Solve It With Saxby, a new series aimed at unraveling the mystery of getting boys excited about reading. Saxby Smart is no ordi...
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reviews
Aug 20, 2009
Marguarite
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Saxby Smart is a child detective who solves cases for friends. I love that his office is nothing more than a garden shed. It made a great summer read-aloud for a group of 9-12 years olds that met weekly at the library. What is so much fun is following along and seeing if you can figure out the mystery too. Each chapter ends with Saxby's notes, which makes it great for reading aloud because the next time you meet with the group you're reading to, you have a synopsis of the previous chapter alread
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Aug 01, 2011
Teresa
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This was fun--readers can solve the mystery as they go, based on clues Saxby discovers through observation and discussion with other characters. Readers get to see his notes, with questions and ideas, and Saxby pauses to see if they have figured stuff out. There are steps along the way, not just one solution at the end. There was one longer story and two shorter ones in this first book in the series.
Great for readers looking for titles after the A to Z's, Jigsaw Jones, Field Trip mys More...
Great for readers looking for titles after the A to Z's, Jigsaw Jones, Field Trip mys More...
Oct 16, 2011
Chris
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Saxby Doyle Christie Chandler Ellin Allan Smart was named after all of his dad's favorite crime writers, which is okay with Saxby since he's read all of his dad's crime novels and learned well from them. He is his neighborhood and school's private detective, and he always solves the case. He takes us through three of them in this book, and they're both fun and challenging. An excellent choice for young detectives looking to stretch their skills.
Feb 01, 2010
Charlyn
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Saxby, working out of a shed in his back yard, is well-known for his investigative abilities. By using his attention to details, Saxby solves several mysteries in this book and asks the reader to try to solve them along with him. All the required information is supplied to the reader who may be able to solve each mystery, too. For those who've read Encyclopedia Brown, Saxby is of the same ilk, but the mysteries are fewer and easier for readers to solve.
Jul 16, 2009
Matthew
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YES for our library.
What an excellent collection of detective stories! Great addition for readers in grades 2-4. Reminiscent of Encyclopedia Brown, Saxby Smart is a kid-detective with a knack for solving puzzling problems. Saxby, narrator of our story, makes sure to include the audience in his clue-finding and case-solving. Very enjoyable from start to finish.
What an excellent collection of detective stories! Great addition for readers in grades 2-4. Reminiscent of Encyclopedia Brown, Saxby Smart is a kid-detective with a knack for solving puzzling problems. Saxby, narrator of our story, makes sure to include the audience in his clue-finding and case-solving. Very enjoyable from start to finish.
Oct 19, 2009
Heather
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Saxby Smart solves three cases in this short, easy to read book. They are more fleshed out than Encyclopedia Brown cases (and frankly may be more enjoyable and have better character development) and are for a bit younger audience, but they are similar. All clues necessary to solve the puzzle are in the text (but are not quite as elusive as Encyclopedia's.)
Nov 30, 2010
Dru
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Solid detective stories and mysteries with a new sleuth named Saxby Smart. There are three stories in this book that vary from a cursed mask, someone wrecking kids' homework and a missing piece of jewelery. In each story Saxby gives the kids chances to work the clues out for themselves before continuing on with the story. Good for grades 3 to 4.
Apr 10, 2011
Heather
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Three short mysteries from the case files of Saxby Smart, child detective. Saxby grew up on detective stories and now solves neighborhood mysteries for his friends.
I love the quirky charm of this series. Saxby operates his sleuthing activities out of a garden shed "office" and ponders cases in a special "thinking chair". But what's really fabulous about these mysteries is the level of reader engagement expected. All the information required to solve the mystery is More...
I love the quirky charm of this series. Saxby operates his sleuthing activities out of a garden shed "office" and ponders cases in a special "thinking chair". But what's really fabulous about these mysteries is the level of reader engagement expected. All the information required to solve the mystery is More...
Aug 12, 2009
Amy
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Saxby Smart solves three mysteries in this book. This is a great book for 3rd/4th graders. Saxby solves mysteries for his friends. What's great about this book is that he also allows the reader to work on the mysteries by asking questions that lead kids to look at the clues again and see if they can figure it out.
Mar 28, 2010
Mary
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Saxby Smart has grown up reading detective novels and now he is a young detective solving mysteries for his friends. The author Simon Cheshire invites the readers to see if they can solve the mysteries on their own.
Aug 18, 2009
Melanie
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Definitely a good recommendation for readers who like Encyclopedia Brown, etc. Fairly well written. Illustrations, use of different fonts, interactive nature of the book will appeal to reluctant readers.
Jul 24, 2009
W.H.
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Saxby Smart is a grade-school detective with an office in the garden shed. As he solves puzzles around his neighborhood, readers get to play along and see if they spot the clues in the story.
Jun 01, 2009
carissa
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Recommended Ages: grades 3 - 6
Saxby Smart must solve three mysteries - with you help. Great for kids who like short mysteries. Gives the reader a chance to guess the clues.
Saxby Smart must solve three mysteries - with you help. Great for kids who like short mysteries. Gives the reader a chance to guess the clues.
Jan 23, 2012
Lynn
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Great for young detective wanna-be's. I have to wonder, though, if his friend is such a good researcher, why isn't SHE the detective?
Jan 31, 2011
Michelle
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I love Saxby Smart. The writing is very clever and humorous. This is much like Encyclopedia Brown much much livelier. A fun read!
Jul 10, 2010
Cheri
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I thing this book is great for 3rd or 4th grade mystery readers. I like that it is broken into three smaller mysteries. I like the illustrations and the fact that the mysteries give pause and reviews throughout to let readers try to figure out some clues. Saxby Smart, child Private Detective, gathers clues, lists them and asks his readers questions along the way. With so many illustrations, I don't think this would make a good read-aloud, but it would be a great share read or independent read.
Dec 19, 2011
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