (even if it were only four or five throughout the whole book!).  To me, interior illustrations add a little something 'extra' to the story as you read it.

Something else I enjoyed about this book is that the characters are diverse - Keisha is African-America, Carlos is Hispanic, and Hayden and Jaden are Caucasian - yet, there is no big deal made about this, the story does not focus on these ethnic differences, and one is not made to be inferior or superior to the other.  I've noticed a number of modern children's books are showing a tendency to throw in some "woke" ideals about race, ethnicity, and national origin, trying to impress upon the young reader that as a white American, he or she should be apologetic or ashamed;  Terrell, however, shows the children are simply accepting of one another, ignoring the so-called "differences" that a part of today's society wants to emphasize.  It made the book much more fun to read, as the emphasis was on their friendship, their individual talents, and the mystery itself.

The book did not take long to read (it is only 104 pages, with a number of internal illustrations), but it was enjoyable, and I look forward to reading the next book.

RATING:  8 thick, bright red dog collars out of 10 for providing young readers with a great new mystery series with fun characters and well-plotted mysteries!

Creepella von Cacklefur No. 4 - Return of the Vampire

It's one of those days where you need something simple and light to read, and the Creepella Von Cacklefur definitely fits that criteria. A series for early readers, Creepella Von Cacklefur is a special-effects designer and director of scary films, as well as a student studying to be a journalist. Oh, and yes, she's a mouse. She lives in the world of Geronimo Stilton, an Italian creation (as is Creepella) whose name is pulled from an English cheese, "Stilton." All of the various series in the Stilton universe are for young readers, with an RL3 reading level. The prose is easy to read, and many of the words are written in stylized font to actually depict the word, as well as spell it, making it fun for the young readers to enjoy the story as the read.

Return of the Vampire is the fourth book in the series, which finds Creepella coming to the aid of Franco Fangley, an old friend of Grandpa Frankenstein who happens to be a vampire and a connoisseur of tomato juice. It seems Frangley's castle is haunted, filled with ghosts who persistently play pranks that are forcing him to make the decision to sell his homestead and leave the castle he has called home behind. Creepella, her niece Shivereen, and her friend Billy Squeakspeare, join Grandpa Frankenstein as they visit Castle Marinara (yes, there are plenty of puns - remember, this is a kids' book!) to see if they uncover the source of the ghostly pranks.

The mystery is a cross between Nancy Drew and Scooby Doo, involving scheming real estate investors and the unmasking of the ghostly apparitions. It's simple, it's fun, and it's filled with plenty of full color illustrations that are sure to keep any kid's attention.  It's kind of a shame they didn't have any series like this when I was in elementary school, as I have no doubt I would have enjoyed it.

I am curious, though, to know what prompted the publisher to take these Italian series and translate them for American readers. There are actually several different series - Geronimo Stilton, Thea Stilton, Creepella Von Cacklefur, Cave Mice, Space Mice, and Thea Stilton Mouseford Academy, Mice Kings, Kingdom of Fantasy, and the Special Editions. They must be doing relatively well for the American publishers to continue translating and publishing them (and quite frankly, there are more of these series on the shelves at Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million than there are Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys, which is disappointing to me).

Regardless, it is a series I would recommend for parents who have elementary school age children, as it might entice those who aren't interested in reading to actually read!

RATING:  7 coffins filled with bread crumbs out of 10 for providing "spooky" tales that are not so scary that a young reader can't enjoy them!

Greetings from Somewhere, Book 10 - The Mystery of the Secret Society

Italy, France, China, Kenya, India, Peru, Australia, Alaska, and now Greece - these two young twins, Ethan and Ella Briar, have certainly traveled the globe with their parents, as their mother continues her assignment as a travel writer for their local hometown paper, the Brookeston Times.  And, since this an early readers' mystery series, it seems at every port, the twins stumble across a new mystery.  This last book in the series is certainly no different.

And yes, you read that correctly.  This tenth book in the "Greetings from Somewhere" series is the last book to be published, having come out in March 2016.  Not sure why the series ended - if it was because of poor sales, or perhaps the author just ran out of ideas, or what.  It's a shame, really, as these were great early reader books that could certainly have been a stepping stone into the world of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.  But, alas, the series is gone, and I haven't seen them on the shelves at Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million in quite a while.

Nevertheless, if the series was going to conclude, The Mystery of the Secret Society was certainly the way to do it.  The Briar family visits Athens, Greece this time around, and while the parents are helping Dr. Pappas with an archaeological dig, Ethan and Ella are pretty much left to their own devices (doesn't every pre-teen wish they had such freedom?!).  Before they can even leave the dig site, they stumble across a hint of the mystery to come - two images on one of the ancient walls - a hawk and a globe.  Ethan immediately recognizes them as the same images on the two sides of the coin their grandfather gave him wayyyyyyyy back in the first book of the series.

Is there a connection?  If so, what does it mean?

