The Top Secret Files of Mother Goose! - Hardcover

Gosling, Gabby

3.22

32 ratings by Goodreads

9781552855126: The Top Secret Files of Mother Goose!

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1552855120 ISBN 13: 9781552855126

Publisher: Walrus Books, 2003

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When the tarts belonging to the Queen of Hearts go missing, everyone is a suspect. Was it that scoundrel, the Knave of Hearts? The sour-faced Mary Quite Contrary? Or the suspiciously hungry Humpty Dumpty? The Queen wants to start chopping off heads, but somebody suggests calling in Mother Goose, Chief Detective of Nursery Rhyme Crime.

Mother Goose begins her investigation by opening her secret files on all of the suspicious characters in the world of nursery rhyme. These never-been-published top-secret facts reveal the dirt on the personalities you thought you knew. Find out who has a hidden criminal past, which nursery rhyme character has deadly food allergies, and who has a reputation for never paying her bills! Richly detailed illustrations will shed even more light on the true lives of these nursery rhyme celebrities. Part true-crime, part expos�, The Top Secret Files of Mother Goose! will open your eyes to what's really happening in the Kingdom of Hearts.

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About the Author:

Gabby Gosling is an author and renowned columnist for the Banbury Cross Chronicle.

Illustrator Timothy Banks has an MFA in illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. His work has appeared in several books, including No Pets Allowed and The Captain's Hat.

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 4-When the Queen of Hearts discovers her strawberry tarts missing, she calls in Mother Goose, "Chief Detective of Nursery Rhyme Crime." The clues include a trail of crumbs, a dish and a spoon, and a hankie with the initials HM. As Mother Goose questions each suspect, a full-page illustration of that individual appears opposite the text, which is printed on a manila-folder background. A handwritten note with humorous details about that particular character appears to be paper clipped to the file. Readers may question the detective's technique as she chases down alleged perpetrators who do not have the correct initials. However, logic aside, the comical rewording of familiar facts will appeal to those who are conversant with nursery rhymes. The vibrant cartoons pop off the pages, and the witty details will have youngsters studying the pictures with interest. Serving as a foil for the boisterous cast of characters, Mother Goose appears almost too charming and sweet to be pitted against this wild and wacky lineup of possible criminals, but that only adds to the comedy. With its retro artwork and imitation of hard-boiled detective speech, this text-heavy mystery is more appropriate for older children, but the story and its solution may be a bit too simplistic to hold their attention. Fans of Jon Scieszka's humor seem the most likely audience for this book's campy art and puns.
Laurie Edwards, West Shore School District, Camp Hill, PA
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