The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case: A Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Book for Young Readers (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Precious Ramotswe Mysteries)) [Kindle Edition]

Alexander McCall Smith (Author)

Book Description

THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY - Young Readers

Fans around the world adore the bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the basis of the HBO TV show, and its proprietor Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s premier lady detective.  In this charming series, Mma  Ramotswe navigates her cases and her personal life with wisdom, and good humor—not to mention help from her loyal assistant, Grace Makutsi, and the occasional cup of tea.
 
Have you ever said to yourself, Wouldn’t it be nice to be a detective?
 
This is the story of an African girl who says just that. Her name is Precious.
 
When a piece of cake goes missing from her classroom, a traditionally built young boy is tagged as the culprit. Precious, however, is not convinced. She sets out to find the real thief. Along the way she learns that your first guess isn’t always right. She also learns how to be a detective.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Adult fans of Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series will be queuing up to give this prequel of sorts to the children they know. This series starter introduces the author’s heroine, Precious Ramotswe, as a young girl solving her first case. Someone has been stealing treats from her friends at school, and suspicion swirls around a chubby boy named Poloko. Encouraged by her father, who has noted Precious’ powers of deduction, the sleuth decides to follow her instincts and prove Poloko innocent. The story is simply told—Smith has previous experience with children’s books with the Akimbo series—and it will work well for children new to the mystery genre. Adding to the appeal are McIntosh’s wonderful graphic illustrations done in red and black. A map of Botswana and drawings of the flora, fauna, and settings mentioned in the text will give readers a clear picture of Precious’ world. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Parents who devour the No. 1 Ladies Dectective Agency books will likely foist this upon plenty of agreeable young readers. Those were international bestsellers; this could well have the same future. Grades 2-4. --Karen Cruze

Review

“A detective is born! What a delightful, breezy read!"
     —Mary Pope Osborne, bestselling author of The Magic Tree House series

“Told with an innocence that will captivate young readers, The Great Cake Mystery is a kind-hearted, feel-good story for all. Loved it!”
     —Graham Salisbury, author of Under the Blood-Red Sun and the Calvin Coconut series
 
“Kids will love this kind and clever new detective. They’ll love the mystery, and they might even love the thieves. I look forward to more!”
     —Patricia Reilly Giff, award-winning author of Wild Girl and other books

“Stunning artwork. . . . A compelling plot and interesting secondary characters, especially classmates who are quick to make unfounded accusations and their teacher, who provides wisdom just when it is needed, will leave readers wanting more. One case where an adaptation from an adult book is as much fun to read as the original.”
     —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
 
“This mini mystery and its jaw-dropping illustrations will please proto-detectives, both large and small. . . . What [McCall Smith]’s done with The Great Cake Mystery is unique. . . . His fans will pluck it up like so many of his other books. . . . A really fun read.”
     —School Library Journal

"Bold and striking, McIntosh’s chunky, two-color woodcutlike pictures present evocative images of the African setting. This is a story, and a heroine, with impressive dimension." 
      - Publishers Weekly, starred review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 3716 KB
• Print Length: 73 pages
• Publisher: Anchor; Reprint edition (April 3, 2012)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004N636H6
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,373 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #3 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Children's eBooks > People & Places > Explore the World > Africa
  • #36 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Africa
  • #44 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Children's Nonfiction > People & Places > Explore the World

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Even grandmothers like it! April 6, 2012

By Carol Ann Chidlaw

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Alexander McCall Smith's series "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" books are among my very favorite books. Now he's done it for young readers. Okay, so I'm not young. I don't care. I hurried to purchase this book because I am such a fan, and now I will start my grandkids on the series (only after I read it first!). Underneath the simple and entertaining plots in all McCall's books of this genre are some of life's great pieces of wisdom. And that's what calls me to a book or a series -- let there be wisdom underneath entertainment, a few good laughs and a few good cries, and I am happy. I am definitely happy now.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars great young adult amateur sleuth April 3, 2012

By Harriet Klausner #1 HALL OF FAME

Format:Paperback

In Botswana, Obed Ramotswe tells his young daughter Precious she has an innate knack of knowing when someone makes something up. He further says maybe when she grows up she will become a detective. Precious likes the idea of sleuthing, but expects her first case is more than a decade away.

At the school she attends, someone breaks the first rule by stealing other people's sweet food. Two victimized students Tapiwah and Sepo accuse another pupil Poloki because he is very round and has sticky fingers. Precious rejects the accusation as false while the rest of the students believe Poloki is the thief. Deciding to prove his innocence, Precious sets a trap to catch a thief.

Precious' first case is a great young adult amateur sleuth tale due a strong cast, a wonderful heroine and superb drawings (including dynamic name pronunciation lettering) that enhance the African village location. Readers sees the adult in the child through Precious' sense of right and wrong as she works the case in which the other students goes along with the two accusers in a classic "J'accuse" scenario. This is a winner as we even learn who came up with the name of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

Harriet Klausner

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars For Grandparents and Parents . . . as Well! April 28, 2012

By Donald Mitchell HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

"You shall not steal." -- Deuteronomy 5:19 (NKJV)

One of the greatest pleasures of my life has been reading mystery stories with intent to solve the mystery before the author reveals the solution. Almost all authors play fair and provide enough information for you to figure it out on your own. I like best those stories that emphasize the mystery and some enduring lessons about loving one another, rather than the sensationalism that can permeate a lot of contemporary mystery fiction.

What a delight it was to discover The Great Cake Mystery and to realize that it's a perfect introduction to detective fiction for a youngster . . . whether a grandchild, a child, a niece, a nephew, or a little friend. I felt like buying a gross of this book and having them on hand to share with young readers.

The story centers on Precious Ramotswe as a child and how her interest in becoming a detective was launched. The story fits in well with the very first book in the adult series, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, which emphasizes interaction with Africa . . . not just Africans . . . as the later stories tend to do.

The illustrations are particularly well chosen to increase interest and to provide context that someone who hasn't been to Africa might miss. I also appreciated the pronunciation tips. (I've been wondering how to say "Mma" ever since I first saw it in the series.)

You'll feel youthful delight in this story which delicately captures a child's world . . . without talking down to the child.

It's a major achievement from a masterful storyteller!

Bravo!

More About the Author

Alexander McCall Smith was born in what is now Zimbabwe and taught law at the University of Botswana. He is now Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh. He has written more than fifty books, including a number of specialist titles, but is best known for The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, which has achieved bestseller status on four continents. In 2004 he was awarded British Book Awards Author of the Year and Booksellers Association Author of the Year. He lives in Scotland, where in his spare time he is a bassoonist in the RTO (Really Terrible Orchestra).

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

(What's this?)

#83 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Mystery

#83 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Mystery