Joe Sherlock, Kid Detective, Case #000001: The Haunted Toolshed [Paperback]

Dave Keane (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up | Series: Joe Sherlock

Why are cakes vanishing into thin air? How can a mailbox disappear without a trace? When did something evil move into Mr. Asher's toolshed?

Strange and unexplained things are happening on Baker Street after dark, and Joe Sherlock must come face-to-face with the things that go bump in the night. Even though a cold tingle of terror gallops down his spine like a herd of wild gophers, Joe is determined to solve the case -- and have his bundt cake, too.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5–Fourth-grader Joe Sherlock aspires to follow in the footsteps of the famous Sherlock Holmes by solving local mysteries for $10 a day. He is endearing as he bumbles toward the solutions. In The Haunted Toolshed, he attempts to discover who has been stealing things from his neighbor's house, including a glass eyeball and a bundt cake. In Neighborhood Stink, he's called in to discover which local dog has been leaving a mess in a completely fenced-in yard and gets stuck in a dog door with only his Inspector Wink-Wink underpants on. Black-and-white cartoons add to the fun. Allusions to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle abound: Sherlock has an Uncle Mycroft and lives in the town of Baskerville. The gross-out factor is high in these easy chapter books–entire plots pivot on poop and flatulence, which will appeal to fans of Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants series (Scholastic).–Kathleen Meulen, Blakely Elementary School, Bainbridge Island, WA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“Endearing. Will appeal to fans of Dav Pilkey’s ‘Captain Underpants’ series.”” (School Library Journal )

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (May 23, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060761881
• ISBN-13: 978-0060761882
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #450,872 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After spending so much time reading books to my kids, I decided I'd try my hand at children's books. It's been a blast. I've visited schools all over the country. I've talked to thousands of kids about writing, illustrating, and using your imagination. And I've received tons of incredible letters and emails from parents and kids from just about everywhere.

Learn more by visiting my website at www.mrdavekeane.com. Or "like" me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mrdavekeane. Or, follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mrdavekeane. You can also check out my blog at www.davekeane.blogspot.com.

Happy Reading!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Delightfully Irreverent!, September 8, 2006

By 

Amy Graham (Scottsdale, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Joe Sherlock, Kid Detective, Case #000001: The Haunted Toolshed (Paperback)

Meet Joe Sherlock, a boy who dreams of following in the steps of his namesake (last name that is). Joe is your average school boy who happens to be the middle child and the only boy in his family, a fact which he finds most annoying while his older and younger sisters seem to delight in embarrassing him at every turn. He embarks on the case of the Haunted Toolshed at the behest of his neighbor, Mr. Asher and what ensues is quite hilarious for the reader, but poor Joe Sherlock...he's got some issues, not the least of which is keeping his Captain Wink Wink obsession a secret while trying to solve the mystery with his sisters Girl Chat sleepover backpack and walkie talkie. It seems he spends the entire book "dealing" with his annoying little sister, who seems to have her head a little straighter than Joe, but even with her help, will he solve the mystery? Will anyone find out about his Captain Wink Wink toothbrush? Read it and find out!

Delightfully irreverent, something quite nice in a kids story! This one was for both our Boy (6) and our Girl (8) and we think it's just the right amount of silly! To my way of thinking, there was an excessive amount of VERY descriptive passages...I think it's overkill from an adult perspective, BUT I think this is great for kids, especially emerging writers. I'm constantly admonishing girl to add in more detail and use more descriptive words, with Joe Sherlock, I can pull countless examples from this book. So for that alone it's worth it. From the perspective of solving a mystery, I think this was a semi-miss...the clues were not all there, so it would be hard for a reader at this level to figure out who done it ahead of the detective...but it's funny, imaginative and fast paced! I'd recommend it for reader's grades 3-7 (read aloud) and 8-10 (or so for self-readers)...but probably would be most appreciated and enjoyed from the grade range listed on Amazon. I give it a A...it was just fun! My favorite line:

"Mr. Asher is a chunky, bald man who combs the wispy hair from the back of his head up and over his bald spot, which he then swirls around and around into a sort of hairy cinnamon roll."

...this one actually made me laugh out loud...ok, so maybe I'm lame, but I thought this book was funny and a good quick read for kids!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great New Series for Kids AND Parents!, May 12, 2007

By 

Heather Greer (CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Joe Sherlock, Kid Detective, Case #000001: The Haunted Toolshed (Paperback)

My 5 year old son and his father read chapters from Kid Detective every night. They've just started #3. They both enjoy them because they're not only funny, but also introduce new words (with definitions) and ideas. Keane also has illustrations on every page. My sons stays engaged with the story and always wants more! Keane tells a great mystery!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love Joe Sherlock, June 17, 2006

By 

N. Zarnegar (Morgan Hill, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Joe Sherlock, Kid Detective, Case #000001: The Haunted Toolshed (Paperback)

(by Spenceer age 8) I liked the book because I wasn't able to figure it out myself. It is funny how Joe Sherlock's sisters annoy him so much. I think it is funny how he has to use all of his sister's girly stuff for his investigation. I cannot wait for more of the Joe Sherlock books!!!