The Birthday Mystery

Cam Jansen Mysteries #20

by David A. Adler, Susanna Natti (Illustrator)

Not only does Cam Jansen have a birthday mystery to solve...she has one to celebrate! The Cam Jansen series marks its twentieth year with the twentieth book featuring Cam Jansen and her photographic memory.

When Cam's grandparents are robbed on their way to a surprise birthday party, Cam puts her memory to work to solve the mystery. The clue is in the story--try to find it before Cam does!

Genres: Mystery, Chapter Books, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, 2nd Grade, Picture Books

58 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

David Abraham Adler is an American children's author. He was born in New York City, New York in 1947. He graduated from Queens College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics and education. For the next nine years, he worked as a mathematics teacher for the New York City Board of Education, while taking classes towards a master's degree in marketing, a degree he was awarded by New York University in 1971. In that same year, a question from his then-three-year-old nephew inspired Adler to write his first story, A Little at a Time, subsequently published by Random House in 1976. Adler's next project, a series of math books, drew on his experience as a math teacher. In 1977, he created his most famous character, Cam Jansen, originally featured in Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, which was published that year.

Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.

Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.

As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.

(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Gwen Hoffman]

Okay listen it was crunch time to hit that 2024 goal. Honestly though, entertaining read for a children’s book. (but doesn’t top my girl Judy Moody). This specific book was picked in honor of the birthday girl Monica xoxo

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fifth-grade sleuth Cam Jansen plans a surprise birthday party for her parents, whose birthdays are days apart, but finds herself once again involved in a mystery when her grandparents, in town to attend the party, are robbed at the airport. Will Cam's photographic memory save the day, and help her to find the stolen luggage and presents...?

The twentieth entry in David A. Adler's series of beginning chapter-books about Cam Jansen's crime-solving adventures, Cam Jansen and the Birthday Mystery was first published in 2000, some twenty years after the first entry in the series, Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds . Like its predecessors, it is fairly formulaic - a theft occurs, and Cam swings into action, with the help of her amazing memory and her best friend, Eric - but then, that is often a characteristic of series fiction for this age. I enjoyed many of the earlier Cam Jansen books when I was young, but this one was published well after I was past that stage. Recommended to fans of the series, and to beginning chapter-book readers who enjoy mystery.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cam Jamsen mysteries make great early chapter books.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cam Jansen, taking mental pictures and saving the day. Just as I remember. 🤣

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, it was very engaging. I noticed the aspect that solved the mystery but was not sure. I like how this book helps the reader pick up on small details but still keeps the mystery going. I would keep this book on my classroom library shelf as a fun book for children to read and engage with.

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/bo...
Interest Level
Grades 3 - 5
Reading Level
Grade level Equivalent: 2.9
Lexile® Measure: 390L
DRA: 20
Guided Reading: L
Type of Book: Chapter Book
Genre
Mystery and Suspense
Series
Theme/Subject
Cleverness
Birthdays
Grandparents and Grandchildren
Friends and Friendship

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cam Jansen was the first book I can remember as a kid sitting down on the couch and reading from cover to cover without stopping. Started my love of mysteries.

[Morgan Drummond · Rating 4 out of 5]

When growing up kids have to read a variety of books to find what they like. I typically liked reading romance novels but when I found the Cam Jansen series I started to like mystery too. Cam Jansen has a photographic memory. When she wants to remember something, she scans its and says "click". This book is about Cam throwing a surprise birthday party for her parents. She even gets her grandparents to come in. When the grandparents arrived at the airport something happens with their luggage and Cam finds out. She was not supposed to go with her parents, but she wants to solve the mystery. Her and her brother Eric sneak into the car so they can go. In the end she ends up solving the mystery and helping make her parents party turn out good. This story is relatable to kids because it shows how she can do something with just memory. She is someone who kids can look at as a superhero with the power being her photographic memory. These books have always been favorites of mine. They are very descriptive, and it makes you just want to keep turning the page to see how Cam will solve the mystery this time.

