Nate the Great Saves the King of Sweden

April 12, 1999
Detective Nate gets his first international case when a friend loses something--he doesn't know what--while visiting Sweden. Ages 6-9.

October 1, 1997
Gr 1-3-In the latest addition about this popular detective, Nate solves his first international case without ever leaving his neighborhood. He receives a cryptic postcard from his friend Rosamond. She writes that she has lost something during her Scandinavian vacation and that if Nate refuses to find it she will pester the King of Sweden for help. The lost item is tiny, lives in dark places, and has a long nose. Nate and his trusty dog, Sludge, begin visiting Rosamond's friends in search of clues. A picture examined under a magnifying glass leads him to believe that the lost item is a troll. He goes to the library for information on trolls and then back to his house for his trademark brain food-pancakes. Deductive reasoning, combined with astute observations of Sludge's burial of a bone, finally saves the day. Although Simont's appealing watercolor illustrations provide visual clues, this case is significantly more difficult than others in this series. This particular volume is for avid fans rather than novices. Initiates may need more familiarity with the personalities of these distinctive characters to grasp some of the wry humor. Advise children to begin with earlier "Nate the Great" books and return to this one for full enjoyment.-Jackie Hechtkopf, Talent House School, Fairfax, VA

February 1, 1998
Gr. 1^-3. With Nate the Great's friend Rosamond traveling in Scandinavia, it's looking like a slow summer for the boy detective. A postcard from Rosamond challenges Nate to discover what she lost and where she lost it, or she will have to ask the king of Sweden for assistance in solving the case. Taking pity on the king ("He did not look like anyone who would want to be hired by Rosamond"), Nate follows the clues and cracks the case without ever leaving his neighborhood. The long-distance sleuthing seems a bit less involving than Nate's usual adventures, but fans of the series will want to read the latest. As always, Simont's lively illustrations provide a colorful counterpoint to Sharmat's droll, understated humor. ((Reviewed February 1, 1998))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1998, American Library Association.)