Dirk Bones and the Mystery of the Missing Books (I Can Read Book 1 Series)

by Doug Cushman, Doug Cushman (Illustrator)

Overview

From the master of beginning reader mysteries, Doug Cushman, comes the second adventure of ace reporter Dirk Bones—and the mystery is as silly and spooky as ever!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062025883
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	06/28/2011
Series:	I Can Read Book 1 Series
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	26 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Doug Cushman is the creator of many favorite mystery stories for young readers featuring such memorable heroes as the intrepid Aunt Eater, the grasshopper gumshoe Inspector Hopper, and the ace reporter Dirk Bones. He has also illustrated many books written by other authors, including Jack Prelutsky's What a Day It Was at School! He lives in Paris, France.

Editorial Reviews

K-Gr 2

Dirk Bones, skeletal investigative reporter for The Ghostly Tombs , is interviewing author Edgar Bleek (a blue-skinned Frankenstein look-alike) when it is discovered that the only copy of his unreleased new book is missing. Bones and Bleek search everywhere but turn up only an unusual spotted leaf. Bones hurries to the Ghostly Library to research the origin of the leaf. He learns from the librarian that more Bleek books are missing, and he recovers a second spotted leaf from the scene. Sure that he has a valuable clue, the reporter hastens through the Green Lagoon toward the bookstore-and the source of the suspicious spotted leaves. Dirk Bones and the other ghastly inhabitants of Ghostly are fresh and attractive characters who will appeal to youngsters who enjoy slightly "spooky" books. Little touches, like the spiders reading in the library and the gleaming eyes along the shelves, will not go unappreciated. The book's design has the comfort of beginning readers in mind, and the simple sentences and dialogue are clear and well supported. This is an all-around fun read with much of the suspense of a mystery, but with a more satisfying ending than many such books.-Neala Arnold, St. Francis Elementary School, MN

School Library Journal

In this follow-up to Dirk Bones and the Mystery of the Haunted House (2006), the skeleton reporter/detective is on the trail of a missing book by Frankenstein monster-esque writer Edgar Bleek. While searching for clues, Dirk finds a blue, polka-dot leaf; he finds another in the library, only to have Miss Elsa the librarian tell him that Bleek's books are also missing from her collection. Dirk's next stop is the bookstore, but when he crosses the Green Lagoon to get there, a swamp monster named Darlene confirms that she has seen the strange leaves before; she then leaps into the water when their owner, a creature reminiscent of the carnivorous plant from Little Shop of Horrors, appears. Instead of longing for blood, Lenore, the Creepus Crawler Talkus vine, longs to read to her babies-aptly called "budding readers." Dirk's solution of a library card saves the day while also sending a message to beginning readers about the importance of libraries. Although informed by horror movies, the illustrations play down potential scariness in favor of humor, making this monster mystery a satisfying, accessible title for new readers. (Early reader. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews