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Nate the Great #8
Nate the Great and the Fishy Prize
These chapter books introduce beginning readers to the detective mystery genre. Perfect for the Common Core, kids can problem-solve with Nate, using logical thinking to solve mysteries!
Nate the Great is about to enter his dog, Sludge, in the smartest pet contest. But when the prize disappears, it looks as if the contest will flop.
It's a tough case for Nate and Sludge as they search for clues leading to the missing prize. In more ways than one, it's a very fishy business. Can Nate and Sludge find the prize in time?
Nate the Great is about to enter his dog, Sludge, in the smartest pet contest. But when the prize disappears, it looks as if the contest will flop.
It's a tough case for Nate and Sludge as they search for clues leading to the missing prize. In more ways than one, it's a very fishy business. Can Nate and Sludge find the prize in time?
80 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1984
56 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
About the author
Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
249 books116 followersMarjorie Weinman Sharmat was an American children's writer. She wrote more than 130 books for children and teens and her books have been translated into several languages. They have won awards including Book of the Year by the Library of Congress or have become selections by the Literary Guild.
Perhaps Sharmat's most popular work features the child detective Nate the Great. He was inspired by and named after her father, who lived to see the first Nate book published. One story, Nate the Great Goes Undercover, was adapted as a made-for-TV movie that won the Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival Award. Sharmat's husband Mitchell Sharmat expanded Nate's storyline by creating Olivia Sharp, his cousin and fellow detective. Husband and wife wrote four Olivia Sharp books published 1989 to 1991. During the 1990s, their son Craig Sharmat (then in his thirties) wrote three Nate books with his mother. In the late 2010s, their other son Andrew Sharmat co-wrote the last two Nate books written while Marjorie Weinman Sharmat was alive. With Marjorie Weinman Sharmat's passing in 2019 Andrew has continued writing the series with Nate the Great and the Earth Day Robot (2021).
In the mid-1980s Sharmat wrote three books published in 1984 and 1985 under the pseudonym Wendy Andrews.
Sharmat also wrote the Sorority Sisters series, eight short novels published in 1986 and 1987. They are romantic fiction with a sense of humor. They are set in a California public high school (day school for ages 14 to 18, approximately).
Perhaps Sharmat's most popular work features the child detective Nate the Great. He was inspired by and named after her father, who lived to see the first Nate book published. One story, Nate the Great Goes Undercover, was adapted as a made-for-TV movie that won the Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival Award. Sharmat's husband Mitchell Sharmat expanded Nate's storyline by creating Olivia Sharp, his cousin and fellow detective. Husband and wife wrote four Olivia Sharp books published 1989 to 1991. During the 1990s, their son Craig Sharmat (then in his thirties) wrote three Nate books with his mother. In the late 2010s, their other son Andrew Sharmat co-wrote the last two Nate books written while Marjorie Weinman Sharmat was alive. With Marjorie Weinman Sharmat's passing in 2019 Andrew has continued writing the series with Nate the Great and the Earth Day Robot (2021).
In the mid-1980s Sharmat wrote three books published in 1984 and 1985 under the pseudonym Wendy Andrews.
Sharmat also wrote the Sorority Sisters series, eight short novels published in 1986 and 1987. They are romantic fiction with a sense of humor. They are set in a California public high school (day school for ages 14 to 18, approximately).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 11, 2023
3.5 stars. This was a really fast but cute story. We haven't read any Nate the Great and this won't be our last! The gang's pets are all having a competition and a painted tuna can is the prize, however it goes missing and Nate has to help find it. It was cute and made kids think outside of the box. It also had a ton of animal facts at the end that I loved exploring with my daughter!
August 20, 2017
I enjoyed this book because I like prizes. I did not like this book because I do not like it when cats lick prizes.
November 29, 2023
I figured this out by page three. Maybe I'm getting smarter? 🤣🤣
December 2, 2023
According to Lennon, 7 years old.
Nate the great and the fishy prize is a great book. I read it in 1 day, how long will it take you to read it?
I like how Nate couldn’t find the tuna can, but then his dog sniffed it out in the grocery bag.
Nate the great and the fishy prize is a great book. I read it in 1 day, how long will it take you to read it?
I like how Nate couldn’t find the tuna can, but then his dog sniffed it out in the grocery bag.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2016
Our girls love the Nate the Great series, especially my youngest. The stories aren't too long; we can read the whole book at one time. They are pretty silly, but fun and demonstrate common sense thinking.
We love the common themes throughout the series; Nate's love for pancakes, his weird friends and their weird pets, and his great detective dog, Sludge.
We love the common themes throughout the series; Nate's love for pancakes, his weird friends and their weird pets, and his great detective dog, Sludge.
September 17, 2015
The stories are becoming recycled versions of each other, all containing tuna fish cans and pancakes. Also, I was appalled at the "game" at the end of the book. Throw a towel over your dog's head and count how long it takes it to get free? This is cruel and just asking for a child to be bitten.
