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The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Julie Johnson

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The Reluctant SpyThe Reluctant Spy by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun read about a boy named Timothy who finds a rat under his bed. He’s afraid of his grandmother finding it and screaming so he’s doing everything he can to get it out of the house. Grandma already knows about the rat though and she’s telling Timothy how this is a special rat. Hildegard is going to take them on adventures and help solve a mystery plaguing the community.

This is a longer read by this author. An emerging chapter reader could easily follow along with this book. There are a few German words scattered throughout, which is a great way to garner interest in a new language. True to this author’s style, there are also STEM components in this story.

Overall, a great read that I recommend!

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie’s Grotto) by Lois Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah – Review by Angela Plate, March 2024

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie, #3)Nessie and the Celtic Maze by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was such a fun read. It’s the third book in the series. This short chapter book is geared towards 8-12 year olds. This author knows how to keep her readers interested. This book was fun, mysterious, adventurous, and full of magic.

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Jayme Raffauf

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray)Hay Goes Home by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great book in the Adventures of Cray book series. Cray the Crab and Hay the Fox go on a sweet adventure to get Hay to his mother’s birthday party. They face many obstacles along the way and get help from each other and from some friends. They also learn how to be brave and how to work together. This is a great book for early readers.

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The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Heather Goodman

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The Reluctant SpyThe Reluctant Spy by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is another fantastic, adventurous piece written by this author. It has adventure along with teaching you something as well. The characters are relatable and like someone you would meet on the street. My daughter loves this author.

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie’s Grotto) by Lois Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah – Review by Jayme Raffauf

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie, #3)Nessie and the Celtic Maze by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nessie and the Celtic Spy is the third book in the Nessie’s Grotto Series. Cute book and interesting story about Craig and Linda and their quest to help Princess Sheona. The kids find quite the adventure between Canada and Scotland and the Celtic maze they must navigate to save the princess. This is a great book for children in the 7-12 age range. A fun story line, adventures with Nessie from Loch Ness, and so much more. I found this an entertaining story and I imagine children would love it, too.

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie’s Grotto) by Lois Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie's Grotto)Nessie and the Celtic Maze by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nessie and the Celtic Maze is Book Three in the Nessie’s Grotto series. This delightful children’s chapter book continues the adventures of siblings Craig and Linda, and Nessie, The Loch Ness Monster. Craig and Linda’s parents have taken them to Canada so they can be far away from Nessie. However, when the children learn that Nessie’s daughter, Princess Sheona is in trouble, they know they must find a way to save her. Luckily, there is a secret underwater passage that goes from Canada to Loch Ness. On the other side, in Scotland, is a young lad named Angus who is also trying to help Princess Sheona. Encouraged and supported by his mom, Angus learns to be brave. A cute story with whimsy, magic, mystery, adventure, and fun. A great addition to this series.

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The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shannen Kern

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Reluctant SpyReluctant Spy by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My family and I have read several picture books by this author, so we were extremely excited to see her branch out into chapter books. I was a little hesitant as picture books are quite different, but pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed this even more! My kids are 8 and 12, and I’m obviously a tad older, but we all gathered around and read this book in one day. I loved the cover immediately, and once I read the synopsis, I knew we were going on an adventure! The flow of the story is marvelous and seamless. I never felt jolted out by an oddly placed fact or chapter. This was such a fun and mysterious adventure where you’ll have a lot of questions that will absolutely get answered. I highly recommend picking this up for the younger ones in your life whether that’s in your family or in a classroom!

Reviewed by @shannlynn

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie’s Grotto) by Lois Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah – Review by Alison Risher

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie, #3)Nessie and the Celtic Maze by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Return to the land beneath the lake, or in this case, lakes. An underwater maze connects a lake in Scotland to a lake in Canada.
The legend of the Loch Ness monster is featured in this tale. Children are chosen to be special helpers of a magical, mysterious underwater creature. Actually , in this story, more than one magical, mysterious creature.

