Encyclopedia Brown

When I asked my kids this week which book I should feature they suggested Encyclopedia Brown.  I was surprised at the enthusiasm they have for that series, even after all these years.
Donald Sobol starting writing Encyclopedia Brown back in 1963.  Encyclopedia Brown is a series of mysteries solved by a young man named Leroy Brown. Unlike the old song though, Leroy is good, not bad.  Leroy's friends call him Encyclopedia for a very good reason. He has a brilliant mind and tends to remember things he's read very easily. This helps him solve the day to day mysteries and problems that they local children, and sometimes adults bring him.
Encyclopedia Brown is the son of the local police chief. Sometimes, when his father is baffled by a case he puts on his hat and walks home to lunch. While eating he will pose the problem to his son, who will usually have it solved by dessert.
But Encyclopedia doesn't only help the adults of his town. Sometimes the local children will have a problem with Bugs Meany, the town bully and his gang. When that happens Encyclopedia will call in his partner, Sally Kimball. Sally is brave enough to stand up to Bugs and strong enough to back it up.  Bugs has sported more than one black eye when tangling with Sally. 
Bugs and the Tigers aren't the only charactors to watch out for. Wilford Wiggins, a high school dropout spends his days trying to scam the children and adults out of their money. Because of Encyclopedia's quick mind, people can keep their money in their own pockets instead of Wilford's.
The really great thing about the Encyclopedia Brown series is that the reader is presented with the mystery then given a chance to solve it before the answer is revealed. The mysteries are usually very quick, maybe 3-5 pages long. Then it stops, allowing the reader a chance to think for herself.  When the reader believes she knows the answer, she can turn to the back of the book, where the answer is revealed and the story is concluded.
Donald J. Sobol, the writer of the Encyclopedia Brown series, originally wanted to be a professionally baseball player, but became interested in writing in college. In addition to the Encyclopedia Brown series, Donald Sobol has written Two Minute Mysteries. This is a similar series to Encyclopedia Brown, but features Dr. Haledijian as the detective. 
Donald J. Sobol is a versatile and prolific writer. Besides children's mysteries, he has also written non fiction and historical books, ranging from the topic of the middle ages, to the stock market. Donald J. Sobol has won the prestigious Edgar Award for his writing of children's mysteries.
Encyclopedia Brown is an excellent series for the independent reader. The fact that the stories are short encourages readers who might need a bit of a boost in the reading department.  Children aren't faced with a huge book that takes forever to go through, but instead have quick, interesting stories that allow them time to enjoy them.
If your child loves mysteries, pick up an Encyclopedia Brown book and let them browse through it. And when they are through take a look at it yourself. You might be surprised at how many of the mysteries might fool you!