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Sly the Sleuth #1
Sly the Sleuth and the Pet Mysteries
There are some strange new pets in Sly's a cat on a diet that keeps getting fatter, a fish that seems angry at its owner, and a peculiar pet named Wilson that suddenly disappears!
Only Sly the Sleuth can solve these mysteries. Grade-schooler by day, private detective by afternoon, Sly (a.k.a Sylvia) uses her sharp wits and reasoning skills to get to the bottom of these odd goings-on.
Donna Jo Napoli teams up with her son, Robert Furrow, and illustrator Heather Maione to create a heroine who is not only smart and spunky, but also tremendously funny.
Only Sly the Sleuth can solve these mysteries. Grade-schooler by day, private detective by afternoon, Sly (a.k.a Sylvia) uses her sharp wits and reasoning skills to get to the bottom of these odd goings-on.
Donna Jo Napoli teams up with her son, Robert Furrow, and illustrator Heather Maione to create a heroine who is not only smart and spunky, but also tremendously funny.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published March 17, 2005
2 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Donna Jo Napoli
143 books1,115 followersDonna Jo Napoli is both a linguist and a writer of children's and YA fiction. She loves to garden and bake bread, and even dreams of moving to the woods and becoming a naturalist.
At various times her house and yard have been filled with dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. For thirteen years she had a cat named Taxi, and liked to go outside and call, "Taxi!" to make the neighbors wonder. But dear dear Taxi died in 2009.
She has five children, seven grandchildren, and currently lives outside Philadelphia. She received her BA in mathematics in 1970 and her Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures in 1973, both from Harvard University, then did a postdoctoral year in Linguistics at MIT. She has since taught linguistics at Smith College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and Swarthmore College. It was at UM that she earned tenure (in 1981) and became a full professor (in 1984). She has held visiting positions at the University of Queensland (Australia), the University of Geneva (Switzerland), Capital Normal University of Beijing (China), the University of Newcastle (UK), the University of Venice at Ca' Foscari (Italy), and the Siena School for the Liberal Arts (Italy) as well as lectured at the University of Sydney (Australia), Macquarie University (Australia), the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), and the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa) and held a fellowship at Trinity College Dublin. In the area of linguistics she has authored, coauthored, edited, or coedited 17 books, ranging from theoretical linguistics to practical matters in language structure and use, including matters of interest to d/Deaf people. She has held grants and fellowships from numerous sources, including the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mellon Foundation, the Sloan Foundation.
At various times her house and yard have been filled with dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. For thirteen years she had a cat named Taxi, and liked to go outside and call, "Taxi!" to make the neighbors wonder. But dear dear Taxi died in 2009.
She has five children, seven grandchildren, and currently lives outside Philadelphia. She received her BA in mathematics in 1970 and her Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures in 1973, both from Harvard University, then did a postdoctoral year in Linguistics at MIT. She has since taught linguistics at Smith College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and Swarthmore College. It was at UM that she earned tenure (in 1981) and became a full professor (in 1984). She has held visiting positions at the University of Queensland (Australia), the University of Geneva (Switzerland), Capital Normal University of Beijing (China), the University of Newcastle (UK), the University of Venice at Ca' Foscari (Italy), and the Siena School for the Liberal Arts (Italy) as well as lectured at the University of Sydney (Australia), Macquarie University (Australia), the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), and the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa) and held a fellowship at Trinity College Dublin. In the area of linguistics she has authored, coauthored, edited, or coedited 17 books, ranging from theoretical linguistics to practical matters in language structure and use, including matters of interest to d/Deaf people. She has held grants and fellowships from numerous sources, including the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mellon Foundation, the Sloan Foundation.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 13, 2016
Nicole Malen
Sly the Sleuth and the Pet Mysteries is a book for third to fourth grade students. This book holds three mystery stories; one about a cat, one about a fish and one about a puppy. In the cat mystery, Sly searches to discover why a cat, on a diet, is gaining so much weight. For the fish mystery, Sly has to discover and understand why a fish would hate his owner. Lastly, in the dog mystery, Sly has to discover why a dog is acting crazy.
