The Scary Snake Mystery

Cam Jansen Mysteries #17

by David A. Adler, Susanna Natti (Illustrator)

Cam's got a whole new m-hisss!-tory to solve! First a snake is let loose on the steps of the city library, then Cam's mother's bag is stolen--with her video camera inside. Could the two events be related? It will take Cam's photographic memory to find out and to help catch the slippery criminal!

Genres: Mystery, Chapter Books, Childrens, Fiction, Juvenile, Middle Grade

58 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

David Abraham Adler is an American children's author. He was born in New York City, New York in 1947. He graduated from Queens College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics and education. For the next nine years, he worked as a mathematics teacher for the New York City Board of Education, while taking classes towards a master's degree in marketing, a degree he was awarded by New York University in 1971. In that same year, a question from his then-three-year-old nephew inspired Adler to write his first story, A Little at a Time, subsequently published by Random House in 1976. Adler's next project, a series of math books, drew on his experience as a math teacher. In 1977, he created his most famous character, Cam Jansen, originally featured in Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, which was published that year.

Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.

Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.

As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.

(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the big city in order to see a Henri Matisse exhibit at the art museum, fifth-grade sleuth Cam Jansen, her best friend Eric Shelton and her mother all end up chasing a thief who runs off with Mrs. Jansen's canvas bag and video camera. When they catch up with him, the man has neither bag nor camera, making it seem as if they have been on the wrong trail. Cam is convinced that he is the thief, but when the camera and bag are found abandoned nearby, it seems the case is closed. Then, while touring the exhibit, Cam realizes what really happened...

The seventeenth entry in David A. Adler's beginning chapter-book series devoted to the adventures of Cam and Eric, who foil a crime (usually theft) in every title, Cam Jansen and the Scary Snake Mystery seems to be set in New York City, to judge from a number of details, from the library with the two lions in front of it, to the chase down Fourth Avenue. If true, that would make it the first book in the series with a specific, identifiable location. Leaving that aside, this was a fairly engaging entry in the series, and is one that I would recommend to fans of Cam Jansen, and to beginning chapter-book readers who enjoy mystery.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not solve the mystery, but should have been able to. Youngsters would need to know that video cameras used to have cassettes, though. I appreciate the nod to Matisse... though that's a pretty special museum exhibit to have so many of his works at once!

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have read in this series. I reserve judgement until I have read another one.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know why I keep going on with this series! This is the second book in the Cam Jamsen series that I read today. I guess it might be because it's such an easy read???? I don't know.

But anyway, this book was a guessable mystery targeted for elementary schoolers.

Basically; what happened is that somebody stole Cam's mom's camera and Cam (being the stubborn girl she is) decided to go look for it.

The mystery was very obvivious but I remember being highly stumped as an elementary schooler myself!

[Chelsea DeBarge · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. I️ think it would be good for students who are interested in following a character throughout books.

[Ashley Fultz]

Photographic memory, Snake, stolen, Video camera

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read out loud to the kids, who were bored at the British Museum. They enjoyed it!

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent entry level mystery for the beginning Readers. I like that the clues were there and the reader just had to understand them.

[Kinley Coplin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Cam Jansen and the Scary Snake Mystery. I would use this in my class to make predictions throughout the story. It’s fun seeing if things happen the way one predicts.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last day of summer vacation, Mrs. Jansen, Cam, and Eric go into the big city to see the Matisse paintings. Before going to the exhibit, they sit on the library steps to eat lunch. Mrs. Jansen uses her video camera to take pictures of the kids and other people eating on the steps. Then, a man jumps up and throws his sandwich on to the sidewalk when a snake crawls out of a burlap sack. Mrs. Jansen films the whole thing. As Cam, her mother, and her friend walk toward the museum, a person in a blue hoody and sunglasses begins following them. While they are waiting at a corner, the person in the hoody grabs Mrs. Jansen’s video camera and runs away. Cam runs after him, but loses him in the crowd. After Mrs. Jansen fills out a police report, they walk to the museum. As they pass by an empty building, they find Mrs. Jansen’s camera bag in the entrance. The video camera is inside. So, why did the man go to all the trouble to steal the camera? That day’s “News Scoop” contest winner answers that question. Can Cam’s memory help the police find the thief?
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not our favorite so far in the Cam Jansen series, but it's still pretty good. Our girls really enjoy the Cam Jansen mysteries by David A. Adler and Susanna Natti.

[Elisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this was a powerful book! I learned that sometimes criminals, or ordinary people, think they can trick us, but you need the right person to catch them in the act or know that something is wrong, like Cam Jansen! You don't have to be a police officer to be able to solve mysteries or catch a burglar, sometimes you just come in a regular state. Don't judge from appearances! As my mom always quotes her dad, "Dynamite comes in small packages." Thank you! <3 <3

[Kaytee · Rating 4 out of 5]

a guy was eating a sandwich then a snake apeared . then when cam jansen and her mom and eric then this guy was following them then took the canvas bag from cams mom then they went to the museum then one of the pictures made a clu then they found the bag with the camera but then there was no tape then the thief went to this contest then they went to that contest but they had to prove it was theres then they got it back.

[Erin]

N independent March 2020

Since Goodreads has no personal notes option on iOS app, I must put my notes here. Author annoyed?
Please forward to Goodreads that they should allow their users to add personal notes on the iOS app. They don’t listen to the suggestions from their users. Cheers.

Note: Dad read this to N. Not Mom.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cam Jansen has a puzzling mystery involving a snake, a missing video camera that isn't missing, and a news contest. Clever and interesting all the way to the end. Highly recommended for your young readers.

[Ruthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the mystery ,it is pretty cool that she can remember stuff by saying "Click".

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie picked this book out 2 years ago at the LQ Library summer reading program. She loves snakes! Ellie rates this 4 stars, Jake and mom 3 stars. 7/9/15

[Gina]

Finished 6/28/16

[Mailk]

I am not getting to read it

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a trip to the city with her mom, Cam and Eric visit the art museum and catch a camera thief.