Lu and Clancy's Secret Languages

Children's Literature

Young detectives will love this fun, hands-on resource, which is part mystery story and part activity book. Lu and Clancy are a pair of clever canine detectives who become immersed in a crime investigation involving a scheming tomcat named Leonardo and his pudgy partner, Grump. This nefarious duo leads the detectives on a wild goose chase as they attempt to recover a sack of stolen jewels from the local aquarium. Along the way, they use a variety of secret languages in order to keep the two detectives at bay. Unfortunately, the detectives are smarter than they look and they end up cracking each one of the crafty codes put before them. By the end of the caper, Lu and Clancy capture the thieves and recover the missing jewelry. In addition to learning a variety of secret languages including Ra-Ha, Pig Latin, Ward-back, Iggity, Koo-Koo, Gorilla Babble, and Egg, readers will also discover how to write invisible messages, create pictograms, use sign language, write milky and waxy messages, create secret symbols on clothing, and invent secret signals and handshakes. This action-packed picture book contains a well-written story, humorous artwork, step-by-step directions for each activity, challenging puzzles, silly riddles and an answer page. Kids will definitely enjoy rolling up their sleeves and learning the tricks of the "detective" trade. Don't miss this book—it's a winner. Check out the other books in this charming series—Lu & Clancy's Secret Codes, Lu & Clancy's Crime Science and Lu & Clancy's Spy Stuff. 2001, Kids Can Press, . Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Debra Briatico

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4-These two activity books continue the series by combining an appealing story with elementary information about spies and secret languages. The two canine detectives are colorfully portrayed as cartoon characters with whimsically expressive faces. Readers follow their cases as they investigate a criminal cat that speaks in a "furrin' language" and try to find out if Aunt Izzy is a spy. On the facing page, a description of a secret language or a disguise is given. In Languages, youngsters are given examples of Pig Latin, speaking backwards, pictograms, writing messages in invisible ink, and sign language. In Spy Stuff, Lu and Clancy learn how to make simple disguises, build a spy scope, how to set traps and alarms, and pass notes on the sly. The plots are simple but interesting enough to hold readers' attention. Both of these entries to the series will satisfy browsers and will especially appeal to fans of Nate the Great, Detective Mole, and other primary-grade sleuths.-Kathy M. Newby, Kokomo-Howard County Public Library, Russiaville, IN Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.