The Curse of the Ancient Mask and Other Case Files (Saxby Smart, Private Detective) - Tapa blanda

"The books give children the opportunity to solve the mystery or crime along with Saxby. He asks questions of readers, focusing on important clues or deductions and giving them a chance to follow his thought processes before continuing with the story. Young mystery fans will enjoy tagging along with him." --School Library Journal

"The reader-as-sidekick device works splendidly: Saxby's scrawlings offer a window into his problem solving and invite the reader to do the same, and all three cases have some nice twists and less-than-obvious outcomes, requiring an element of deductive reasoning." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Saxby's resourceful tactics and comedic overstatements will keep kids entertained; his classmates, excerpts from Saxby's notebook and Alley's cheery b&w line art further enliven these mysteries." --Publishers Weekly

"After reading this well-paced and sometimes funny first-person narrative, young mystery fans will be looking for the second volume in the Saxby Smart Private Detective series." --Booklist

"While each short mystery is involving, the distinguishing aspect of this series opener is Saxby's enthusiastic invitations to readers to participate in sleuthing." --Kirkus Reviews

Saxby Smart is no ordinary ten-year-old. He's the best detective in the world, or at least the best one who also happens to be in elementary school. With the help of his Thinking Chair and his two best friends, Saxby proves that age makes no difference when it comes to saving the day. As Saxby solves three of his most puzzling cases, the reader solves the mystery alongside him, getting peeks at pages of his casebook as the crimes unfold, and searching for clues rather than letting the main character do all the work and have all the fun.