Big Bad Detective Agency

by Bruce Hale

Overview

From the comic genius behind CHET GECKO comes a new kind of fairy tale hero -- and a big, bad, crime-solving adventure! The houses of all Three (not-so-) Little Pigs were broken into and ransacked, and the Pigs are squealing for justice. So Prince Tyrone, ruler of Fairylandia, drags in the obvious suspect: Wolfgang. The lone wolf has big teeth, sharp claws, no alibi -- and a single day to find the real culprit and clear his big bad name. When Wolf (reluctantly) teams up with the fourth Little Pig to crack the case, the Big Bad Detective Agency -- and an adventure way funnier than your average fairy tale -- is off to a howling start!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545747288
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	01/27/2015
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
Lexile:	570L (what's this?)
File size:	15 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Edgar-nominated author Bruce Hale has written or illustrated more than 25 seriously funny books for children, including the popular Chet Gecko Mysteries series. He lives in Southern California, where he is also an actor, Latin jazz musician, and award-winning storyteller. You can find him online at brucehale.com.

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2014
Gr 3–5—This early chapter book mystery takes place in the kingdom of Fairylandia. Wolfgang, aka the "Big Bad Wolf," is a misunderstood villain falsely accused of trashing the Three Little Pigs' homes. Prince Tyrone has sentenced him to a life of eating porridge in a dungeon. Captain Kreplach informs him that if he were to catch the real culprit, he would be free, so Wolfgang has until sundown to clear his name. He squeamishly teams up with Ferkel, the fourth of The Little Pigs, and they search for clues and look for the guilty party. Classic fairy tale characters are suspects and introduced to readers in quirky 21st-century depictions, resulting in some unhappily ever after contemporary fairy tale legends. Likely suspects include sinister Hansel and Gretel; Ursula, the sultry sea witch; kooky Jack of Beanstalk fame; flakey Cinderella; flamboyant Goldilocks; brusque Puss in Boots; and Snow White and her staff of seven dwarves in the Hi-Ho Diner. Readers will snicker as they discover that some have alibis, some have no motive, and some aren't bright enough to pull off the crime. Vocabulary includes hip, New Age terms that readers will relate to. Sporadic black-and white cartoons reveal genuine facial expressions. This book will charm readers who enjoy a good mystery and a distinctive approach to comical fairy tales. The ending is clearly a set-up for the next adventure.—Krista Welz, North Bergen High School, NJ

School Library Journal

Praise for Big Bad Detective Agency :

"Hale… ably combines noir 'lite' with fairy tale figures and slapstick into his lively narrative. Young readers will happily tag along with Wolfgang and Ferkel as they grill fairy tale characters… and Hale provides enough information for readers to solve the mystery themselves." -- Booklist

"Simple sentences and repeated phrases give this easy reader plenty of accessibility, while the occasional challenging word offers more independent readers an opportunity to stretch their skills. Cartoonish black and white art depicts lively critters and a refreshingly diverse human population for a fairy-tale world. Readers will be happy to return for [the big bad] Wolf and Ferkel's next big case." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books


Praise for Bruce Hale :

"The steady humor, eye-catching illustrations, and crazy cast of characters... keep this chapter book entertaining." -- Children's Literature

"Mystery buffs -- and newcomers to the genre -- will devour Hale's funny chapter books." -- The Horn Book

From the Publisher