Grosset & Dunlap
One good way to keep kids engaged this summer: Give them a copy of Julian Press’ “Get a Clue: The Treasure of Blackbird Rock,” the first in a new “picture mystery” series.
Although the book offers four interrelated, text-based mysteries for readers to solve along with the kid-detective protagonists, each right-hand page is a full-page illustration with a hidden clue. Readers are asked to answer a smaller question on each page, with the accompanying drawing providing the needed clue. Sometimes it’s on the hunt-and-seek level of “Where’s Waldo?,” while others require a little more intuition.
Either way, the trick works wonders, keeping its youthful audience turning the pages until the end is reached. Pretty clever, Press.
“?Rod Lott
This article appears in May 28 – Jun 3, 2008.