BOOK REPORT

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Sleeping Dog

Here's what this is about.  First, Encyclopedia Brown is not his real name.  You probably knew that but people name their kids really weird names today so you never know.  Encyclopedia's dad is the chief of police and when he can't figure out a case, he tells it to him at dinner and he always gets it right.  Usually he has to ask one question.

These are good books.  They involve the reader and give him a chance to guess.  That is a good idea.

But the problem is they are too easy.  The first one in the book is the case of the shower singers.  I spelled it right so if it doesn't make sense it's because it's stupid.  What happens is there is a contest in town to see who is the best shower singer.  They set up a bathroom onstage and put the singers behind a shower curtain to see who was the best singer.  It is like American Idol but stupid.  The judges then voted on the winner and gave their votes to Mrs. Galan, the chairwoman.  This is where the story gets even stupider.  Rather than just say right then who wins, Mrs. Galan flies to Los Angeles.  The book does not say why.  There is an earthquake and she cannot return in time to announce the winners.  Due to the earthquake, there are no telephones either.  So no one will know who the winner is.  I don't know why they can't just wait until she gets back but whatever.  So luckily Mrs. Galan has left behind a clue with her secretary.  It is a sealed envelope with a code in it.  So they have that but Encyclopedia's dad can't break the code.  The code is six words:  aria alter liver scar ale tan.  There are six contestants, and their names are Dale, Walter, Stan, Oscar, Maria, and Oliver.  If you are not mentally retarded then you will immediately see that the code is just their names with the first letter missing.  Encyclopedia Brown solves the case and thank goodness so the winners can get their stupid prize.

But am I the only one who sees the real problem here?  The chief of police could not figure this out!  That is not good!  If this has puzzled him all afternoon, that town is in a lot of trouble.

I guess to make this book better the author should take out the chief of police part.  This case could have just dealt with a school election or something and the kids couldn't figure out who won.  There is no reason to make an adult look bad, especially when he is the chief of police.  Donald J. Sobol needs to think about this before he writes another one of these books because you know he will.