The Case of the Scaredy Cats

by Crosby Newell Bonsall

When little ‘scaredy cat’ Annie disappears, it’s another baffling case for detectives Wizard, Tubby, Skinny, and Snitch. ‘One of the funniest of the author’s easy-to-read stories about the youthful ‘private eyes.’’ —BL.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Mystery, Fiction

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Crosby Barbara Newell Bonsall, b. Jan. 2, 1921; d. Jan. 10, 1995 was an American artist and children's book author and illustrator. She wrote and illustrated more than 40 children's books.

Bonsall began writing and illustrating for juvenile readers after working for advertising firms.

Born Crosby Barbara Newell, she married George Bonsall.

Works were published as Crosby Newell, Crosby Bonsall, and Crosby Newell Bonsall.

Reviews

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a number of Bonsall's easy readers, this is actually quite confusing. It assumes so much - mostly about this supposed war of the sexes. The dialogue is written in a way that is really only funny if you get how these kids talk. It's not funny because of what the words say - but that's kind of where beginning readers live. So they read all the words correctly and still don't make a connection with the book. Probably worth it for them to revisit later on when it's a breeze to read and they can laugh at the subtleties. But I still wonder if the (anti-)sexism aspect is worth the effort to explain.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even though there's a sort of feminist message on the front, this book kinda reinforces the crap out of sexist stereotypes. It's old, whatever, just not one with a lasting message.

[Charity · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really took me back. It's so 70s/80s. There's even a kid named "Tubby" who wins eating contests and eats cookies constantly. We've made a little bit of progress in children's books in 40 years.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of several in this series of books. A group of boys have a club house and they are private eyes. They are best friends and have a stinky little brother always tagging along. In this book; the neighborhood girls have taken over their club house. They argue and get into a snowball fight and one of the girls goes missing. So the girls must get the boys together to find the missing girl. They follow clues to find her. This used to be one of my favorite books to read when I was a little girl, I always loved the mysteries they encountered.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet little story about wheather boys or girls are the easiest to scare.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

a good early reader, a funny story about the battles between the sexes, and how children relate to each other

[M. Reedz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The girls won!

[Edward Creter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wizard and the kids are back and still dukin' it out with tha girls, girls, girls. Nice nessage at the end, but too old fashioned for most kids. Aren't we boys more accepting nowadays?

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

AR Quiz No. 11162 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 2.0 - AR Pts: 0.5

[Helena Ferry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Läste för Sander på Kulturskolan medan Ava var på teater, för att den låg där.

Jag var inte jätteimponerad, gillade inte den skarpa uppdelningen mellan killar och tjejer och allt prat om hur dåliga tjejer är - även om de fick revansch på slutet. Funkar nog bättre att läsa för barn som redan kör sånt prat och så skarp uppdelning, annars känns det mest olustigt att sitta och läsa saker som att "tjejer bara lipar" för sitt barn...