February 7, 2019
Nate goes to the grocery store to pick up dog shampoo and stuff to make pancakes. He puts the bag on the back of his bike and rides home. As he rides by Rosamond's house he hears a commotion but doesn't go in. When he got home Rosamond called to say that she lost the prize for the Smartest pet contest. The earlier commotion was caused by all the kids in the neighborhood coming to Rosamond's house with their pets to sign up for the contest. The pets chased each other and at some point the can got knocked off the window sill where it were the paint was drying. Nate looked inside and outside for the missing can. He asks some of the kids in the room. Finally he goes home and finds the can in his grocery bag. (Sludge had been sniffing the bag before Nate thought to look in it so Nate said Sludge solved the case first.) Sludge ends up winning the Smartest Pet contest.
Extras: Facts about Smart Animals (including about crows in Japan who drop nuts in front of cars to crack the nuts and a parrot that know 800 words); Facts about the smartest dogs; Facts about Dog noses; Smart Animal Quiz; how smart is your dog tests; animal riddles; making a dog magnet (from pipe cleaners and doughnut shaped magnets); international animal sounds (for instance that horses in Bengali say "choo-hu-hu" and in Russian say "I-go-go"
Extras: Facts about Smart Animals (including about crows in Japan who drop nuts in front of cars to crack the nuts and a parrot that know 800 words); Facts about the smartest dogs; Facts about Dog noses; Smart Animal Quiz; how smart is your dog tests; animal riddles; making a dog magnet (from pipe cleaners and doughnut shaped magnets); international animal sounds (for instance that horses in Bengali say "choo-hu-hu" and in Russian say "I-go-go"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2020
Nate the Great and the Fishy Prize is a fun read for children. Rosemond has created a trophy for the Smartest Pet Contest, but it has gone missing and everyone is a suspect. Will Nate the Great solve the mystery or will the show have to be canceled?
As I read this to my kids, we talked about each suspect and whether or not they did it. It allowed us to work on critical thinking skills while reading. The kids liked to hear about all the different pets and really wanted to know who stole the trophy.
As a teacher, I could this book in my ELL classroom. There is a lot of repetition in the book, which makes it easier for them to read. However, we could chart the suspects and the clues and identify who actually stole the trophy. Here we are working on close reading, analyzing word choice, visualizing what we read, and predicting. Though it is written for children, the writing doesn't come across as "only for little kids;" this means I could use it in middle school or high school for emerging ELL students.
As I read this to my kids, we talked about each suspect and whether or not they did it. It allowed us to work on critical thinking skills while reading. The kids liked to hear about all the different pets and really wanted to know who stole the trophy.
As a teacher, I could this book in my ELL classroom. There is a lot of repetition in the book, which makes it easier for them to read. However, we could chart the suspects and the clues and identify who actually stole the trophy. Here we are working on close reading, analyzing word choice, visualizing what we read, and predicting. Though it is written for children, the writing doesn't come across as "only for little kids;" this means I could use it in middle school or high school for emerging ELL students.
May 30, 2018
As far as early chapter books are concerned this one is pretty good. Despite being written for new readers it's pretty entertaining and the wording (while simplistic) is generally fun stylistically rather than lame.
Nate the Great goes in search of Rosimund's lost first prize for the upcoming smartest pet competition. Will he find the stinky gold painted tuna can in time?
Nate the Great goes in search of Rosimund's lost first prize for the upcoming smartest pet competition. Will he find the stinky gold painted tuna can in time?
Read
June 7, 2018Series: 8 or 26 Nate the Great is about to enter his dog, Sludge, in the smartest pet contest. But when the prize disappears, it looks as if the contest will flop.
It's a tough case for Nate and Sludge as they search for clues leading to the missing prize. In more ways than one, it's a very fishy business. Can Nate and Sludge find the prize in time?
Lexile 440
It's a tough case for Nate and Sludge as they search for clues leading to the missing prize. In more ways than one, it's a very fishy business. Can Nate and Sludge find the prize in time?
Lexile 440
September 3, 2020
Fun chapter book series with simple text and corresponding illustrations on almost every page. Published in 1985, this is book #8 in the series. Ages 5-9+.
* There are 29 books in this series.
* A corresponding series is also available about Nate's cousin, Olivia Sharp (she is a detective also). I hope to investigate this series also.
* There are 29 books in this series.
* A corresponding series is also available about Nate's cousin, Olivia Sharp (she is a detective also). I hope to investigate this series also.
January 28, 2023
Easy Reader Shelves at Renton Highlands
Fun -- I like the confidence and the way Nate refers to himself in the third person a lot, and how he acts outside of direct adult supervision, and the variety of pets.
I even like how the resolution of the mystery is done, hinted so the reader gets it just before Nate (but maybe just after the dog)
Fun -- I like the confidence and the way Nate refers to himself in the third person a lot, and how he acts outside of direct adult supervision, and the variety of pets.
