Museum Mystery Squad and the Case of the Moving Mammoth

August 1, 2017

Gr 1-3-A museum becomes the perfect mystery setting for this new series from Scotland. The detectives are three friends dubbed the "Museum Mystery Squad": Kennedy, Nabster, and Laurie. Kennedy is the organizer and the quick thinker, Nabster is the technical expert, and Laurie knows how to ask the direct questions. The squad reports to the museum director, Magda Gaskar. In the Case of the Hidden Hieroglyphics, a secret message is discovered on a mummy, and Magda Gaskar asks the kids to decode it. This doesn't sit well with Professor Gyptex, a visiting Egyptologist who is not quite what he seems. The book is full of interesting facts about hieroglyphics, and features an opportunity for readers to try their hand at decoding. In the Case of the Moving Mammoth, the world famous Dinosaur Circus is appearing in Edinburgh. While there are no real dinosaurs on display, there is a gigantic, stuffed woolly mammoth named Moth being housed at the museum. Shockingly, Moth seems to move at night when the museum is closed, and the squad is tasked with solving this conundrum. The book contains facts about animals and even a short quiz to determine which Mystery Squad member the reader most resembles. Each book is replete with black-and-white illustrations, along with quizzes, games, and brain teasers that will definitely engage young readers. VERDICT A strong series to add to early chapter book collections and an easy fit for fans of "A to Z Mysteries" and "Nate the Great."-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI

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