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Deb Robinson

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray)Hay Goes Home by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My grandson and I loved this book. The message was right on point and sparked a conversation on asking for help when we need it. Even adults need this message as well. My grandson loved all the animals and how they worked together. The illustrations are so bright and vivid. Really grabs young readers to check out every page and talk about each one. Excellent book. We will be reading more from this author.

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Felicia Bates

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray)Hay Goes Home by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hay Goes Home may be my favorite adventure of Cray yet. I loved the illustrations and the change in environment with woodland friends! As always, the book read smoothly and my seven year old loved reading it to me. I love that there is a lesson woven within the pages, in this case, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Another great read in a wonderful children’s series.

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The Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu – Review by Alison Risher

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The Missing Red EnvelopesThe Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Readers learn about Chinese New Year. Specifically, the author shares how Lunar New Year is celebrated in New York City by an Asian-American family. Witness the bond between two generations of sisters. Learn how an Asian-American community views extended family, as well as close family friends. View family discipline through a cultural lens.

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The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Reluctant SpyReluctant Spy by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Reluctant Spy is a children’s chapter book full of mystery, suspense, excitement, a mad scientist, a rat trainer, and mysterious earthquakes. The story centers around Timmy, his grandma, and their pet rat named Hildegarde who is smarter than the average rat. Timmy and his grandma set out to uncover what is causing mysterious earthquakes in their small town. The adventure sees Timmy setting Hildegarde off to the mad scientist’s house outfitted with special spy gear. Hildegarde might be the only one who is able to find out the truth. The story is fun, entertaining and enjoyable with a mix of quirky characters added throughout. Timmy and Hildegarde have a special bond even though he was uncertain about having a rat in the house in the first place. Grandma is quite an interesting character with her sense of humor and witty attitude. An enjoyable read.

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Tausha Treadway

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray)Hay Goes Home by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes. This is such a great story for younger kids. This whole series is wonderful and my nephew and I have loved them. We’ve read them all together. In this addition Hay the Fox and Cray the Crab are headed to Hay’s mom’s birthday party. On their way they run into a few obstacles but figure out ways to overcome. On the journey they learn that it is ok to not know everything and its ok to ask others for help. Making new friends along the way and finally arriving at the party they have the best time. The lessons taught in this addition are its ok to ask for help, its ok to need help and new things are fun. These books make wonderful gifts for families with small children and teachers for their classrooms. I have loved every one of them and my nephew has too!

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The Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu reviewed by Phylis Carpenter March 2024

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The Missing Red EnvelopesThe Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am always looking for books that my grandchildren may like and I think this is one of them. It was well written and it shows that sometimes accidents may happen but they can and sometimes do work out.

I would like to get them to love reading as much as I do.

Lorie and her sister, Weina are excited about Lunar New Year and the money that they can get in those envelopes. The more envelopes they collect could result in getting the gift they would like to buy.

Check out the story and get if for your children or even the grandchildren.

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series, #2)Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The latest installment of the Detective Dylan series has Dylan, Emilie and their dog searching for the bases to their baseball field. This is a cute story that has children using their creative skills to figure out where they can be. The birthday party? The toddler pirates? Who might the culprit be? My grandson and I giggled through this story. He enjoyed the mystery. I enjoy the fact that he is able to work on his language and reading skills as we read the story together. In searching for clues, kids will also be able to learn some basic math. It’s really a fun story that has some educational value that they don’t realize because the story is so entertaining. Our favorite part was the toddlers asleep on the equipment. We will be eagerly awaiting the next book.

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The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Stephanie Robb

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Reluctant SpyReluctant Spy by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this chapter book from Lois Wickstrom, its such a different read from her. In this book we meet Timmy and Grandma as they train their pet rat Hildegarde to discover the cause of the earthquakes. I really enjoyed this book I would recommend it for older children aged 8-12 years.

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Treasure Hunt (Grandma’s Closet) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Stephanie Robb

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Treasure HuntTreasure Hunt by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another fantastic book from Lois, Carrie is enjoying going through the boxes in grandmas closet, learning new words and meanings. In this book we learn the word DOWSE and the multiple meanings, will she get DOWSED in water or find something special?

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Beach Ball Blunder (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Stephanie Robb

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Beach Ball Blunder (The Adventures of Cray on the Bay)Beach Ball Blunder by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This fantastic book from G Pa Rhymes teaches children about being honest when you make a mistake. The book is really easy for parent and child to read together. I loved the illustrations and beautiful easy to read prose.

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The Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu – Review by Gabrielle

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The Missing Red EnvelopesThe Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a sweet and fun read. I enjoyed meeting sisters Lorie and Weina as they celebrate the Lunar New Year. It was interesting to see what they did as a family to celebrate and the great relationship that everyone in the family has. The sisters work together to figure out what happened to their red envelopes.  As an Asian myself it is nice to see a book that shows more of the Asian culture with readers.

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The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Hannah Porter

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The Reluctant SpyThe Reluctant Spy by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Here I am again enjoying yet another great read from the author Lois Wickstrom. I have read multiple books from this brilliant Author but mostly the picture books. So I was pleasantly surprised when I saw she had written a chapter book. It’s awesome because I got to read it with my older nephew who usually enjoys the other books also. We both found it to be a very Unique and interesting book. We read it in about 2 days, reading before bed. As always I love how the author always adds in some learning aspects.i look forward to reading more from her both picture and chapter books 🥰🥰

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The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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Reluctant SpyReluctant Spy by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am always a fan of the author’s picture books, so when I had a chance to read her youth chapter book, I was so excited and she definitely did not disappoint. I thought she did a wonderful job of weaving together a delightful and amusing tale that children of all ages will enjoy. I do miss the illustrations from her picture books, but the author did an amazing job of creating a well written and vivid story. I absolutely loved all of the zany and fun characters she blended together. The interactions between Timmy and Hildegarde absolutely cracked me up and I found his Grandma a really fun and interesting character. I absolutely enjoyed this story and recommend it to anyone looking to read a cute and engaging story with fun messages for kids woven within.

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The Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu – Review by Nichole Chrisman

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The Missing Red EnvelopesThe Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a great book for early chapter book readers. It follows two sisters celebrating Chinese New Year and trying to solve the mystery of what happened to Weina’s red envelopes. This book helps readers learn about how a different culture celebrates New Year, their traditions, and explore a mystery at the same time! This was very engaging and a quicker read if you are reading it to someone. Very cute!

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Jenni Bishop

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series, #2)Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate by M.J. Murray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dylan and his gang are back with their detective hats on when they find the plates missing when wanting to play baseball. Unravelling the mystery and piecing together the puzzle is what they do. But what happens when those pesky pirates get involved?
This is a children’s chapter book with an easy-to-read format. It is not only interesting, but it is educational as well. Children will delight in this adventure and helping solve the mystery of the missing plates.
Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate is a short and sweet read, and full of adventure, for children, around the ages of 5 to 10. It is a book in the Youth Sleuths series and this story is lots of fun.
Let the adventure begin.

 

Reviewed by @jennadb

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie’s Grotto) by Lois Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah – Review by Emily H

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie's Grotto)Nessie and the Celtic Maze by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hair raising adventure for young children. I like the folklore of this story and the adventures the children take. Beautiful illustrations only help add to the fantastical world Craig and Linda are in. I think this is a great series to help peak interest in other countries. Has a little bit of everything you would look for in an adventure book.

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray)Hay Goes Home by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hay Goes Home by G Pa Rhymes is the fourth book in The Adventures of Cray series. In this book, Cray goes with his friend Fox Hay to her mother’s birthday party. Along the way, they run into situations that test their bravery. This is a great story that shows how friends will be there for you if you just ask and how to be brave in scary situations. The different scenes make it easy for kids to understand how to be brave even when they are afraid. It also shows how to advocate for themselves by asking for help and how to help those who ask. All great lessons for kids to learn early. The illustrations are beautiful as usual.

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie’s Grotto) by Lois Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah – Review by Tori Mitton

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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6591435-nessie-and-the-celtic-maze” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie, #3)” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348004429l/6591435._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6591435-nessie-and-the-celtic-maze”>Nessie and the Celtic Maze</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2948111.Lois_June_Wickstrom”>Lois June Wickstrom</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6311039340″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Craig and Linda are on vacation again. Yaayy!! When Jacques has the kids coming with him on the fishing boat, Craig and Linda’s parents worry after their last adventure. They don’t want the kids seeing or talking about any monsters. Well this time Nessie needs there help to rescue Princess Sheona. She got trapped in the maze by a bunch of boulders. Craig and Linda do what they know best. Help Nessie!<br />This book was really good and a super fun little adventure.
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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Jennifer Crain

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series 2)Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As they search for clues, Dylan’s detective skills are put to the test. With the help of Emily’s keen eye and Theodore’s impressive sniffing abilities, they follow each lead, unraveling the mystery one step at a time. Along the way, they meet a colorful cast of characters, each with their own motives and secrets.

MJ Murray’s writing is engaging and fast-paced, keeping young readers on the edge of their seats as Dylan and his team race against the clock to find the missing bases. The story is filled with clever twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

The characters, particularly Dylan, Emily, and Theodore, are endearing and relatable. Readers will root for this dynamic trio as they work together to solve the case. The bond between Dylan and his sister is heartwarming, showing that teamwork and perseverance can conquer any challenge.

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Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jayme Raffauf

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The Reluctant SpyThe Reluctant Spy by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Reluctant Spy is a really cute book that is a quick read and would be great for elementary readers (ages 7-12). The short chapters allow the book to move at a fast pace and the story immediately gets your attention relating to our unexpected character of Hildegarde. The tie in to science was interesting and possible aliens! I am so glad that I had a chance to read this and I look forward to passing it along to my sons for them to read. I mean, who doesn’t love a spy story with a really smart rat and the thought of aliens?!

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Lorralei Hoerner

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series 2)Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Dylan, Emily and Theodore the dog are back!!! Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate is Book 2 int he Youth Sleuths series and this story is fun with engaging illustrations with a new mystery to solve. Wonderful chapter book for ages 5-9, this story can be enjoyed by the young and young at heart!

Where did home plate go? Dylan, Emily and Theodore are ready for their first softball practice of the season, but when Coach Farmer notices not only home plate missing but the other bases too, how can the team practice to get ready for the new season without their bases? Detective Dylan is on the case along with Emily and Theodore, they will investigate to where the bases are….with an adventure of meddling pirates and the up to no good Benny Brothers. Will Dylan, Emily and Theodore be able to solve the mystery of the missing bases…

I really enjoyed this adventure and mystery….such a fun read. I am looking forward to more adventures and mysteries to solve with Detective Dylan, Emily and Theodore the dog!

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray

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〰️ 🔎 〰️ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE 〰️ 🔍 〰️
Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray
Hosted by Itsy Bitsy Book Bits
Genre – Kids Cozy Mystery
Page Count – 80
Dylan and his little sister, Emily, don’t go anywhere without Dylan’s detective kit. Their trusty dog, Theodore, is always by their sides, ready to lend a helping paw. One sunny Saturday, the trio heads to the ball field for some practice, only to discover a puzzling problem—the bases are missing! Determined to crack the case, Dylan, Emily, and Theodore set off on a mission to locate the missing bases.
For reluctant readers or newly independent readers, books in this series can be read in any order and are packed full of reading-level appropriate text, interesting content, and fast moving plots. This story includes 20+ illustrations to keep readers engaged.

~ AMAZON ~ BARNES & NOBLE ~ KOBO ~

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