Enter: Dimitrios, a volunteer at the dig.  At first, he is gruff, but within moments, he warms to the children and leads them out of the cavern in which they had become lost.  The twins aren't sure what to think of him, but back at the hotel, they are more concerned about telling their grandfather about their find.  They e-mail him right away, hoping to get a response.

It soon becomes clear that there is more to the images than they first thought.  Dimitrios makes more and more appearances, leaving Ethan and Ella to wonder if he is following them.  Their grandfather is remaining unusually silent, with no e-mail responses, which is unusual for him.  Then, there is the strange crack in the wall with the two images.  And when Dimitrios volunteers to have the twins sit in on a Greek-language class he is teaching, they discover what type of person he really is, for instead he leads them back to the dig site, demanding they show him what they found!  The only problem is, they haven't found anything.  Or have they?

Author Harper Paris rounds out this series with a great little mystery that, in some ways, ties the books together in an unexpected way and a final farewell statement as the Briar family "headed out into the bright, sunny day.  A day full of mysterious possibilities."

As usual, Marcos Calo provides illustrations throughout the story, and as much as I hate to do it, I have to be nit-picky with one of the drawings.  On page 42, the text indicates that Greece is seven hours ahead of the Briar's hometown of Brookeston - yet, in the drawing of the two clocks at the top of the page, Greece shows the time as a little past 1:00, while Brookeston shows the time as a little past 8:00 - which is only five hours behind!  However, with 10 books and literally hundreds of illustrations, I suppose I can't blame him for one snafu!

I'll miss this little series, and it's a shame that young readers won't get to enjoy any more adventures of Ethan and Ella Briar as they travel 'round the world.  Bon Voyage, my little friends, and thanks for the mysteries you did share!

RATING:  8 broken statues of Greek gods out of 10 for making the fun of mysteries accessible even to the early readers!  (Greetings from Somewhere, you will be missed!)

Greetings from Somewhere, Book 9 - The Mystery of the Icy Paw Prints

The Briar family nears the end of the travels around the globe in the ninth book of this early reader mystery series.  It's rather a shame that the series ended with the 10th book - not sure if that was the author's intent all along, or if the books did not sell enough for the publisher to continue the series.  In either event, the series has been a fun jaunt around the world, and it is definitely something I would have thoroughly enjoyed when I was in first or second grade (heck, I usually have a smile now as an adult when I read them!).

The Mystery of the Icy Paw Prints finds the Briar family back in the United States, albeit far from the mainland in the snowy, freezing mountains of Alaska.  Author Harper Paris once again provides us with some great descriptions of the area, including Mt. McKinley and the surrounding volcanoes, icefalls, and glaciers.  They arrive in Anchorage, where they plan to stay, but a side trip to Nome finds the family stranded in an isolated forest area when their car breaks down.

This time, the mystery the twins find to solve does not come from their grandfather's e-mail; rather, they stumble across a mystery when a local woman and her daughter rescue them from their stranded vehicle and take them to the small village where they live to wait for a mechanic.  The fact that it will take two or three days for a mechanic to traverse the snow and ice covered land to get to them provides readers with a feel for the isolation some of these smaller villages in the outer parts of Alaska feel.

Paris provides a rather tame and obvious mystery - someone, or something, has been stealing fish from all of the locals, and no one knows who it is.  With nothing better to do while stuck in the small village, the twins, with the help of their newfound friend, Malina, investigate the area where the fish were stolen from Malina's mother.  They find some very unique tracks leading away from the empty container, and upon investigation, the tracks appear to be that of a polar bear - which Malina says is impossible, as polar bears do not come that far south.

As can be expected, the twins ultimately discover the culprit (by setting a trap), and the grown-ups are all thankful to have the "thief" exposed and happy to know their future fish finds will not be stolen.  Ethan and Ella's parents are somewhat concerned that their children got involved in yet another mystery (one that could have been dangerous considering he animals that roam the area), but they are proud of them nonetheless.

Leaving readers, as well as Ethan and Ella, to wonder what mystery the next book would have in store for them?

Again, this is a series that I highly recommend for parents who have beginning readers - the books are easy to read, they provide engaging stories with likable characters, and Marcos Calo illustrates the books with beautiful renditions of not only the characters, but the various exotic locales that the Briars visit.  Plus, the books provide a learning experience, since the author always includes various references to local vocabulary and history.

RATING:  7 grazing reindeer out of 10 for continuing to introduce young readers to the various wonders around the world!

Thea Stilton, Book Three - Ghost of the Shipwreck

It's been a while since I've read one of these Thea Stilton titles, and quite frankly, I had considered just giving them up - read what I had already bought, put them on the shelf, and then forget about them.  However, after reading this third mystery in the series, it rejuvenated my interest in the series a bit, and I may pick up a few more...

Thea Stilton and the Ghost of the Shipwreck is a fun story about not one, but two different treasures that the "Thea Sisters" find!  As with the prior book, Thea Stilton is little more than the narrator for the framing sequences, and the five mouselings - Nicky, Colette, Pamela, Paulina, and Violet - are actually the mystery-solving protagonists.