I even like how the resolution of the mystery is done, hinted so the reader gets it just before Nate (but maybe just after the dog)
August 29, 2019
3.5 stars. There are some interesting characters in these Nate the Great books, and the ending was cute. Kids liked it, as they do all of the books from this series that we've read, and it's not totally mind numbing to read out loud as a parent. 😏
March 21, 2024
When clues lead to dead ends and they all pile up to make us short of breath, what do we do? We sit in silence. Think back with deep silences and let the clues collect themselves until we realize that the mystery is not too far away from being solved.
February 14, 2020
We are enjoying the Nate the Great books reading with the kids. They really liked this one.
March 27, 2022
Humorous twist
April 3, 2023
Oh! We have a new character, Esmeralda.
Congratulations, Sludge.
Congratulations, Sludge.
July 19, 2023
I figured it out all by myself. Me > Sludge > Nate. One pancake prize, please.
September 29, 2023
The kids are holding a Smartest Pet competition, but Rosamond has lost the prize. Can Nate help find it?
May 16, 2025
reading this at the same time as Charlotte's web and I was wondering where Wilbur's painted tuna can was
July 5, 2025
3.5 stars
Nate the Great's logic prevails.
Nate the Great's logic prevails.
January 24, 2022
sludge saved the day!
June 1, 2023
A book from my reading curriculum. A cute mystery that my first graders will love.
November 15, 2015
The mystery book I have read is Nate the Great and the Fishy Prize. This book is about Nate who is a detective that solve important cases. In this particular case, Nate the Great is entering his dog Sludge in the Smartest Pet Contest. Nate received a call from Rosamond because she was not able to find the prize she was making for the Smartest Pet Contest. Nate is to find out what has happen to the empty tuna fish can which had the word Smartest in gold letters for the Smartest Pet Contest. Nate goes to the scene of the incident and traced back the clues at the end of is search he was truly surprised. This is a good book which tells the adventures and investigative skills of Nate the Great. This book is best suited for ages 5 to 8 years old.
December 6, 2016
Nate The Great books are great beginning reader chapter books. This book was full of adventure and was easy to follow. Nate and his dog Sludge are getting ready for a contest. He signs up with Rosamond and she alerts him that her tuna fish can is missing! This was her winning trophy. Nate helps hunt down the tuna can with his super sleuth skills. Sludge and Nate win the can because of their great detective skills. The lesson that can be learned through this book is doing helpful things for others with no requirement for reward is honorable, and that sometimes we are rewarded for doing the right things even if we don't expect it.
September 5, 2010
Nate the Great books aren't that great. I hated them when I was a kid, yet I would always read them.The endings of the books were always the same, they figured out what or who did it. And where are Nate's parents? They just let their son walk around everywhere and question people. That is very irresponsible of them. Nate the Great books always made me fall asleep and always wasted my time. I would not recommend this book to anyone, especially little kids. If kids want real mystery, they should read Sherlock Homes.
June 2, 2016
Nate the Great is on the case! The competition for smartest pet is today, and Nate is entering Sludge. But just an hour before the start, he receives a call from Rosamund- The prize for first place, a tuna fish can with 'Smartest' written in gold paint, has gone missing! Nate doesn't even have time to unpack his grocery bag of dog shampoo and pancake ingredients. What could have happened to the can? How will Nate solve the mystery in only an hour?
Such a fun series to revisit, one of my favorites as a kid. Lots of fun.
Such a fun series to revisit, one of my favorites as a kid. Lots of fun.
June 19, 2014
Michael, age 5, loves Nate the Great books. He likes this book because, as he says, it's a boy-and-dog mystery, and it's funny! Also, he likes the fact that dog Sludge finds the clues and that Nate and Sludge are afraid of dog Fang. Watch his review here, and prepare yourself for some great detail--and silliness:
http://youtu.be/dt3Hjr-YmTg
http://youtu.be/dt3Hjr-YmTg
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March 27, 2016Easy to read beginners book #5
This book was about a boy named Nate and his dog named Sludge. There was a Smartest Pet contest and the prize was a empty tuna can. The can got lost in a lot of commotion with pets and their owners and Nate and Sludge were brought to the rescue. Sludge ended up solving the case and therefore winning the smartest pets contest.
This book was about a boy named Nate and his dog named Sludge. There was a Smartest Pet contest and the prize was a empty tuna can. The can got lost in a lot of commotion with pets and their owners and Nate and Sludge were brought to the rescue. Sludge ended up solving the case and therefore winning the smartest pets contest.
May 31, 2013
Cute story for beginning readers about a boy w/ a dog named Sludge who solves a silly mystery. The second part of the book has interesting facts about a few animals, a the skill test for your dog and some corny animal riddles. Good for ages 5-7
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews