The 3-2-3 Detective Agency: The Disappearance of Dave Warthog [Hardcover]

Fiona Robinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2009 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up | Series: 3-2-3 Detective Agency

Fast-paced, full-color, and divided into short, easy-to-read chapters, this is a wonderful graphic novel for younger readers, offering a seamless transition between picture books and novels.
 
On the 3:23 Express to Whiska City, five unlikely friends meet and decide to form a detective agency. There is Jenny the wise donkey, Roger the gourmet dung beetle, Priscilla the theatrical penguin, Slingshot the hyperactive sloth, and Bluebell, the shy but brave rat. With little training but a lot of pluck, they set up shop in Whiska City and soon tackle their first mystery: a rash of disappearances linked to a pink poodle’s beauty salon.

F&P level: T

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Friends are made and found in the 3-2-3 Detective's debut graphic novel, intended for readers ages 4–8. After a chance meting aboard a train to Whiska City, Jenny the donkey, Roger the dung beetle, Priscilla the penguin, Slingshot the sloth and Bluebell the beetle team up to form an unlikely band of crime fighters. They must soon learn to use their unique talents and work together to solve a rash of disappearances linked to a suspicious beauty salon. What follows is an old-fashioned crime caper that leads the fledgling detectives into a sticky situation. The characters are frank in their approach and realize that working together is the best way to solve problems. Robinson, creator of The Useful Moose: A Truthful, Moose-full Tale, has a fresh and honest sense of humor, which she blends with values of friendship and kindness. Her art is simplified and colorful, almost like a child's experiment with a coloring book, and endearing. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5–This book's bright colors, simple page layouts, cartoon art, and humorous text will appeal to strong readers in the lower middle grades, although less-surefooted readers may balk at the size and amount of text on each page. The five friends of the 3-2-3 Detective Agency, a donkey, a penguin, a sloth, a rat, and a dung beetle, must find out why the citizens of Whiska City are disappearing before one of their own falls victim to the animal-nappers. Characters are clearly and quickly distinguished, silly action abounds, and sharp-eyed readers will find clues to the mystery in the backgrounds of some panels. Some readers may find the art frustrating: the energetic, adolescent style makes faces hard to read, with most mouths situated just below the cheekbone, and animals that are supposed to be fluffy just look like they're melting. Second and third graders who like funny mysteries will adore it: it's a supplemental purchase for everyone else.–Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD END

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Amulet Books (August 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081098489X
• ISBN-13: 978-0810984899
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,340,524 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Plotted, May 4, 2011

By 

Ohioan - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The 3-2-3 Detective Agency: The Disappearance of Dave Warthog (Hardcover)

This is a well-plotted story, though perhaps the story could have been shortened with no harm done. On the other hand, the relationship between the friends is wonderful, the strongest part of the book, and perhaps shortening the story would have harmed that. I found it especially attractive that the five friends think logically, using charts and lists and talking over possibilities. If you want children to read about strong, enterprising, fun-loving, intelligent heroes, this is a good bet.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent and funny book!!!, March 25, 2010

By 

P. Arbo - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The 3-2-3 Detective Agency: The Disappearance of Dave Warthog (Paperback)

I bought this book for my six years old son who's now reading chapter books. It can become difficult finding him new ones that are challenging for him but not too challenging. I received this book yesterday and was worried abouth the thickness and being a comic book style. I didn't know if my son would feel overwhelmed!

However, I read the whole book myself and enjoyed EVERY page of it. Very funny and absolutely adorable. I ended up reading the first chapter to my son last night and he was hooked and captivated the whole time! He's planning to read the second chapter tonight on his own.

I'm thinking of buying this book to all my friends and family's children who are around six to 10 for their birthdays. I'm really hoping this little team of dectives will have many more adventures!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a fun, slightly zany graphic detective novel your reluctant reader is going to love!, November 18, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The 3-2-3 Detective Agency: The Disappearance of Dave Warthog (Hardcover)

Everyone was heading to Whiska City to "start a new life in the big city." Roger, a dug beetle who didn't like dung, wanted to be a chef. Slingshot Sloth, a sloth who never slept, was running away from home because his family didn't do anything. Priscilla, a penguin, wanted to become an actress. Bluebell, a rat who was into knitting and making plum jelly, wanted to travel and make new friends. Jenny, a donkey, had dreams of "going to Whiska City to set up a detective agency" and said to the ragtag bunch that he needed "talented folk" just like them to work in the agency.

It sounded like a plan. Roger would be the chef, Sling could "chase down suspects," Bluebell would be great at surveillance and Jenny would do all the training. They all "shook paws or hooves or legs or flippers" and the 3 2 3 Detective Agency was in business! They soon were off to Number 8 Platypus Place in Termite Heights where their new office was located. The conductor had told them lots of "folks had gone missing" and he was some right. Dave Warthog . . . missing. Lionel Lion . . . gonzo. Odora Muskrat . . . not to be found. Their ad in the paper was getting them new clients, like quick. "Problems the police can't handle? Trust us to investigate!" Someone trashed their office, all these folks were missing . . . the team would have to get to work!

This is a fun, slightly zany graphic detective novel your reluctant reader is going to love. I enjoyed the humor and the amusing characters in the newly formed detective agency. The plot was easy and it won't be very hard for your youngster to figure out who done it. Each character was unique and loveable. The artwork was very vibrant, busy and comical. There was some light potty humor (poop, burping, dung). Methinks the young reader is going to fall in love with these silly Whiska City detectives!