I would use this novel to teach students about making predictions. After getting an introduction as to what the case is about, I would have the students make a prediction about what they believe the solution to the case is. Then, as we read on and learn more information, I will have the students change or adapt their predictions to the new information. At the end of the story, I would have the students discuss their predictions and the actual solution as a class.
Sly the Sleuth and the Pet Mysteries is a book for third to fourth grade students. This book holds three mystery stories; one about a cat, one about a fish and one about a puppy. In the cat mystery, Sly searches to discover why a cat, on a diet, is gaining so much weight. For the fish mystery, Sly has to discover and understand why a fish would hate his owner. Lastly, in the dog mystery, Sly has to discover why a dog is acting crazy.
I would use this novel to teach students about making predictions. After getting an introduction as to what the case is about, I would have the students make a prediction about what they believe the solution to the case is. Then, as we read on and learn more information, I will have the students change or adapt their predictions to the new information. At the end of the story, I would have the students discuss their predictions and the actual solution as a class.
November 1, 2012
This is a fun story that includes three mysteries in one book. We read one mystery each night and laughed at the rhyming connection of all three. The stories are short and the narrative is good for children who are just beginning to read chapter books. The illustrations are cute and complement the story nicely.
We enjoyed reading this book together and will look for the next book in the series, Sly the Sleuth and the Sports Mysteries.
We enjoyed reading this book together and will look for the next book in the series, Sly the Sleuth and the Sports Mysteries.
December 14, 2014
Before picking this book up I did not realize that this book was written for a much, much younger audience. That being said, the "mysteries" included in this book were not really mysteries but unknown facts about pets that Sly discovered and told the other characters in that particular story. Obviously, this book was not my level in any stretch of the imagination but I still think that the "mysteries" could be written much better. This book was too pedantic to be enjoyable.
November 13, 2010
Would love to add this to "mysteries" for breakfast book club, but it appears that it's only available in hardcover right now, not paperback. I'm so disappointed. It's an interesting sleuth chapter book, an Enclyclopdia Brown of sorts for today's young readers.
March 20, 2012
This is a cute little book. The pictures in it are adorable. The only thing not to like about it is that the third case was not properly explained. It seemed a bit illogical to me. At the beginning it made it seem like Brian's pet was a mouse, but that turned out to not be the case.
July 5, 2017
"I only take cases that are fun. And only cases a cat would care about."
Sylvia "Sly" is a sleuth for hire. In this episode, Sly tackles the reasons behind a fat cat, an angry Wish Fish and a sick puppy.
Good beginning mysteries for early readers.
Sylvia "Sly" is a sleuth for hire. In this episode, Sly tackles the reasons behind a fat cat, an angry Wish Fish and a sick puppy.
Good beginning mysteries for early readers.
December 1, 2014
There is a cat that is fat. Sly is wondering why he is fat. Jack has a pet fish. And sly went to the pet shop and she picks up a fish then its happy. When she puts the fish down, it gets mad! I liked the story because
they got to solve cases of animals that live in homes.
they got to solve cases of animals that live in homes.
March 8, 2009
It was okay, for its logically logical all-about-animals-mysteries. But ( sorry, Donna ) I didn't really like it as much as the other books on my shelf.
August 20, 2010
really good book
January 12, 2011
My little detective rated it 5 stars because she couldn't give it 6.
March 5, 2013
Enjoyable family read. Would read other books in this series.
February 13, 2014
I really enjoyed this little mystery and think the series is great for 1st to 3rd graders.
Want to read
May 9, 2015Had to do with a cute little girl. A lot of mystery books are about boys so i picked this because it was a girl.
December 14, 2016
Nothing wrong with these :) Cute, non-scary mysteries.
January 6, 2008
Cute. Aidan might like these, but might be too young.
May 22, 2013
(Sly) J NAPOLI
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews