[ { THE CASE OF THE HUNGRY STRANGER (I CAN READ - LEVEL 2 (QUALITY)) } ] by Bonsall, Crosby (AUTHOR) Oct-08-1980 [ Paperback ]

by Crosby Newell Bonsall

Who ate Mrs. Meech's blueberry pie? Mrs. Meech calls on private eyes Wizard, Skinny, Tubby, and Snitch to help her find out!When this book was first published, The Horn Book praised its "real humor, suspense, and definite characterization, which achieve a result that is irresistible."

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, Middle Grade

Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

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

[Mya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very light and very good read!

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just read my first book fully in Swedish and yes, it is a kid's book but you gotta start somewhere! Sadly Goodreads doesn't recognize the Swedish title.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quaint learning-to-read book from late mid-century that Joey found in the bedroom he's staying in at my in-law's. I think it's Joey's first "mystery" book. He probably would have given it only two stars; he wasn't even sure he wanted to finish it. A few things that would no longer be ok, like calling the chubby kid Tubby and assuming that he ate the pie, but that's just the historicity of the book. Otherwise a decent kids' mystery book for learning those first reading skills.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is very well written for teaching: character development, setting (development), themes, and writing a mystery. Writing a mystery as I did in teaching fifth grade involves clues, a false lead, and the solution.

[Jane Maple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wizard is in his clubhouse with his friends Tubby and Skinny and his little brother Snitch when Mrs. Meech comes over and says somebody ate one of her blueberry pies. The four boys review their day for clues. Wizard gets laughed at because before coming to the clubhouse his mother was having him try her hats. They go to Mrs. Meech's house and search in the basement, but they don't find the thief. They follow crumbs but it just leads them back to their clubhouse since Tubby has been eating this whole time. Suddenly Wizard thinks of it - he asks everyone to open their mouth - he is looking for blue teeth. The boys spread out and smile at people so that when they smile back they can see any of them have blue teath. Snitch notices Mrs. Meech has blue teeth but this is because she had blueberries for lunch. But then they realize that a little white dog named Mop has blue teeth and they have solved the case. Mrs. Meech lets the split the remaining pie so know they all have blue teeth.

[4th Grade · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Hungry Strahger
The Case of the Hungry Stranger was boring, short and simle. One day in the clubhouse, awoman named Mrs. Meech's , wanted to make a blueberry pie. However sombody ate Mrs. Meech's blueberry pie. they found out who ate Mrs.Meech's blueberry pie.

Wizard was the leader so he told everyone what to do. the end was boring because it was simple. The characters had olt of communication because they speek olt. Read this book if you love short books.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short mystery for beginning readers includes sleuthing and looking for clues that make sense until an answer is achieved. It isn't so easy to find books with those elements for early readers. This is a good one to keep in mind.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous and enjoyable early reader mystery.

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to the mystery genre for younger readers

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an early reader about 4 boys who form a private eyes club to solve mysteries.

[Elin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mother tells me this is where it all started. This was the first book I fell in love with. It started a reading avalanche and here I am, 16 years later, still a booklover.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one's fun and as I've mentioned before, mysteries are simply the best for helping your beginner get interested in reading. And it has an outside fort. Stories that had forts always won me over!

Reading Level:

Cleanliness: A boy's name is Snitch because he snitches sometimes. Someone gets called a "dope." The word "shucks" is used.

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Myrza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bonsall, C. (1992). The Case of the Hungry Stranger. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
The neighborhood kids go on to search for the stranger who ate a blueberry pie. With their catchy name “The Wizard Private Eye”, they are determined to solve the case and find out who ate the pie. The group investigates the scene and looks for clues to find the hungry stranger who ate the blueberry pie. Great reading as the author keeps you guessing about who ate the pie, and the private eye kids search the neighborhood block using their strategies.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an I Can Read Book... a fabulous way of introduction young readers-listeners to mysteries. These stories make mysteries intriguing without making them scary for the younger guys. A group of three friends and one of their little brother make a Private Eye and they figure out their first case... The case of the missing blueberry pie! There are several books about these boys and their cases. I LOVED them as a small child and shared them with my kids and now baby granddaughter. EXCELLENT way of getting a child interested in mysteries!

[Fjóla · Rating 3 out of 5]

We found Mine's the Best to be so clever and funny, which is why we checked out this one. And it's a good, solid early reader. The detective story is very reminiscent of Nate the Great, another great early reader (although for the slightly more advanced).

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a story or two from this series as a kid, but I don't remember much about my opinion. My grown-up opinion is that it's a fun story but that the little jabs at "Tubby" are extremely irritating (same as the comments about Skinny not eating -- how many skinny people did I know growing up that ate pure junk?) because they set a standard that if you're chubby, you're always eating, and that's just stupid.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about solving a mystery as a private detective. We've started reading some Encyclopedia Brown mysteries, but this one is a much easier story for our girls to understand now. The books are short and there's lot of illustrations, so it's more at their level.

[Karen Stanford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though this copy is dated (1963) it is a great introduction to detective books. Four boys start up a Private eye business and learn how to follow the right clues to solve the mystery. The writing is very simple and easy to read. Great book for six and seven years old.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am reading this with Spencer

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters in Bonsall's series remind me of the gang on "Fat Albert." His story lines are predictable and cheesy but a good choice for first time readers who like a little mystery.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talmage LOVES this book and these characters. These stories seem to be the perfect reading/interest level for a 7 year old boy.

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous, fun-loving book that has all the elements of a mystery (clues, plot, red herrings). It's a simple book that can serve as a great touchstone text for a mystery unit.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who done it...
See who the hungry stranger was. My son loves these books.

[Tara Montague · Rating 5 out of 5]

100% responsible for my love of blueberries and blueberry pie.

[Edward Creter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book intro's us to Wizard, Skinny, Tubby and Snitch who become junior (if clueless) private eyes. Their first job: find out who stole the neighbor's blueberry pie. It gets no deeper than that.

[Yasuko · Rating 2 out of 5]

2013.4.25 1342words

[WSL Library]

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[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why this one amuses me so much, but it does. And again, I say that mysteries make for better-than-average early readers.

The girls own a copy.

[Connie D]

mi primera libra en espanol.

no facil para mi porque mucho conjugacions de verbos.

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

AR Quiz No. 10509 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 2.3 - AR Pts: 0.5