Brezenoff, Steve. The Case of the Counterfeit Painting. (Museum Mysteries.)

Brezenoff, Steve.  The Case of the Counterfeit Painting.  (Museum Mysteries.)  Capstone Publishers  2017      128p    $25.99  ISBN 978-1-4965-2518-5  elem  Mystery/Detective  VG        

Elementary students who enjoy mystery fiction will like this new title in the Museum Mysteries series.  Written in an easy-to-comprehend fashion, the novel introduces students to the four Capitol City Sleuths: Amal Farah, Raining Sun, Clementine Wim, and Wilson Kipper.  In this installment, Clementine sees what she thinks is a famous painting by Goings being carried by two people during the Dino Festival.  She finds this strange, because she knew the painting was going to be featured at an upcoming exhibit on Photorealism at the Capitol City Art Museum.  Immediately, Clementine thinks the painting has been stolen, but when she sees it at the museum, she is surprised.  Unsure of what to do, she enlists her friends to try to see if the painting at the museum is fake or real.  Students will cheer for Clementine and her friends as they help solve the mystery and retrieve the real painting. 

The author includes colorful graphics scattered throughout, a glossary of terms, discussion questions, writing prompts, information on the genre of art known as photorealism, biographical information on the painter Ralph Goings, and biographical information on the author and illustrator. 

As of this review, eight titles have been published in this new series, Museum Mysteries.  Each title follows four friends as they take in culture and solve crimes in the Capitol City museums. 

Summary: “While searching for her friends at the Dino Festival, Clementine Wim runs into two people carrying what she thinks is the “Tiled Lunch Counter” (a famous painting) away from the Capitol City Art Museum, but when she checks the painting is still hanging in place--and before she can track down the thieves, and prove that the painting now hanging in the museum is a forgery, she has to convince her friends that she is not imagining things.”  Would make a good addition to an elementary collection for casual reading.

Museums-Fiction, Art-Fiction                                                           --Charleen Forba-MacCain

Brezenoff, Steve, and Michael Dahl. The Trouble with Abracadabra.

Brezenoff, Steve, and Michael Dahl.  The Trouble with Abracadabra.  Capstone/Stone Arch  2013  112p   ISBN 978-1-4342-4102-3      elem  Series: Hocus Pocus Hotel  VG  Mystery/Detective

This is the fourth title in the Hocus Pocus Hotel series.  Brack, the elevator operator, makes public that he is also the magician Abracadabra and he will be doing one final show.  He invites all the magicians to a party at his rooftop mansion.  There Theopolis challenges Brack to figure out his illusion.  The hotel and the mansion are the prizes at stake.  Theopolis appears to juggle while he is levitated over the pool, amid thick smoke and other special effects.  Brack, Charlie and Ty are perplexed as to how he did it.  They think about it and question people all week.  On the last day, Ty figures it out and the hotel is saved.  The solution is a bit too simple to have confused them so long.

Supplemental materials include discussion questions, writing prompts, a glossary and one trick that is illustrated and explained.  This trick can easily be mastered by a young magician.

The story is fast-paced and full of action.  Sentences are kept short, direct and with simple vocabulary to help young readers.  This title will appeal to grades 2-6, including struggling older readers.  It is easy to read without being condescending.

Readers will enjoy the Hocus Pocus Hotel stories.  Each one builds on the others, with familiar characters.  They are highly recommended for grades 3-6.  

Summary: Fourth in the Hocus Pocus Hotel series.  Brack (a.k.a. Abracadabra) is given a challenge with the hotel and his home on the line.  Ty and Charlie must figure out how an illusion was done.  The solution is almost too simple.

Mystery, Magic-Fiction                                            --Joan Theal

Mystery, Magic-Fiction                                            --Joan Theal

Brezenoff, Steve. Grand Canyon Burros That Broke.

Brezenoff, Steve.  Grand Canyon Burros That Broke.    Capstone/Stone Arch 88p $23.99  978-1-4342-3788-0     2013  elem  VG      series: Field Trip Mysteries (Stone Arch)       Realistic Fiction

The art club members are going on a field trip to the Grand Canyon.  There they will paint, sculpt, or photograph the natural wonder.  At the rim, the students discover that three burros have been stolen.  The students, Egg, Cat, and Gum, first accuse Anton (the class bully) and his family of the theft.  Anton in turn accuses Cat.  Amidst some very hard feelings, the group ascertains that the burros are trained to move only for their owner and his cowboys.  Slowly Egg hits on the solution and informs the Rangers.

The text is clearly written and includes conversations, descriptions and action.  The actions of the students are age-appropriate but also show they have excellent deductive skills.  The reading level will attract reluctant readers, who will meet with regular success.  The illustrations enhance the text, and are done in almost a cartoon style that will be familiar to students.

Extra features include information about the author and the illustrator, some vocabulary, and a fictional article about the trip.  There are also writing and talking prompts related to the topic.  This title is perfect for readers in grades 3-5 and older reluctant readers.  The series is fun to read and also introduces a lot of factual information.  The Field Trip Mysteries series is fun to read and introduces a lot of factual information about various famous locations.

     

Mystery–Fiction, Travel–Fiction, Grand Canyon-Fiction --Joan Theal