As the title and cover would suggest, the story opens with the girls stumbling into a mystery surrounding a legend about a ship that supposedly sank just off the coast off Whale Island, where the girls attend school.  Before you know it, Professor Ian van Kraken goes missing, and it's up to the girls to find him!  In an unknown-to-the-reader-at-the-time subplot, a new nautical transport company is making waves (yes, pun intended!) as its owner takes business away from the previously sole source of transportation on and off Whale Island.  With his new hydrofoil ferry, Captain Coral is able to transport people much faster than the old transport.  Of course, the reader has to wonder if there is another reason this new Captain has set shore on the island.

Meanwhile, the girls finally locate Profession van Kraken - but in doing so, they not only discover the remains of the sunken ship, but also find the treasure long thought lost to the world.  The only problem is, they aren't the only ones who were looking for it.  The girls end up kidnapped aboard the boat of someone they thought they could trust, and it is only by a stroke of luck they manage to escape and see the criminal brought to justice.

But wait!  There's more!

The mystery of the shipwreck only fills about half the book; the remaining half is devoted to yet another treasure hunt, as an old friend of Violet's asks the girls to come to Beijing to help him solve a mystery about another treasure.  Of course, the girls jump at the change and are soon whisked away to China.  Once there, Xiao shows them a unique lacquer box her mother purchased, but which a mysterious Madame Hu is desperate to obtain.  The girls soon discover the box is a map to a treasure of the Jade Princess, and it becomes a race to see whether they can beat Madame Hu to the treasure!

It's interesting the author chose to basically combine two mysteries into one - and with the cover and title what they are, it comes as a jarring surprise when barely halfway through the story the girls solve the mystery surrounding the shipwreck and go off on a secondary adventure.  At the same time, it was a bit refreshing to have two relatively quick mysteries solved in the span of one book and both of them to be fairly enjoyable.

The reading level for this book is listed on the back as "RL3" - which I would assume means Reading Level 3.  When I did a search online, different sites gave different age levels for these books - some indicated the books are aimed at grades 4 - 6, while others indicate grades 2 - 5.  I'd have to say, the books are a bit complex for beginning readers, but they are definitely pre-Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys level books.  Whatever the target level, I'd say if you or your child enjoy some fun, easy-to-read mysteries, then this is the series to read.

RATING:  6 hydraulic dredgers out of 10 for keeping the fun in easy to read mysteries for all ages!

Greetings from Somewhere, Book 8 - The Mystery at the Coral Reef

Is it sad to admit that I actually enjoy reading this early reader series more than I have some other books I've picked up recently (can anyone say SpacePops?)?  Greetings from Somewhere is a series meant for 1st thru 3rd graders, and while the vocabulary is fairly simple (although each book does carry some of its own vocabulary lessons, particularly of foreign languages), the stories are actually pretty fun, the characters are engaging, and the mysteries are well-plotted.  Author Harper Paris manages to place Ethan and Ella in just the right place and right time to stumble across a mystery in each country they visit, but never makes it so fantastic that it is beyond believability.

The Mystery at the Coral Reef takes the Briar clan to Australia, as Mrs. Briar's globe-trotting adventures as the travel writer for their hometown newspaper continue. On this trip, however, they will be staying with their mother's sister and her husband and son (the twins' cousin, Harry). And while the trip starts off rather inconspicuously (as all the trips do), the mysteries quickly start to appear - first, in an e-mail from their grandfather who encourages them to find the Redthroat Emperor; then, a rather expensive looking watch they find on their aunt and uncle's private beach; and finally, the questionable dealer at the market who is selling items made from coral that is supposed to be protected.

Paris keeps the pace moving as the twins are taken snorkeling at night by their cousin, only to come across a suspicious boat anchored just off short from their relatives' house.  They only catch a glimpse of the name of the boat, but when they put their heads together, it isn't long before the twins and their cousin are able to deduce what is going on and who is doing what.

While the mystery is not complicated, and for adult readers, it is relatively simple to solve, the story is engaging from the perspective of its intended readers.  Plus, the many illustrations by the very talented Marcos Calo add to the enjoyment of the story (as we see it brought to life page after page).

Sometimes you need a quick and easy read to help you escape and relax, and quite honestly, the Greetings from Somewhere series satisfies that need in each and every respect.  It's fun, it's engaging, and it's well-written.  A great series for early readers and a guilty pleasure for us older readers.

RATING:  9 cricket matches on the telly out of 10 for good, clean, easy-to-read fun!

Creepella von Cacklefur No. 3 - Ghost Pirate Treasure

The mystery and the horror return (for all ages, of course) in the third Creepella von Cacklefur novel for early readers, Ghost Pirate Treasure. Someone is lurking around Squeakspeare Mansion at night. There are holes all throughout the yard! Legend has it, there is a treasure hidden somewhere on the property - and quite possibly, the ghost of the pirate who buried it there might be coming to take it back!

