CM Magazine: The Carnival Caper. (Lu & Clancy).

________________ CM . . . . Volume VIII Number 19 . . . . May 24, 2002

cover The Carnival Caper. (Lu & Clancy).
Adrienne Mason. Illustrated by Pat Cupples.
Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 2002.
40 pp., pbk. & cl., $6.95 (pbk.), $14.95 (cl.).
ISBN 1-55074-838-6 (pbk.), ISBN 1-55337-027-9 (cl.).
Grades 1-4 / Ages 6-9.

Review by Linda Ludke.

*** /4

exerpt:

"Come on - let's go to the carnival," pleaded Lu.
Jake wasn't listening. He was too busy pouring the purple potion into Clancy's hat."Hey! That's my best hat," Clancy barked. But Jake just kept on pouring. "Don't panic," said Jake. He waved his wand over the hat. "Snickerick, snickeree. Potion, jump into a cup for me." Jake put an empty cup into the hat and waved the wand one more time. Then he pulled out a cup full of potion, took a sip and tossed the hat to Clancy. Clancy looked into the hat. It was dry!
"Humph," he mumbled. "That was kind of cool".

Lu and Clancy, the crime-fighting canine duo, are excited about the carnival coming to town. The only thing holding them back from being first in line for their favorite ride, The Drop of Doom, is Lu's cousin Jake. Jake is much more interested in practicing magic tricks than going on rides. While Jake delays them in the magic tent, Clancy overhears two thieves plotting to turn The Drop of Doom into The Drop of Loot by stopping the ride in mid-air and stealing all the money and jewelry that would fall down. By using some clever tricks of their own, Lu and Clancy catch the plundering pooches red handed and lead them straight into Detective Doberman's waiting police
van.

The simple text is geared to newly independent readers, and the five magic tricks that are included are sure to capture interest. Children can be encouraged to problem solve and try to figure out how to pour water into a hat without getting it wet, slice a banana before peeling it, and walk through a playing card. Step-by-step instructions with plenty of illustrations explain how to perform these tricks.

Great fun for budding sleuths and magicians alike.

Recommended.

Linda Ludke is a librarian in London, ON.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

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