[Rachel Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd heard of Cam Jansen stories before but never read them until today when I picked up Cam Jansen and the Birthday Mystery from my school workplace. Turns out Cam's name is actually Jennifer, which was perhaps the biggest surprise in this whole book! But this is a fun little mystery jaunt in an airport chasing a thief. I really liked Cam's personality and I was glad she got the recognition she deserved for solving the mystery of who stole their grandparents' luggage.

[Anna Salvesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cam's grandparents get robbed at the airport on their way to her parents' surprise 40th birthday party. Cam remembers seeing a van (vans are never any good because they're suspicious) that had a lot of luggage and presents inside of it. They find the man with the van and get the presents back.

[Soccer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the happy ending, it's mysterious too.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Next time I will listen/read more closely to the details in the beginning! Click!

[Leticia · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE DAY CAM JANSEN AND HER PARENTS WERE IN THE PARK AND CAM SAW A LOT OF DUCKS IN THE POND AND SO SHE ASKED HER MOM AND DAD "DO YOU HAVE BREAD FOR THE DUCKS IN THE POND''??? AND SO CAM JANSEN'S MOM SAID'' NO'' AND THEN SHE SAID "LETS GET OUT OF THE PARK AND GO TO EAT SOMEWHERE. AND CAM JANSEN SAID I DON'T WANT TO GO. AND THEN THE SECOND TIME CAM JANSEN SAID OKAY LET'S GO EAT. AND THEY ALL GOT IN THE CAR AND WHILE IN THE ROAD CAM JANSEN DECIDED TO SAY WHAT IF WE EAT AT THE HOUSE. AND WE CAN EAT EGG SALAD AND SPINACH?? AND THEN CAM'S MOM SAID ARE YOUB ACTING CRAZY?? AND THEN CAM JANSEN AND THEIR PARENTS DECIDED TO GO TO A VERY RANDOM PLACE AND WHEN THEY ENTERED THE ROOM THEY SAW ERIC , AUNT MOLLY, ETC.... AND SO AFTER THAT THEY ALL CONGRATULATED CAM JANSEN'S MOM. AND WHEN THEY CALLED CAM JANSEN'S DAD IT WAS GRAMI AND GRAMPI, CAM'S GRANDPARENTS AND THEY SAID THEY WERE BEING ROBBED BY A THIEF.AND THEN CAM JANSEN'S PARENTS AND CAM AND ERIC WERE IN THE BACK TALKING TO CAM'S PARENTS.WHEN THEY GOT TO THE PARKING LOT WERE CAM'S GRANDPARENTS SAID THEY WERE THERE. AND THEY WHERE LOOKING FOR AN HOUR AND WHEN THEY SAW A POLICE CAR DRIVING BY WITH TWO MEN POLICES AND CAM'S DAD WAVED HIS HAND AND THEY SAID ''ARE YOU GUYS THE ONES THAT CALLED ME''??AND THEY SAID YES. AND THEN CAM'S GRANDPARENTS CALLED TO SAY WE ARE HERE AND WE ARE WAITING FOR YOU GUYS AND THEN CAM'S GRANDPARENTS WENT AND THEN TOLD ALL THE STORY WICH WAS THAT A TAXI DRIVER TOLD TEHM TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND HE WANTED TO ROBB THE PRESENTS THAT THEY HAD FOR THEIR PARENTS WICH WERE TWO AND THEN THE POLICE AND CAM AND ERIC SOLVED THE MYSTERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YEAH YAEH YEAH..........THANKS BY LETICIA ROSSELL

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

During a trip to the lake, Cam tries to delay their return home by having her parents give her a memory quiz- how many ducks are there on the lake? or how many people are sitting on the benches? All the time, Cam looks at her watch. Suddenly, she declares that it’s time to go home. As they walk through the front door, the friends and family filling the living room shout, “Surprise!” It’s a joint 40th birthday party for Mr. and Mrs. Jansen. As the cake gets cut, a phone call comes. Grandpa and Grandma Jansen are stranded at the airport. The cab driver they hired stole their luggage and the two birthday presents. The grandparents give the police and Cam the first clues to the mystery- a man with long blond hair and a black jacket; a cab with a large dent on the cab’s door. They check out several cabs with dents, and any one fitting the description, but they don’t find the thief until Cam remembers something she saw in the parking lot. Mr. Jansen parked the car between a red sports car and a grey van. When Cam “clicked” to remember their spot in the parking lot, she noticed something about the van that was very suspicious. Returning to the lot, they look in the van’s back window. What they see leads to the capture of the luggage thief.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Drexel 6]