If it sounds like the making of a great Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew adventure, that's because this mystery actually has some of the elements that made those mystery series so popular. Sure, it is written with very simple sentences and easy to read and understand words, but the mystery is still there, as is the plotting, the clues, the red herrings, and, of course, the "scares." The real author is not identified - the copyright page merely reveals that the series is translated from its original Italian manuscript, with illustrations provided by Ivan Bigarella (pencils and inks) and Giulia Zaffaroni (color). That's just one more way this series is similar to the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and countless other children's mysteries, who never reveal the actual author of the books (instead, utilizing a pseudonym as the series' author).

In Ghost Pirate Treasure, Creepella's friend, Billy Squeakspeare finds that someone is vandalizing the grounds of his estate by digging hundreds of holes. While Creepella is getting ready for the upcoming Melancholy Grand Ball, she takes time out to help her friend solve this mystery. They head up to Shivery Arts Academy, where they discover that not only did that ol' pirate, Morgan Blackwhiskers, leave a treasure somewhere on, in, or around Squeakspeare Mansion, but he was also known to forget where he hid things! This leaves it up to Creepella, her niece Shivereen, and Billy to figure out who is looking for the treasure and find it before they do!

It is rather fun to watch Creepella and her friends search out clues and follow the path they lead to find not only the identity of the thieving vandals, but also the treasure itself!  And, in true Nancy Drew fashion, when the treasure is found, Creepella convinces Billy to donate it to the school rather than keep it for himself.

Yes, I will admit, this series is a guilty pleasure - it's definitely way beneath my reading level (maturity level?  hmmm, that's another story), but they are fun, quick reads that bring a smile to my face when I read them - and isn't that what reading is all about - an enjoyable escape, even if only for a few minutes?

RATING:  7 monstrously moldy cheeses out of 10 for keeping the mysteries fun and simple, yet thoroughly enjoyable.

Greetings from Somewhere, Book 7 - The Mystery Across the Secret Bridge

The Briar twins continue their journey around the world, and as fate would have it, they find another mystery when their parents bring them to Peru.  Author Harper Paris leads Ethan and Ella (and readers) on a journey through the salt mines of Maras, the natural hot springs of Aguas Calientes, and into the mountains at Machu Picchu.  As with their previous adventures, the twins receive a cryptic e-mail from their grandfather, who provides them with clues to another mystery to solve.

The Mystery Across the Secret Bridge provides young readers with not one, but two pretty simple, but fun, mysteries to solve.  The larger mystery involves something that is connected to a snake, a bird, and another animal that required a rope for the twins' grandfather to reach.  Armed with such few hints, the twins are unsure exactly what they are searching for when they reach the Temple of the Sun at Machu Picchu.  At the same time, the twins and their parents meet another family on the trip, and their young son loses his stuffed snake somewhere in the Temple.  Needless to say, it's Ethan and Ella to the rescue.

These books are certainly aimed for the early readers, what with the large font, the 100 page count, and the numerous illustrations.  And while it may only take an older reader such as myself less than half an hour to read it, that's not to say it's not a good read.  As with the prior books in the series, Paris provides readers with some knowledge about the customs and lives of the people in Peru, as well as some of the history of the country. She provides a few key words and phrases from the language, and does so in a manner that comes naturally - it flows as a part of the story, rather than beating the reader over the head with "Hey, I'm trying to teach you something here."

While not all of the books have real mysteries in them, those books in this series that do are a great way to get early readers who enjoy mysteries to start reading.  This would be what I would call a stepping stone to the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books, which, let's face it, every kid at some point reads.

RATING:  7 baby alpacas out of 10 for making reading fun and providing an easy to read story that is engaging and educational at the same time!

Greetings from Somewhere, Book 6 - The Mystery of the Suspicious Spices

Ethan and Ella Briar return in their sixth globe-trotting adventure, this time in the exotic land of India. In The Mystery of the Suspicious Spices, author Harper Paris takes her mystery-seeking siblings to the markets in Mumbai, where they stumble upon their latest mystery at the spice shop of their grandfather's friend, Deepak Singh.

This story has a bit more "mystery" to it than the previous two books, which makes for a nice change (since this is supposed to be a mystery series for young readers).  It seems that something strange is happening to Deepak's spices - - until just recently, his spices were known throughout the area as being the best there was. Lately, though, customers are returning with complaints that the spices they purchased are not just bad; they are ruining recipes and taste absolutely awful! On a fateful visit to the store, Ethan and Ella witness first hand the unhappy customers, who scare off future customers - - all of whom decide to take their spice-shopping to the new shop, Spice Palace, which just so happens to be owned by Deepak's brother (who was mighty upset when their father left Deepak the family business on his death).

Obviously, any reader over the age of 8 is going to see exactly where this is going (particularly readers of the recent Nancy Drew series, which seems to focus solely on sabotage as the premise for every mystery). I do have to give Paris credit, though - she manages to provide a rather creative mystery, and while older readers will find it somewhat simple, I think it hits the age mark of its intended readers rather nicely. Using color-dyed salt to change-up the spices in order to sabotage Deepak's business was pretty unique, I think, but not something so complicated that children Ethan and Ella's age would never be able to figure out.

