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Friday
March 19, 2010 Since 1922 |
‘Malted Falcon’ a sweet treat
By JoAn Martin
Baytown Sun Published August 1, 2004 Hale, Bruce. “The Malted Falcon: A Chet Gecko Mystery.” New York. Harcourt, Inc. 2003 Hardback. 107 Pages. $14. ISBN 0-15-216706-4. Recommended for ages 8-12. Available at Sterling Municipal Library.
Filled with sassy, snappy dialogue, puns, wisecracks, jokes and unique names (a teacher named Amanda Reckonwith), this new book in the series from the “Tattered Casebook of Chet Gecko” is hilarious and clever.
Chet Gecko considers himself the finest lizard detective at Emerson Hicky Elementary. The only things Chet loves more than a mystery are sweet treats.
With his partner, Natalie Attired, a mockingbird, Chet is thrilled to be hired by Dot Maytricks to rescue a Valentine that has been mis-sent. Natalie’s talent to imitate anyone’s voice come in handy.
Before the two intrepid mystery-solvers can unravel one mystery, Freddie Nostrils hires Chet, at double his normal fee, to find out who stole his winning Malted Falcon ticket. Freddie is as fond of the most chocolatety, slurpiest dessert as Chet Gecko is. If the thief is discovered, can Chet give up the tasty treat?
When the winning ticket is located, the mystery changes: Will Chet Gecko return the ticket to its rightful owner?
When Chet is accused by Mr. Ratnose, his math teacher, of daydreaming, Chet claims to be having an out-of-body experience. As the plot thickens, Chet remarks that things are darkest just before ... they go completely black.
The Malted Falcon is a quick read with short chapters, ideal for the reluctant reader. Bruce Hale has written a fun read-aloud story as a take off on Raymond Chandler’s Maltese Falcon. Each Chet Gecko mystery seems to be better than the last.
The black-and-white drawings help the reader to visualize his animal characters dressed in the appropriate garb for their role in the story. At the end of the book, the publisher provides us with a short summary of the nine other Chet Gecko mysteries.
JoAn Martin reviews children’s books for The Baytown Sun. She is a retired teacher. She may be reached at josbook(at)mindspring.com.
Baytown Sun Published August 1, 2004 Hale, Bruce. “The Malted Falcon: A Chet Gecko Mystery.” New York. Harcourt, Inc. 2003 Hardback. 107 Pages. $14. ISBN 0-15-216706-4. Recommended for ages 8-12. Available at Sterling Municipal Library.
Filled with sassy, snappy dialogue, puns, wisecracks, jokes and unique names (a teacher named Amanda Reckonwith), this new book in the series from the “Tattered Casebook of Chet Gecko” is hilarious and clever.
Chet Gecko considers himself the finest lizard detective at Emerson Hicky Elementary. The only things Chet loves more than a mystery are sweet treats.
With his partner, Natalie Attired, a mockingbird, Chet is thrilled to be hired by Dot Maytricks to rescue a Valentine that has been mis-sent. Natalie’s talent to imitate anyone’s voice come in handy.
Before the two intrepid mystery-solvers can unravel one mystery, Freddie Nostrils hires Chet, at double his normal fee, to find out who stole his winning Malted Falcon ticket. Freddie is as fond of the most chocolatety, slurpiest dessert as Chet Gecko is. If the thief is discovered, can Chet give up the tasty treat?
When the winning ticket is located, the mystery changes: Will Chet Gecko return the ticket to its rightful owner?
When Chet is accused by Mr. Ratnose, his math teacher, of daydreaming, Chet claims to be having an out-of-body experience. As the plot thickens, Chet remarks that things are darkest just before ... they go completely black.
The Malted Falcon is a quick read with short chapters, ideal for the reluctant reader. Bruce Hale has written a fun read-aloud story as a take off on Raymond Chandler’s Maltese Falcon. Each Chet Gecko mystery seems to be better than the last.
The black-and-white drawings help the reader to visualize his animal characters dressed in the appropriate garb for their role in the story. At the end of the book, the publisher provides us with a short summary of the nine other Chet Gecko mysteries.
JoAn Martin reviews children’s books for The Baytown Sun. She is a retired teacher. She may be reached at josbook(at)mindspring.com.