Title: The Case of the Gasping Garbage
Author: Michele Torrey
Series: Doyle and Fossey, Science Detectives, book 1
Major Themes: Science
Synopsis: Drake Doyle and Nell Fossey are scientists, and they love solving their friends’ mysteries for them.
It’s fun to find a storybook that teaches scientific principles. At the beginning of the school year, I picked out about a dozen books that I would like to read aloud to my seven-year-old. She can choose any of them when it is time for a new book, and one of the ones she chose was The Case of the Gasping Garbage. This book is quite different from most of the other stories we read.
Drake Doyle and Nell Fossey work together as scientists. They have a laboratory in Drake’s house. They are also in business together, solving mysteries for their friends. When Gabby called to say that she had a monster in her garbage can, Drake was very excited. He and Nell raced over to Gabby’s house, and investigated the garbage can, which was gasping every few minutes. What could be inside? They applied the scientific method, and soon they had the answer.
Another day, Nell realized that frogs were being killed on the road in Frog Hollow. What could the detectives do to stop this tragedy? When a truck got stuck under a bridge, Drake and Nell came to the rescue again. But, could they find the solution to get the truck out, when all the adults around couldn’t figure it out? Then there was the teeny tiny case. A girl at school had received an anonymous love letter. She desperately needed to know who it came from. Could the detectives figure out the answer to this problem?
All four of the mysteries in The Case of the Gasping Garbage are written in such a way as to catch children’s interest and hold it. As well, each of them illustrates different methods for solving scientific mysteries. So, this book provides entertainment, as well as education. My children loved it.
WARNING: Chapter 1: Great Scott. Chapter 4: Great Scott. Chapter 5: Egads, Great Scott.
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 5 – 8
Reading Independently—Ages 7 – 9
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Library Binding
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
Book Depository: Paperback
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