Marcos Calo continues to provide his amazing illustrations on if not every page, then at least every other page (although I do admit that I noticed for the first time in this book - perhaps it was like this in previous books and I just didn't pay it any attention - but Ethan and Ella's heads are quite large, and their necks rather lengthy - no one else is drawn this way, so unsure why these two have these characteristics, unless it's simply to make them stand out).

RATING:  7 salty spices out of 10 for giving the young readers a taste of what fun mystery stories can be to read!

Thea Stilton, Book Two - The Mountain of Fire

I honestly wasn't sure if I was going to continue this series or not.  Debated for a long time on whether to even try reading this series, and after the first book (which was cute, by the way), I was still on the fence.  I finally told myself to just pick up the second book and read it and make a decision one way or another.

So I did.  And I have.

Thea Stilton and the Mountain of Fire gave me the reason I needed to continue reading the series (although, admittedly, it will never be on the top of my list).  First, although this may be for young readers, it is still a mystery series.  Yes, it may have some focus on the friendship of the five "Thea Sisters," but at its core, it's still a series of mysteries.  Second, they are fun.  There is nothing overly serious, no deep meanings, and nothing dark and brooding about the books.  In other words, they are a real escape from the darkness that exists in our real world today.

The story involves the five mouselings heading off to Australia to help Nicky's family, as all of their sheep are becoming ill for no apparent reason, and if they don't cure them soon, their entire ranch could crumble.  So Nicky and her friends head off to the land down under to see if they can help solve this mystery.  Nicky's grandmother gives her a special necklace with a pendant that she discovers holds a key to solving the mystery.  Along the way, they are thwarted time and again by Mortimer MacCardigan, who is the nasty neighbor of Nicky's family and who is determined to see her family's ranch go under.  The girls must  seek out the elders, who they are told might hold the answer to curing the sheep's sickness.  After a number of misadventures, they finally find the mountain within the mountain and learn the secret that will help save Nicky's family's ranch.

But, even more than that, The Mountain of Fire was actually educational in a engaging, fun way.  Throughout the story, there are fun facts scattered here and there about Australia and its region, it's animal life, and its people and their ways of life.  While the characters are definitely fictional (I mean, let's face it, in a world where everyone is a mouse, it's gotta be fictional, right?), not all of the locations are made up.  There are quite a number of accurate facts about Australia, and it's nice to see geography, history, and culture taught in such an easy to grasp and natural way.  I'd almost venture to say that this book might even be useful in the classroom for getting kids to learn about other countries in a way that they won't necessarily even realize they are learning!  (Of course, all reading involves learning in some form or fashion.)

What is a bit odd about this book is the fact that although the title is Thea Stilton and the Mountain of Fire, Thea herself is barely in it - she is more or less the bookends, starting the tale and finishing it, but not really involved in it at all.  Actually increases my curiosity as to whether she will be featured in any of the future books, or if she will merely be the opening narrator, allowing the series to mainly focus on the five Thea Sisters.  I suppose there's only one way to find that out...

RATING:  7 moldy brie balls out of 10 for piquing my interest just enough to make me want to read more books in the series.

Greetings from Somewhere, Book 5 - The Mystery of the Lion's Tale

Another “guilty pleasure” series that I read when I want something quick and fun.  So far, Harper Paris (the author) has yet to disappoint with these books as the twins, Ethan and Ella, travel around the globe with their parents and discovery a mystery to be solved in each of the locales.  In The Mystery of the Lion’s Tale, however, the mystery is nearly as elusive as the lion the family is hoping to see.

Paris takes the Briar family to Kenya in Africa for this book, where the kids are treated to an exciting safari.  Their guide tells them they should keep an eye out for “The Big Five” while journeying across the plains – the African elephant, the Cape buffalo, the leopard, the rhinoceros, and the king of the jungle himself, the lion.  Ethan and Ella keep their eyes peeled, and manage to find the first four animals, but as their stay in Kenya is about to end, they are desperate to see a lion!

The search for the lion does not make for much of a mystery, even by early reader standards.  Sure, a “missing” will or emerald or painting or pretty much anything that has been stolen or secreted away somewhere makes for a fun mystery.  But simply searching for an animal that is there but hasn’t been seen yet is not quite as exciting.  In fact, it’s a bit of a let down, since the prior mysteries actually involved the twins finding clues, following up on leads, and actually “solving” a mystery.  Here, they see glimpses of what might be a lion’s tale and ultimately are shown the lion by a scientist that their grandfather once knew.

As with the prior books, Paris does provide plenty of details about Kenya’s wildlife and natives, and Ethan and Ella even meet a local brother and sister with whom they make friends and exchange gifts before leaving the country.  Whereas prior books used a number of foreign words, defined in the back of the book in the glossary, this book only provides one word and one phrase in Swahili.

Marcos Calo once again provides the art, with the black and white interior illustrations bringing to glorious life the story Paris tells.  The animals, the natives, the houses and plains are all shown in such detail, it’s likely that any young reader who picks up this book will take away with it a fairly good idea of what it would be like to actually see Africa.

With only five books remaining in the series, I’ve reached the mid-way point, and I hope the rest of the books go back to actual mysteries for Ethan and Ella to solve.  I’d hate to see the series end on a low note.

RATING:  5 beaded necklaces out of 10 for providing young readers with an enjoyable way of learning more about the world beyond the borders of the United States.

Creepella von Cacklefur No. 2 - Meet Me in Horrorwood

When a hurricane hits and your power is out, what is there to do?  Read!  But not just anything – I wanted something to take my mind off of everything, something silly and fun; so, what better series to read than the next book in the Creepella von Cacklefur series!  (I mean, let’s face it, just saying the name alone is fun!)

Meet Me In Horrorwood finds Creepella playing matchmaker for the monster in the moat, Gorgo.  The only problem is, Gorgo’s love, Blobbina, is a famous movie star and she has gone missing!  It’s up to Creepella to find the missing star and cure the heart-sick Gorgo before he completely gives up on life (such as it is for a blob in a moat).

But there’s a lot more to this story than that one mystery – there’s a side story (that, quite frankly, I’m not sure why it’s there, unless it is simply to pad the story and add enough pages to make for a full-length book) about good ol’ Billy Squeakspeare (who readers met in the first mystery in this series).  Billy get an invite to the Rattenbaum Mansion for a special dinner and a wedding (little does he know – the wedding is his own!).  There are four chapters right in the middle of the story that deal with Billy and his invitation – and the story does not revert back to Creepella and her search for the missing starlet until Billy receives a call from Creepella asking for his help.

There’s a gloomy old castle and an abandoned amusement park (called, aptly enough, “Nightmare Park”), and Creepella and Billy must brave all the dangers of the park in order to rescue Blobbina and unite her with the lovestruck Gorgo.  There are plenty of illustrations throughout the book, including wonderfully fun illustrations of the Rattenbaums’ decrepit mansion, the overcrowded and bustling movie set, and the decaying room that holds “The Book.”

Sometimes, simple stories that are simply fun are the best reads to get your mind off of everything going on around you – and with rain and wind beating down on your house, no electricity, food spoiling in your refrigerator, and a cell phone slowly losing its charge, there’s nothing better than a quick visit with Creepella von Cacklefur to put a smile back on your face.

RATING:  6 invisible dinners out of 10 for reminding me that even the most gruesome of monsters can find love – doesn’t matter if you live in a moat or a mansion that’s falling apart!

Thea Stilton, Book One - The Dragon's Code

A spin-off of Scholastic's highly successful Geronimo Stilton books, the Thea Stilton books tell the stories of Geronimo's sister, Thea (surprise!), who is a special correspondent for "The Rodent Gazette."  The Dragon's Code is the first in a series of mysteries wherein Thea is invited back to her former school, Mouseford Academy and finds help in solving cases in the form of five young mouselings - Nicky, Collette, Pauline, Violet, and Pam.  As with the Creepella von Crackelfur series, the books are aimed at early readers, with large font and plenty of internal color illustrations.  Readers also get the fun of solving the mysteries with Thea and her friends, as there are small magnifying glasses on pages that hold clues - whether those clues are in the illustrations or in the story itself, well, that's up to the reader to figure out!

This first mystery finds Thea and the five girls searching for a missing student and the source of the various thefts around the school (including six cooking pots, a rake, and a water hose).  The clues lead them on a mysterious search into underground rooms and a secret entrance to a secret room that holds an unexpected treasure (and the answer to all of their questions).  It's a fun little mystery, and it definitely teaches children not only how to pay attention to even the smallest details, but it shows the value of working together to solve your problems, regardless of your differences.

At 159 pages, the page-count is more than that of the Hardy Boys books these days - although with the font and illustrations, the actual word count is considerably less. However, that is not to say that the story isn't just as readable and enjoyable.  The reading level is 3rd grade, which, quite honestly, is when I was reading the regular Nancy Drew books back in the day (along with the Boxcar Children, Happy Hollisters, and any other mystery series I could get my hands on in the library at the time).  So, I have to admit that it is a little disappointing to see that the reading levels have dropped so much in the past ... eh-hem ... "few" years.  When I was in school, this book would likely have been 2nd grade reading level.

As with the other Stilton series, this was originally published in Italy, written by Piccolo Tao, and the English translation was first published in 2009.  The author, despite the reading level, does provide a pretty intricate mystery involving secret rooms, a clever code, and an Indiana Jones-style treasure hunt that will no doubt enrapture children who read the book.  That being said, the author is careful to keep the clues at the forefront, reminding the readers now and again of what the clues are and how they are leading Thea and her new friends to the solution of the mystery.'

While clearly aimed at young female readers, I think the book would be enjoyed just as much by young male readers as well - there is little focus on the feminine nature of the characters (other than Collette, which is because she is a very high-maintenance girly-mouse) and more focus on the mysterious things going on at Mouseford Academy.

