[Big Max and the Mystery of the Missing Giraffe] (By: Kin Platt) [published: June, 2006]

Big Max

by Kin Platt

Jake the giraffe is missing, and Big Max is on the case! But is this mystery too big for even the world's greatest detective?

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Mystery

Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Pseudonyms: Kirby Carr, Guy West, Alan West, Guy York & Wesley Simon York

Kin Platt (1911–2003) was the author of the perennially popular I Can Read Book Big Max, as well as several outstanding young-adult novels and the Max Roper mystery series for adults. Mr. Platt was also a noted cartoonist.

For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin_Platt

Reviews

[Christine Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book to be quite cringy as it pokes fun at other cultures, names, and languages. We could even go as far as to say it brings in the “white savior” trope. I would leave this book out of a children’s reading collection because in a word it is racist.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

When amazing detective Big Max is on the case, rest assured. There's guaranteed to be a happy ending.

In this book of the lighthearted series, Big Max's client is King Punchapillow, of Ah-Ah Achoo.

He's missing his pet giraffe, Jake.

My favorite lines in this mystery are spoken by the great detective himself:

"I always find what I look for,"
Big Max said.
"I will find him."

What an attitude.

ALTOGETHER, I'M IN LIKE WITH THIS BOOK

Truly hilarious, this tale. FIVE STARS for sure.

If I didn't already read well, and somebody showed this Level 2 reader to me, I would want to learn how. The story is that marvelous.

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

This modern book goes for an old-timey feel. Like, there's a pre-rotary phone on the wall. Big Max is a detective who gets a call to help a King find his lost giraffe. The King is non-caucasian and dressed in sort of native garb. Max travels by blowing air up into his umbrella. Typical American, he doesn't know geography and heads out without consulting a map. Eventually he gets there and solves the mystery of the missing giraffe.

Not overtly racist, but I'm sure someone will find it problematic.

[emyrose8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but not my favorite.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A king looses his pet giraffe and hires a detective to find him in this elementary level easy reader.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really a fun book to read with a 6 year old.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

On a recent trip to our local library, we picked up Big Max and this story, both by Kin Platt. While the books are a bit young for our girls, we thought the covers looked interesting and we are always looking for fun mysteries.

We enjoyed reading the first story and decided to read this one the next day. I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed to see that this story was virtually a formulaic copy of the first, simply switching out locations, people and types of animals. The plot was almost exactly the same.

Still, we thought it was a fun story to read aloud. The illustrations are very colorful and humorous. We enjoyed reading it together, but since the last story in the series, Big Max in the Mystery of the Missing Moose, isn't available at our local library, I won't make any Herculean efforts to find it.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something's weird about the publication dates, but I'm not going to fret about it, only say that this feels very old-fashioned. I'd like to read the first, but since other reviewers say the plot of the two is the same, I won't bother ordering it. This is a charming Leveled Reader, and refreshingly different from most of them, because most are friendship stories. The word choice, sentence length, etc. are formulated for beginning readers, but still engaging, not lame. And the fantasy world is imaginative and funny. I do recommend them if your 5-6 yo is having trouble moving on to regular books.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I just have a soft spot for Big Max, he was my all-time FAV book when I was little, I always had my grandpa read it too me when I went over- and we lived next door so I was over everyday! I was SO excited to find a second book when I took my kids to the library! Pretty much the same story as the first book, they could have made it better, but hey, it's Big Max :D

[Elizabeth S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is our first Big Max book, and, Wow! What fun! The characters are entertaining. The mystery is well-suited to a young age, meaning that it is paced well, both the problem and the solution are understandable, and it is interesting to the young. Plus there were small jokes and plays-on-words that may be missed by a younger reader, but help keep it interesting for an older reader.

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's almost the same story as the original Big Max, but that one was better because, hello, it was an elephant that was missing. Still, Lynne Cravath's illustrations are pretty true to Robert Lopshire's original designs, and more colorful.

[Clint · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 - Very similar to the first Big Max book, almost too similar. It was as likable as the first one but very predictable after reading Big Max.

[Megan B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinley read this to us tonight. It was a funny story.

[Edward Creter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big Max has to help a king find his beloved soccer playing giraffe. Good fun for beginner detectives.

[Taleoftwopiggies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Big Max book. I wish there was more! I only found two so far.

[Readergirl77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

60 some pages and Nathan read this entire book to mom and dad out loud. He only needed help with four or five words. So impressed!!! <3