The High-Rise Private Eyes #4: The Case of the Troublesome Turtle

The High-Rise Private Eyes #4

by Cynthia Rylant, G. Brian Karas (Illustrator)

The fourth book in the critically acclaimed mystery series follows super sleuths and best friends Bunny Brown and Jack Jones as they try to discover the trouble with the troublesome turtle.

Genres: Mystery, Picture Books, Fiction, Childrens, Chapter Books, Animals

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

An author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children and young adults as well as an author and author/illustrator of picture books for children, Cynthia Rylant is recognized as a gifted writer who has contributed memorably to several genres of juvenile literature. A prolific author who often bases her works on her own background, especially on her childhood in the West Virginia mountains, she is the creator of contemporary novels and historical fiction for young adults, middle-grade fiction and fantasy, lyrical prose poems, beginning readers, collections of short stories, volumes of poetry and verse, books of prayers and blessings, two autobiographies, and a biography of three well-known children's writers; several volumes of the author's fiction and picture books are published in series, including the popular "Henry and Mudge" easy readers about a small boy and his very large dog.

Rylant is perhaps most well known as a novelist. Characteristically, she portrays introspective, compassionate young people who live in rural settings or in small towns and who tend to be set apart from their peers.

from bookrags.com

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: Bunny enjoyed painting on Sundays. "Why don't you paint me?" asked Jack. "Because you won't sit still," said Bunny. "Yes, I will," said Jack. "No, you won't," said Bunny.

Premise/plot: Bunny and Jack have a new case to solve. Someone is stealing balloons from Mr. Paris' toy store. Can these two detectives figure out who or why? Often with these two they begin by focusing on the why to figure out the who. Why would anyone want to steal green and yellow balloons? Why are the balloons only stolen on Friday nights?

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. It may be my favorite of the series. I'm not sure if kids enjoy the banter between Bunny and Jack as much as I do. I don't always love it. In some books it can be more annoying than amusing. But this one opens with Bunny painting a portrait of Jack. That illustration is hilarious!

I believe I've now read all the books in the series.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bunny Brown (the brains) and Jack Jones (the snoop) work together to solve mysteries. In this book, every Friday night, someone is stealing the yellow and green balloons that adorn the outside of the Mr. Paris' toy store. And Mr. Paris enlists the help of Bunny and Jack to find the culprit.

[Ally Copper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bunny Brown is a rabbit, and Jack Jones is a raccoon. They live in a tall building in a big city, and they help out their friends by solving mysteries. They are the high-rise private eyes. There are other activities they enjoy, too. Bunny likes to paint, and Jack likes to eat. When a hippo named Mr. Paris stops by for Bunny and Jack's help, they get right to work trying to find out who is stealing Mr. Paris's balloons. They brainstorm ideas. Jack has a hard time concentrating, but his tangents lead to good ideas that help them crack the case.

"The Case of the Troublesome Turtle" is an easy-reader chapter book that introduces young readers (1st through 4th grade) to the mystery genre and to detective stories. The four short chapters in this book feature mostly simple words with which readers will be familiar and a few bigger words for them to learn using context clues (e.g., concentrate, accessories, and fantastic). The story includes short sentences and lots of white space so readers aren't intimidated by too much text. Colorful illustrations also break up the text. The acrylic, gouache, and pencil illustrations are not extremely artful or creative, but they complement the story well and show the characters' emotions and personality.

There are many beginning chapter books that are rather bland and boring, and while "The High-Rise Private Eyes #4: The Case of the Troublesome Turtle" isn't especially exciting or suspenseful, it is an engaging story with fun characters, and it will hold readers' attention. I'd rank this as one of the better easy-to-read short chapter books.

[Jacqueline Holton]

The Case of the Troublesome Turtle by Cynthia Rylant is a beginner chapter book for grades 1-3. It has the elements of formula fiction. It’s funny, it has a plot, setting, and a predictable ending. There are four chapters and they are about 8-9 pages long. The story is a mystery about balloons coming up missing from outside the neighborhood toy store. A bunny rabbit and his best friend gather clues and set out to solve the mystery. I liked this book because it’s fast paced. It doesn’t stay on one thing to long but moves right along. It’s very interesting and engaging. I would use this book in the classroom because a lesson could be learned about stealing and children can see how important friendships can be.

The case of the Fidgety Fox by Cynthia Rylant is a mystery. The author has written over 60 children’s books which Includes series. This story is about missing fluffy dice and who’s taking them. The duo, Bunny Brown and Jack Jones have to try and solve the case. Chapter books are getting children ready to read a larger vocabulary and comprehend a more complex content. I would use this book in my class because children love them. I could use it for social studies and science to learn about the fox in the story. Students could learn about it’s habitat and other facts. I really like this series because kids like them!

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just read this story with my third grade reading group. We read two chapters last Friday and two chapters today. It was a good story for practicing retelling. We simply chose important parts from each chapter and used first, next, then, and last, one transition word per chapter. They remembered the details very well and told back many of them when it was time to summarize. I think they enjoyed this story and it was a level J, a book right on their particular reading level.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an odd story that has two main parts that really don't seem to have anything to do with one another. It's an interesting little mystery for younger readers, but not our favorite in the High-Rise Private Eyes series.

[Alexander The Triumphant · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, someone had balloons that are different colors, but some are blue and yellow and they are hung out of the shop every day tied with blue ribbons. In the summer, the people did not steal the balloons, and in the fall they did on Tuesdays. They get hung up by a little turtle. I liked this book because it was very funny. -by Alexander

[Mila · Rating 4 out of 5]

The troublesome turtles was about a toy store manager who Put balloons on his sign. But every single Friday in the fall, the balloons disappeared.

I liked this story because Jack was really funny when he said, “Do you have any asteroid action figures?” Bunny glared at Jack, and that is what I found funny about the story.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite in The High Rise Private Eyes series.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun bedtime story. I like how Bunny solves the problem without humiliating or embarrassing anyone.

[Melanie Boss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picture book. Beginning chapter book. two friends discover who is taking balloons from a toyshop.

[Dina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone's stealing the balloons from outside the toy store. Detectives Bunny Brown and Jack Jones are on the job, and find the missing balloons at a school ball game. Cute series.

[Sandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was a good book

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The candy stores balloons were stolen. Bunny and Jack find the thief at a game because they were the same color as the team.

[Elanor]

All by herself!

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

This mystery was better than the other one I read, as far as deducing a solution, but I hated the note from Santa. Because I hate Santa.