Skip to main content

The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity


by Mac Barnett
New York: Simon & Schuster, 2009
Steve Brixton loves the Bailey Brothers mysteries and uses their Detective Handbook to imagine himself a sleuth, but when he accidentally flashes his official Bailey Brothers Detective License (12 boxtops + $1.95 s&h to an address in Kentucky) instead of his library card to Ms. Bundt at the Ocean Park Public Library all *#&%#* breaks loose. Suddenly a commando unit of librarians is after him, thinking he is an agent of the mysterious Mister E. who is after An Illustrated History of American Quilting (checked out by Steve for a report) which is supposed to contain clues to the location of the historic secret message Maguffin Quilt. Steve's subsequent adventures include two kidnappings, a high-speed bookmobile chase, several leaps from second story windows, and a narrow escape from a sinking ship. Barnett pokes clever fun at The DaVinci Code and its sequels, at the Hardy Boys, and at movies like National Treasure, so if you are an adult (especially one who grew up in the fifties) this book is a ball of laughs, but the kids are going to like it too for the action, adventure, the funny bits, and the fact that in the end, Steve gets the horselaugh on every grownup in the story.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

From Story Time: The Letter "B"

From Monday Book Babies Bird, Balloon, Bear By Il Sung Na Alfred A. Knopf, 2017.  Picture Book. Bird is new to the forest, and he’s looking for a friend. Bear could use a friend, too. But Bird is too shy to introduce himself. Just as he musters the courage to say hello . . . it’s too late! Bear has already found a friend: a bright, shiny red balloon. Has Bird missed his chance?  From the acclaimed Il Sung Na comes a charming and beautifully illustrated story about courage, kindness, and friendship.  --Publisher From Monday Cuentos El primer dĆ­a de un colegio Texto de Adam Rex Ilustraciones de Christian Robinson Traducción de Teresa Mlawer Editorial Corimbo, 2017.  Spanish Picture Book. Aquel verano, cuando terminaron de construir la escuela Frederick Douglass, el edificio comenzó a hacerse muchas preguntas: ¿CuĆ”l serĆ” mi destino? ¿QuiĆ©n vivirĆ” entre mis paredes? ¿Para quĆ© me utilizarĆ”n? AtravĆ©s de sus conversaciones con el conserje y t...

An ABC of Flowers

An ABC of Flowers   by Jutta Hilpuesch New York, NY : Philomel Books, [2019] It turns out there really is a flower for every letter. This sweet book has a photograph of every flower and  a sweet cartoon illustration to go along with it. All your favorite flowers are here (forget-me-nots, mums, and sunflowers), along with some you probably haven't heard of before (billy ball, kalanchoe, xeranthemum?).  This is a perfect book for reading together, and readers of any age will enjoy every page. Don't miss this great springtime alphabet book. 

Display: Teddy's Top Picks

  Bear in the Air Written by Susan Meyers Illustrated by Amy Bates New York : Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2010. Picture book. When a teddy bear is lost by the child who loves him, the bear begins an adventurous journey to get back home again. -- Editor Blanket and Bear, A Remarkable Pair Written by L.J.R. Kelly Illustrated by Yoko Tanaka New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2013. Picture book. When a boy loses his beloved blanket and bear, they travel a great distance to make their way back to him. -- Editor A Bear to Share Written by Jessica Alba, Nora Weinstein, and Kelly Patricof  Illustrated by Alicia Mas New York, NY : Baby2Baby/Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2021. Picture book. Tiana loves her teddy bear, Bach. She doesn't mind that he's a little worn and somewhat torn. So when her mother suggests she make room for a new bear, Tiana can't believe her ears! Will Tiana have to lose the one bear she really loves? Or will she find room in her heart for t...