The Secret Three

by Mildred Myrick, Arnold Lobel (Illustrator)

The discovery of a bottle containing a coded message leads two boys to a new friend with whom they form a club.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Adventure, Friendship

64 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1963

Reviews

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 6yo loved this. Highly recommended.

[Leah Delcamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friendship, secret codes and illustrations by Arnold Lobel…lots to love about this early reader!

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's an enjoyable and unique story for the beginning reader. Friendship, beaches, secret codes and camp-outs! And with whimsical illustrations from Lobel on every page, you really can't go wrong.

Reading Level: 1st - 3rd

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023) · Rating 5 out of 5]

With drawings by Arnold Lobel - the man who wrote and illustrated the Frog and Toad stories (among many others) - so you know they're quite wonderful.

And the book was fantastic. Right from the start - all the shells on the beach! Squirt and I wanted to pick them right off the page! We're big-time shell hunters, so we loved those drawings. And then the secret message! Squirt couldn't figure out what it was - was it upside down? I said "Hey I've seen this before, come with me.", and we took the book to a mirror. Well Squirt nearly fell over himself laughing. "Wow! I can read it now!" It was a lot of fun. Just the kind of thing you hope for when you have a reluctant reader. We got to a good part and I said to him, "Okay, you can stop now. We'll read more tomorrow." and that boy who was whining about having to read, said (wonder of all wonders)" Aw, Mom! Just one more page!" But I was firm. ( I'll get him to like reading yet, you wait and see. Bwa-ha-ha! *rubs hands together in evil glee*) Yes, with books like this one, I can't really go wrong.

[Corban White]

The first “big” book I ever read.

[Beverlee Jobrack · Rating 3 out of 5]

So interesting read children's books from the 196os. This one is written by a woman, but it is all about boys, boys, boys... and their dads and a male fisherman. Two boys exchange secret messages with a stranger and then go with a stranger fisherman to an island where they meet another boy and have start a club and go camping on the beach. So typical of books for kids when I was growing up. Girls and women do not exists or if they every do, they are doing laundry or making meals. I just accepted this, as I accepted all the Confederate statues in Northern Virginia where I lived. This is how indoctrination works. You learn about and value things that don't represent you at all.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple, fun I Can Read book about two boys vacationing at the beach who find a bottle from a boy who lives at a lighthouse station on an island. After meeting they create special codes, handshakes, and writings and explore the island and camp out, etc. Very simple. No real problem, but fun illustrations by Arnold Lobel (creator and illustrator of Frog and Toad). My rating - 3/5

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a fun code that can be deciphered with numbers that represent letters. You also can use a mirror to decipher a couple messages. Cute book. Two boys find a bottle with a message and a friendship begins and a secret club is created.

[Michael Philliber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun story of three young boys who become friends and create a "secret" club. Great book for young readers to practice their skills. I recorded myself reading it on my YouTube channel. I gladly recommend the book.

[Jeff Lewonczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early reader about codes, messages in bottles and the sort of open exploration and easy camaraderie that doesn't come as easily to kids today as it did 60 years ago. Absolutely wonderful illustrations by the great Arnold Lobel.

[Junior Bodden · Rating 5 out of 5]

The secret three is a great story! It’s about two boys spending the summer at the beach and they find a third friend. It sends a great message. The way I could use this in the classroom is by having the kids to create a story

[Toni Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about two young boys, Mark and Billy. They find a message in a bottle on the beach. They find that it is from the new lighthouse keeper’s son, Tom. They send messages back and forth with the tide. They form a club, and they create secret codes and a secret code word. Nice illustrations.

[Concetta Kellough · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of three boys who start a secret club. The boys send messages using a secret code. This is a fun book for young elementary kids to learn about secret codes.

[Kymberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book that little boys would so enjoy and learn how to read.

[Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool, short book about boys forming a club. Nice illustrations by Arnold Lobel who wrote and illustrated the Frog and Toad books.

[Cami Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

From my 8 year old son: I liked this book! It was awesome because the three boys were good at doing secret passwords, and I liked figuring out the messages.

[Sydney Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this sweet old book.

[Jennifer Wadman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nostalgic masculine adventure with codes, nautical theme, strong fathers for beginning readers.

[Adam Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book as a kid about three boys forming a secret club.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

a sweet easy reader of yesteryear

[Cassidy Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interactive book for readers. It wouldn't be best for a read aloud, but it allows readers to predict, wonder, and work out.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reason for Reading: The ds read aloud to me for his reader.

Summary: The story of two boys who find a message in a bottle from another boy who must come from the Lighthouse island. So they send a message back with a secret code embedded and so the messages continue until eventually the three boys meet, set up a secret club, and end the summer with a camp out on the island.

Comments: An enjoyable story with plenty going on to appeal to boys: messages in bottles and exploring the beach, secret codes and secret clubs, exploring the lighthouse and camping. The 9yo enjoyed it, especially decoding the secret words in the messages, well enough but not to the degree he has enjoyed other books. While a nice story, the lack of a climax leaves the story without excitement. The illustrations by Arnold Lobel are quite out of character from his usual children's illustrations. The cover picture is indicative of the inside drawings except the palette is limited to yellow, blue and black with the yellow/blue occasionally mixing to make a faint green. It is a very scribbley type of drawing and ds said "It was a good book but I didn't like the pictures."

Still, a nice enough story with real boy characters doing things that boys like to do. The book has been out of print for many years but is readily available used online at low prices.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

1963. Illustrated by Arnold Loebel, thus so familiar, and so very typical of the best in 1960's young readers. Two friends discover a bottle washing up on shore, with a note inside from a boy who lives on the nearby lighthouse island. They exchange messages with each other, and eventually meet. The kids' messages to each other consist of basic code (abc/123) and reverse writing (mirror writing).

[Kara Laidig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about two boys finding a glass bottle along the beach. It had a secret message from another boy. They figured it out and send a message back. They want to meet him but how will they know who he is? It was a cute book that I think a lot of kids would like to try to do. You get to learn little bit about island life and what its like to be in a club

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This easy reader is a nice introduction to codes -- there are two different ways of communicating that the club must decode. It's a simple little mystery and a good representation of making friends as well. All in all a nice little book.

(My used copy has written in it: Page and Huff & Mills.)

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet simple book. I enjoy the "secret codes" and handshakes. It reminds me of the treehouse we built and the "girls only club" my neighbors and I formed.

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three boys make a secret club called the secret three and they can't with the third boy on another part of the island. I didn't learn anything from this book. - Auryn (7 years old)

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

that's the date inscribed in the book anyway...and I'm sure I read it over and over and over again! Not to mention how many times it was read to me!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. It's part mystery and part adventure but all fun! Even as an adult I find this book enjoyable and the illustrations are beautiful. A book of my childhood that I cherish.

[Kellie Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pictures are awesome. The dad was stylin'. The content captures what it's like to be a child in regards to the need for privacy, secrecy, and mystery. I'm going to read it again.