Detective Dinosaur Undercover (I Can Read Book 2 Series)

by James Skofield, R. W Alley (Illustrator)

Overview

The bumbling but bighearted star of Detective Dinosaur and Detective Dinosaur Lost and Found is back with three new silly cases to investigate! This third book of comic misadventures by James Skofield, brought to life as only the inspired illustrations of R. W. Alley can do, is sure to please mystery lovers and dinosaur fans alike.

When a detective goes undercover, it usually means they are in disguise, right? Not if it’s Detective Dinosaur! How this charmingly clueless gumshoe goes undercover—in the most surprising ways—is the kind of irresistible goofiness beginning readers love.

This Level Two I Can Read is geared toward kids who read on their own but still need a little help.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780064443197
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/31/2010
Series:	I Can Read Book 2 Series
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	156,980
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

James Skofield has written several picture books as well as the I Can Read Books Detective Dinosaur and Detective Dinosaur Lost and Found. He lives in Walpole, NH.

R. W. Alley has illustrated a number of books featuring Paddington Bear. He lives in Barrington, Rhode Island, with his wife, author Zoë B. Alley.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 1—In the first book, Little Bear's grandfather is cleaning his attic, and the activity provides both a teaching moment and an opportunity to explore the contents of his sea chest. Little Bear learns about the Marco Polo, and, caught up in the moment, the two share an imaginary trip in the boat, followed by a visit to the nearby docked vessel. Water-washed ink drawings display a series of family vignettes and Little Bear's activities while appropriate simple sentences and childlike questioning keep the pages turning. The two travel around the world through their imaginations, visiting a polar bear, panda, and koala "bear." In the second book, the uncomplicated, practical soul introduced in Detective Dinosaur (1996) and Detective Dinosaur Lost and Found (1998, both HarperCollins) returns in a trio of investigations. As he follows instructions literally, "undercover work" translates to wearing layers of clothes, mysterious blobs under his naptime blanket terrify the Detective, and sunny skies bring an unexpected, puzzling dousing. The dino's genial expressions projected in colorful pen-and-ink and watercolor cartoons follow the action. Conversation and onomatopoeia spice up the text, presented in large font. The good detective always ends a chapter "Case Closed." His innocent confusion creates entertaining problems with simple solutions. Solid additions to easy-reader collections.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services Plano ISD, TX

School Library Journal

Detective Dinosaur, showcased in his third entry in the I Can Read! series, is the same charming numbskull readers have come to love. This book is broken up into three chapters, each of which is a "case" for the detective to solve. In the first caper, when Detective Dinosaur is called in to do some undercover work, the real mystery is his interpretation of "undercover." In the second, the dinosaur has a nightmare--er, napmare--and wakes up to find mysterious large blobs at the end of his blanket-covered legs. The third mystery takes the sleuth on an outing during which he tries to deduce why the sun is shining brightly even though he keeps getting soaked. Enhancing the narrative is a cast of funky characters, such as Ricky Raptor and Cadet Kitty, illustrated in bright cavorting watercolors. Readers will smirk at being smarter than the detective and giggle at his goof-ups. With a pronunciation guide for those tongue-twisting dinosaur names, this accessible and super-silly romp will be a boost for those about to embark on the next level for chapter books. (Early reader. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews