A great kids' book that's as fun to read for adults as it is for kids. It has '50s-style black & white illustrations, references to books in the vein of the Hardy Boys, and an over-the-top, race-to-the-finish, madcap adventure that'll have kids thinking librarians are cool and quilts are exciting. ( )

Steve Brixton wants to be a detective just like his heroes. In school his assignment goes awful and he realizes that being a detective is not as easy as it may seem! This books was light hearted and humorous and would be a great starter to a chapter book. Reading a chapter from this book would be great to introduce problem solving to a class as well as get them engaged. I can connect this to instruction by emphasizing the characters in the book and asking if they know detectives, police officers, or any mysteries that have happened to them. ( )

I checked this out for my nephew and I to listen to on a road trip. It was a fun, light YA mystery. I may not read the rest of the series, but I would certainly recommend it for a young reader. ( )

Great fun! I was laughing out loud at home all alone. Mac Barnett is really wonderful. I look forward to more of this series. I wonder if all the humor is caught by the kids. I'd love to know what they think. ( )

When twelve-year-old Steve Brixton is mistaken for a real detective, he must elude librarians, police, and the mysterious Mr. E as he seeks a missing quilt containing coded information.