(One Side Note: while all of the other Stilton series, including Creepella von Cracklefur, are numbered, for some reason, Scholastic does not number the books in this series - so the only way to get them and read them in order is to look at publication dates to determine in what order the books were published...)

RATING:  8 booby traps out of 10 for providing an interactive children's mystery that lets the reader follow the clues to the solution right along with Thea Stilton!

Greetings from Somewhere, Book 4 - The Mystery in the Forbidden City

Those ever-curious twins, Ethan and Ella, now find themselves in China, as their parents continue taking them on a world tour to allow their mother to write her travelogue.  Author Harper Paris opens the world of China to the twins (as well as readers) by taking a look at Beijing, one of China's popular tourist destinations.

Despite how simplistic the writing and stories are, these books for young readers are actually quite enjoyable (even if it takes less than 15 minutes to read them).  Paris captures the innocence and curiosity of second-graders with Ethan and Ella, and the awe and wonder that any 8-year old would have when visiting such magnificent cities as Venice, Paris, or Beijing.  Of course, the kids do act a bit older than they probably should when they get separated from their parents and neither one of them seem very worried (as they are more interested in solving the latest mystery that their grandfather has sent them) - but, that can be overlooked for the sake of simply enjoying the book.  After all, this is fiction.

The quest that the kids' grandfather sends them on is to find the three dragons, located somewhere within the mysterious Forbidden City, the former home of the great emperors.  The only clue provided is that the dragons could be found near the old pine tree.  Needless to say, Ethan and Ella are overjoyed at the chance to solve another "mystery" - but that mystery gets bigger when they stumble upon an old map they find on the floor.  They use the map as a means to try and locate the old pine tree, but somehow get separated from their parents and lost among the many trails and buildings within the Forbidden City.  They ultimately find the old pine tree, they find the three dragons, and they find that the old map they discovered is actually older than they thought and is a treasure that was to be placed on display in the Forbidden City.

Marcos Calo once again provides not only the cover art, but all of the interior illustrations. Since this is a young reader's book, the interior illustrations are numerous, pretty much every other page, and in some instances, spread across two pages.

I'm still disappointed that I never had this series when I was in first and second grade; however, it's great to know it's out there now for young readers as a stepping stone into the wonderful world of reading!

RATING:  9 fried scorpions out of 10 for providing kids with an easy to read mystery that is also educational and fun!

Creepella von Cacklefur, No. 1 - The Thirteen Ghosts

Okay, so I'm a sucker for some gimmicks - sue me!  I've had my eye on the Thea Stilton series for a long time - every time I go into a Barnes & Noble or a Books-A-Million, I see the series of books on the shelves, and I'll pull a couple out, glance through them, and wonder whether I should give them a try.  They look short and sweet, easy to read, and quite frankly, fun!  Yes, I realize the reading level for the series is ages 7 to 10, but when have I ever let that stop me from enjoying a good mystery series.

So imagine my surprise when a few weeks back, David and I are browsing through Books-A-Million, and I see they have a "Buy 2, Get 3rd Free" sale on all of their children's series books.  Seeing no new books in the current series I collect, I thought this might be the perfect chance to pick up the first three Thea Stilton books and give them a shot.  So, imagine my surprise when I saw another series right there next to Geronimo Stilton and Thea Stilton - a uniquely horror/mystery series starting "Creepella von Cacklefur" - who is described on the back of the book as "an enchanting and mysterious mouse with a pet bat named Bitewing.  By night Creepella is a special-effects designer and director of scary films, and by day she's studying to become a journalist."  As a lover of horror stories and mysteries, this was a combination that I couldn't resist.

The first book in the series, The Thirteen Ghosts, is not necessarily scary, and the mystery is anything but mysterious; but, it is good, clean fun, and had these books been around when I was in first and second grade, I have no doubt I would have been gobbling them up as soon as each new book came out.  The writing is simple, and the author utilizes repetitiveness as an obvious means to teach younger readers new words.  Each chapter is chock full of full color illustrations, and there are a number of two-page full illustrations (depicting the cast of characters, or the rooms of the mansion, etc.).

The plot is not overly intricate - Creepella is looking for her latest story for "The Shivery News," and she decides she wants to interview some ghosts.  With her pet bat and her niece, Shivereen, she heads to Squeakspeare Mansion, which is said to be filled with ghosts.  There, she meets the latest owner of the mansion, Billy Squeakspeare, who is a writer and is timid as (dare I say it?) a mouse.  They discover the mansion is haunted by not just one, nor even just two or three, but by thirteen ghosts!  And these ghosts are none too happy to have visitors - until they find out Billy is a writer!   They all have stories to tell and no way to tell them; so, it falls upon Billy to start telling their tales.  Not before Creepella, though, gets the interviews she needs to make her article a chilling success.

There is no information given in the book as to the identity of the author, but I found some very interesting facts about the book on the publication page.  The series is based on an original idea by Elisabetta Dami and apparently is an Italian publication.  Scholastic has translated the series and published it here in America for young readers.  The original title was Tredici fantasmi per Tenebrosa, and the cover art is by Guiseppe Farrario, with internal illustrations by Ivan Bigarella (pencils) and Giorgio Campioni (colors).  The original Italian text was translated by Emily Clement.  Clearly, there were a lot of people involved in the creation / publication of this book, and it leads me to wonder how successful it is over in Italy.  Something to look up one day, I suppose...

Along with the "Greetings from Somewhere" series, this is another early readers series I would recommend for children who are just getting into reading (first to third graders).  It's fun and easy to read, and the style is nearly Disney-esque in nature.  Now we'll have to wait and see if the further volumes in this series stand up to the test.

RATING:  7 convertible hearses out of 10 for giving kids a "horror" series of books that are squeaky clean, yet still fun to read.

Greetings from Somewhere, Book 3 - The Mystery of the Stolen Painting

I returned to the world of those world-traveling twins, Ethan and Ella Briar, with the third book in the Greetings from Somewhere series, The Mystery of the Stolen Painting. In the last book, the twins were in Italy, where they helped find a stolen gondola.  Now, the author takes them to Paris, France, where the twins happen to be in the Louvre, when a famous painting is stolen.  And that isn't the only mystery they have to solve, since their grandfather sent them an e-mail with a cryptic message about finding a hidden creperie owned by friends of his.

In just 113 pages (or less, actually, considering there is art on every page, lessening the word count, and some pages are full page pictures with no words), Harper Paris provides another cute mystery that the younger generation is sure to enjoy.  By far, it is an easy read (honestly, it took me less than 10 minutes to read the entire book), with short sentences, simple vocabulary, and a not-so-complicated mystery to solve.  However, the twins are fun to read - each has their own distinct personality, and the author keeps them grounded, not taking their adventures too far outside the realm of possibility, so that even as an adult, I can have fun reading the books.

What's interesting about this book is the fact that what is supposed to be the main mystery (the stolen painting) sort of takes a back seat to the sub-plot of finding that secret creperie.  As with previous books, their grandfather gives them a couple of clues to start them off, and it's up to Ethan and Ella to figure out the rest.  I do get a kid-like sense of enjoyment following along as they put the clues together and solve the mysteries (and in this one, so very Nancy Drew-like, they stumble upon the solution to one mystery while following the clues to the other mystery!).

Harper Paris has a good grasp on writing for young readers, and the art by Marcos Calo fits so perfectly with the tone of the series.  (And what's funny is that, as I'm sitting here writing this, looking down at the cover of the book, I just noticed for the first time that down in the bottom right corner, far below the terrace where Ethan and Ella are standing, looking out at Paris, there is a man running with a painting under his arm!)

I've said it before, and I'll gladly say it again - I would highly recommend this series to any parent who has children that are just beginning to get into chapter books.  It is the perfect level for beginning readers, and it will definitely hold their interest and leave them wanting for more!

RATING:  9 lemon and powdered sugar crepes out of 10 for a good, clean, fun mystery that pretty much anyone can enjoy!

Greetings from Somewhere, Book 2 - The Mystery of the Mosiac

Those inquisitive twins, Ethan and Ella, are back to solve another mystery in the next Greetings from Somewhere book for early readers!

The twins begin their journey around the world as their mother starts her new job, researching and writing about her travels to various countries.  While in the first book, Ethan and Ella had not been happy to be uprooted from their home, their friends, and their grandfather, their arrival in Venice, Italy opens their eyes to a brand new world to experience.  And they aren't in Venice very long before their grandfather, via e-mail, presents them with a brand new mystery to solve - find a 500-year old mosaic.  Their only clues are "Calle Farnese" and "look up."  So begins The Mystery of the Mosaic.

Now, keep in mind - this book (and this series) is aimed at readers, age 5 - 7.  This means that (a) there are pictures on pretty much every other page, if not every page; (b) the font is quite large; (c) the language and words are simple, with any new words clearly defined; and (d) the story is short and the mystery fairly easy.  What this does not mean is that the book is not good.  Quite frankly, I wish this series had been around back when I was in first grade. I have no doubt in my mind that I would have thoroughly enjoyed it (probably more so than I do now, as an adult reading it with a child's perspective in mind).

In some ways, this series of books would be a great precursor for Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries (the original series of books, not the ones currently being published).  For example, in this mystery, the twins begin their search for the mosaic that their grandfather sends them searching for, but along the way, they happen to see someone steal their new friend's gondola. They rush to their friend's aid and help him recover the stolen gondola, and it is Ethan's keen observations that prove the gondola belongs to their friend.  By helping their friend, they get to take their very first ride through the canals of Venice on the gondola, which, inadvertently, leads them to the discovery regarding the mosaic.  Throughout the story, readers are introduced to various facts about Venice and Italy, including some Italian words (with a two-page glossary in the back, listing the words from the story and their meanings).

For those of you with children who are just beginning to read - this is the series of books for you!

RATING:  9 pieces of colored glass out of 10 for introducing younger audiences to not only reading, but the joys that are mysteries.