Riddle of the Stolen Sand (Ready-for-Chapters: Third-Grade Detectives #5 Series) FROM THE PUBLISHER
Everybody loves Mr. Roper. He gives kids free candy or ice cream when their parents shop at his grocery store. So when he's accused of selling stolen oysters, Mr. Merlin's Third-Grade Detectives don't believe it. But can they prove it?
Mr. Merlin's secret codes have the Detectives looking for clues at the beach, at rival oyster farms, and even in a garbage truck -- yuck! It turns out pearls aren't the only valuable thing you can get from oysters -- you can also get evidence to help solve a baffling mystery!
FROM THE CRITICS
School Library Journal
Gr 2-3-This fifth installment in a lightweight forensics series addresses an allegation of oyster theft, a crime whose solution lies in the microscopic examination of sand. Along the way, the budding sleuths learn a little about mollusks and, by deciphering annoying cryptic leads doled out by their ex-spy, third-grade teacher, collect and examine evidence and exonerate their friend, the accused grocer. At times preachy ("detectives can't take sides," Mr. Merlin sagely advises), and full of one-sentence declarative paragraphs, this "riddle" does present bona-fide techniques for problem solving even if the characters aren't particularly engaging. Chapter-book filler for voracious readers warming up for Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys/Boxcar Children.-John Sigwald, Unger Memorial Library, Plainview, TX Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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