Another of my favorite books is Cam Jansen and the Birthday Mystery. IT is about a girl named Cam who is lblind. She loves to solve mysteries for her grandparents’ birthday. Her family went to the airport to pick up her grandparents. Somebody stole their luggage and Cam has to solve the mystery. Will you solve the birthday mystery?
I like this book because I like solving mysteries. I had a strong reaction when Cam’s grandparents things are stolen, which was negative. I could relate to Cam because we both love to solve mysteries. Some of my questions were: Why did they steal their clothes? Who would do a bad thing? My positive reaction was they had a surprise party for her grandparents.
This reminded me of Freak the Mighty, how Cam and Max call their grandparents Grim and Gram. If you like mystery books you should read this book. This book is amazing. Will you solve the mystery before Cam will? You have to read it. It’s great. Also, it will have your eyes glued to the pages. You will be excited to read Cam Jansen and the Birthday Mystery. Hope you read it. Trust me you will love it. Amazing!

-Shakura, 6th grade

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reason for Reading: My son read this aloud to me and we've read the second book in the series. This book is just a bit too hard for him so I need to help frequently and now and then take over reading a page but he's doing quite well, we are going to do more in this series as he likes it quite well and it will be an indicator of his improvement when he can read them without (much) struggle.

This is a fun, intelligent mystery for younger kids. The clues are there. Cam has used her photographic memory once again to picture the scene but she's not a know-it-all and isn't sure how to piece it all together so it makes sense. The kids' never go off into dangerous territory without the required adult present: the father, a police officer, etc. Nothing silly here but the dialogue is light-hearted and the family and friends have fun even amidst the discomfort of having their luggage and gifts stolen. Well-written mystery series for beginning chapter book readers and early fans of the genre.

[Jessalyn Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cam Jansen series is fun for elementary school kids. Cam Jansen has a photographic memory and uses it to solve many different mysteries. She pictures the scene, but has to find a way to piece everything together in order to make sense of it. This series is an easy read and is engaging. Students find out what the clues are and go through this mysterious adventure with Cam as she searches for the birthday thief. In the classroom, it would be fun to read this book as a class and have the students discuss in small groups about what they think will happen next. Also, coming up with writing assignments to help the students connect this mystery with their own life would make this book even more classroom appropriate. For example, you could have them give short answers to specific questions such as: Are you good at memorizing? Have you ever been in trouble? Was it on your birthday? Then, have them share with the class or small group. This will get them interacting with the book as well as their peers.

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cam Jansen, known for her photographic memory, has planned a surprise dual 40th birthday party for her parents. Unfortunately, after the surprise is unveiled, her grandparents call from the airport reporting that they have been robbed. Cam, her parents, and her best friend, Eric, rush to the scene of the crime. Cam uses her photographic memory to help solve the mystery of her grandparents’ stolen belongings.

This was a cute book for young readers starting on chapter books for the first time. The back of the book encourages readers to figure out the mystery before Cam does. I found myself flipping back to see if I could solve the mystery before it was revealed. I didn’t see it coming! I would absolutely use these books in my 2nd grade classroom.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading the Cam Jansen series when I was a kid. I loved how she could take snapshots of everything and could remember every detail, also called photographic memory. This comes in handy a lot for Cam, because she uses her ability to help solve mysteries.
In this story, Cam is excited to help surprise her parents with a surprise birthday party! She is even going to see her grandparents. However, they soon learn that her grandparents have been robbed at the airport! Cam and her parents go to the airport. Cam decides to use her ability of photographic memory to help solve the case. But will her ability be enough to outsmart a thief!?
Great book! Very fun read.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the students would enjoy reading this book. The end of each chapter is suspenseful and makes you want to continue reading. This book was different because usually the parents throw a surprise party for the child, not the other way around! I think children would find humor in that. I think the students would also think it's funny that the two kids snuck in the car to get the grandparents without them knowing. I also feel as if they students would be impressed with Cam's photogenic memory and investigator skills.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I remember reading these as a kid, but I wasn't sure. Cam takes mental pictures and says click to remember events or situations. When her grandparents fly out to visit, their taxi driver takes off with the packages, before they can get in the car. Cam uses her powers of observation (perhpas instead of her supposed photographic memory) to solve the mystery and catch the robber.
Cute.

[Theo kids · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty good reading for early chapter books. Of the kid-solving-mystery variety, which some kids love and others don't, but I like the heroine and her wisecracking friends. Although, I would like the books even more if the heroine relied solely on her wits and intuition and less on her photographic memory. I just feel that would make her more relatable, but, overall, she's still a likable junior detective with some great adventures to share.

[Ayaka Kondo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publisher; PUFFIN BOOK
Book series; Cam Jansen
Time; 10/30=50minutes

7-word summary
girl/memory/mind/birthday/thief/airport/search

Discussion questions
1, are you good at memorizing?
Especially dancing or singing, I am good at memorizing.
they are easy and interesting to remember.
2, Have you ever been in trouble on your birthday?
My birthday is at the end of August. I mean that when I was a JH or JHS student, the season is on the exam week. so I always had tests on my birthsay.

[Chihiro Ushida · Rating 3 out of 5]

*A Puffin book
*11/4=75min
*7 words summary
girl,click,party,airport,thief,police,happy
*discussion questions
1)Do(Did) you have a nickname? please explain!
...Many friends in my class call me chippy because I am Chihiro. I like this nickname. sound is cute!

2)Did you get into truble with the police? Why?
...yeah, our family car was got theft from a vehicle onece then we got into truble with the police. of course, we haven't committed a crime!

[Angela Hutchinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cam Jansen series is about a little girl with a photographic memory. In this particular book, Cam goes on a hunt to find out who stole her grandparents luggage and her parents birthday packages at the airport. This is a good transitional book for young readers that can promote the students to predict what is going to happen next. I thought it was a good mystery and a good example of taking mental pictures and using your memory to retrieve them.

[Alison Durbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I have never heard of Cam Jansen until this semester, and I wish I was made aware of this series as a kid; I would have enjoyed reading so much more! I like the idea of having a main character with a photographic memory. I think it shows children that you can turn any quirk into a positive as Cam's memory aids her in solving mysteries. I thought this mystery was fun to figure out, and I think I will do some more investigating into this series. (pun intended)

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

We really enjoyed this book in the Cam Jansen series. It was very exciting and we read most of the book in one setting. Not only is Cam's memory fantastic, but her powers of deduction are pretty amazing too. Our girls really love the Cam Jansen books and this one was a particular favorite.

[Moeko Matsuo · Rating 5 out of 5]

-Puffin Chapters level 2
-Time: 9/28 = 60 minutes
-7-word summary: birthday party - mystery - airport - taxi - car - thief - catch
-Discussion questions:
1.Have you ever caught any thief?
No, I've never caught them because I've never seen them.
2.Have you ever experienced a surprise birthday party?
No, but I've done the surprise birthday party for my friends!

[Elizabeth Smitheram · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about a girl whose grandparents get robbed of their luggage and presents at an airport. The Girl is named "Cam" because she has a photographic memory like a camera. Cam helps her grandparents find the thief thanks to her great memory! It's a mystery and I would give it to kids in 3rd grade.

[Elisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family and friends before anything else. When family or friends have trouble with something or are having a hard time, help them instead of watching TV. When some long-distance friends or family call, answer the phone and actually talk to them instead of doing something else. Celebrate, laugh and even cry with your family and friends.

[Tammy King Carlton · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books were reccommended by a friend, and Rebekah has really enjoyed them. She is just beginning to get into the idea of "detective" books, where you look for clues, and try to discover what happened.