Detective Mole and the Halloween Mystery

Detective Mole

by Robert M. Quackenbush

The intrepid Detective Mole is called in to investigate when the jack-o'lanterns from every porch in the town are stolen

Genres: Picture Books, Halloween

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Author/Artist/Educator Robert Quackenbush has written and illustrated over 200 books for young readers including his popular Miss Mallard Mysteries, which have been made into animated films for children's worldwide television programming by Cinar (now Cookie Jar Entertainment) that are showing in 70 countries. His books have won many awards and citations including an Edgar Allen Poe Special Award for Best Juvenile Mystery, a Gradiva Award, and a gold medal from the Holland Society of New York for distinction in art and literature by a member of the society. He is a frequent visiting author at schools and libraries giving programs to instill children with a love of books and reading. These tours have taken him across the US, including Alaska, South America, Europe, and the Middle East. His art is in the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, the Department of Interior, the U.S. Air Force Museum, and Norton Simon Museum. For further information, visit his Web site www.rquackenbush.com, which also gives his Facebook and Blog addresses.

Reviews

[Cristina Kiefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute book. And I actually read the actual picture book. 😉

[Aneesa]

Not a good mystery. Impossible to solve.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

The original Detective Mole (1976) and the four sequels published between 1977 and 1980 are all easy readers. They are in the "Fun to Read" series and follow the standard conventions of big type, short lines (with up to 14 lines per page), and reasonable vocabulary. They are designed for independent reading by children. These books each have between four and seven short (about 10 pp.) stories.

This book, however, is just one long 44-page story. It has small type, long lines (and up to 23 lines of text per page), and unnecessary vocabulary that is way beyond beginning (or even intermediate) readers. Words like "cooperation," "suspicion," "deserted," "sympathetically," and "privileges" likely require on-the-spot guidance. Either this book will need to be read by child and adult together, or it will be treated as a picture book and read aloud by an adult.

While I am all in favor of beginning reader series like Dan Frontier that gradually move forward in reading level with subsequent books, this shift is too radical. (The final Detective Mole book is similar to this one.) It doesn't let the independent reader progress with the skills he has developed in the earlier books, but instead forces adult involvement.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was the day of Halloween and everyone’s pumpkin was coming up missing. The animals suspect that they have been stolen! The other animals had been calling the Mole Detective all day hoping he would be able to find a clue. The mole hid inside one of the remaining pumpkins hoping to catch the thief. He fell asleep in the pumpkin and upon waking found himself in an old abandoned house. A cat was responsible for the stolen pumpkins. The mole and his friend Elmo confronted the cat and found out his witch had lost him and he needed the pumpkins to make a signal for her so she could find him again. The mole and Elmo felt sorry for the cat and got the whole town to help set up the pumpkins for a signal. They had a party in the old house and sure enough the witch saw the lighted pumpkins and came and rescued her cat. This book is charming and show’s how kindness makes new friends.

[Georgina Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book since I was a child. My parents would read this story (one of many) at bedtime constantly. I was the sort of kid that liked to hear stories over and over again. This charming tale will be delightful for young readers, lightly scary illustrations, but many friendly animal characters, similar to Richard Scarry's books. Detective Mole always has a special place in my heart. An all-time favorite Halloween book. All the jack-o-lanterns have disappeared, and Detective Mole is on the case. Where did they go and how can Detective Mole find them? Read the book and find out!

[Yaritza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this book at BookCon and got to meet Mr. Quackenbush. He does amazing illustrations for his children books. Love the story in this book and the images were perfect and colorful. Kids would enjoy this book in Halloween

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son loved this book. We read it too him a lot! Hope to find more detective mole stories in the future.