Mystery

by Arthur Geisert

When a little piglet accompanies her grandpa to the museum on copying day, she soon discovers that something is amiss. Large sections of the museum’s paintings have been cut out and forgeries sewn in their place. Who would commit such a theft, and how could they have pulled it off? This little piglet is determined to find out. As she searches for clues, beginning detectives can try their hand at a little sleuthing too! Looking closely to discover all that’s hidden among the delightful details in Arthur Geisert’s illustrations, keen observers may just find the key evidence they need to solve the mystery of the museum’s missing masterpieces.

Genres: Picture Books, Mystery, Art, Fiction, Childrens, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 29, 2003

About the author

Arthur Geisert grew up in Los Angeles, California, and claims not to have seen a pig until he was an adult. Trained as a sculptor in college, Geisert learned to etch at the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. Geisert has published just about a book a year for the past thirty years. Every one of his books has been illustrated with etchings. His work has appeared in The New Yorker and The Horn Book Magazine. In 2010 his book Ice was selected as a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated book of the year. Geisert currently lives in a converted bank building in Bernard, Iowa.

Reviews

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute! Mystery for kids which takes place inside a museum.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective work, yes!
Detective work done by a piglet, yes! (Especially a piglet drawn by master book illustrator Arthur Giesert.)
Detective work done by a piglet at a museum, oh yes. Please!

Damaged paintings? This is a big deal. Appropriately, though, there's no physical violence to anyone's life or limb.

So this picture book aims to solve an important mystery that is totally appropriate for kids to read about. Thanks, Mr. Giesert.

Such suspense follows, and then a superb solution to this complex mystery. As for the very last sentence (no spoiler from me -- no no!). It's priceless.

Goodreaders, this is a GREAT PICTURE BOOK. Especially suitable for intelligent kids (of all ages) who like to solve puzzles.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art is nice, but the story is not interesting. There was no drama at all and the text is very tell-y.

[skeeter mcballs · Rating 1 out of 5]

probably my least favorite picture book from when I was little

[#KindnessTrioLibrary Librarian]

Donations to the #KindnessTrioLibrary 2019

BookCrossing.com BCID: 910-15511763

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[Itsbarbiesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little mystery story. I loved the reward she got at the end and her career aspirations.

[Brigid Keely · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Mystery," by Arthur Geisert, is a picture book mystery for young readers. It follows a girl as she visits a museum with her grandfather and their picnic lunch for copying day (a day when the museum is closed to the general public, but artists can come in and sketch/draw/paint works of art/sculpture/etc). While there, she notices that sections of paintings have been removed and replaced with inferior copies. But by whom? And why?

Sharp eyed readers can study the pictures for clues, in theory, and piece together what's going on. Unlike a lot of books for little kids labelled mysteries, or with "mystery" in the title, this is the real deal with a puzzle and clues that readers can try to figure out. The illustrations are charming and the text is easy to read and lends itself well to reread. Even when the mystery is figured out, it's still a fun book to read again and again.

My only complaint is that one of the clues is really small and hard to see. Not in a "easy to overlook" way but in a "wow, that's so small I can't make it out" way. It's over all a good book, though, and it's always neat to have a girl detective running around solving problems.

[Elizabeth S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't be fooled, this is a serious mystery. Yes, it is at a kid's level, but it is not babied down at all. Nice and intellectual for kids (like mine) who want to grow up to be a detective. Challenges even an adult to notice the clues. But the very young, low-attention span kids would probably find it boring and/or confusing.

[Romelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the premise of a mystery picture book. That is hard to come by and I see why. It is difficult to lay out all the facts, allow participation by the reader to help solve the mystery, and explain the solution in only a few words. I thought the ending was unsatisfying since it left unanswered questions. But I give author Arthur Geisert for attempting the challenge.

[jenna Hudrlik · Rating 2 out of 5]

this one didnt quite flow or make the most sense to either caroline or i, usually we love his books but this one missed the mark for us.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am using this book to teach about the mystery genre (ooo.. imagine that, a book called Mystery) to my 5th and 6th graders.

[Debbie Tanner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly good beginning mystery... there are clues in the art museum which allows the main character to catch the thieves.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl uses her drawings and powers of observation and analysis to save someone from blame being wrongly placed.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good quick mystery. Excellent example for classes...

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thinking outside the box.