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The Clock Without a Face
We’ve buried 12 emerald-studded numbers—each handmade and one of a kind—in 12 holes across the United States. These treasures will belong to whoever digs them up first. The question: Where to dig? The only path to the answer: Solve the riddles of The Clock Without a Face!
THE BOOK
The call comes in from the shadowy Ternky Tower: 13 robberies, one on each floor, all the way up to the penthouse, where obnoxious importer Bevel Ternky has been relieved of the numbers garlanding the legendary Emerald Khroniker, his priceless, ancient clock. Readers must conduct their own investigations, scouring detailed illustrations for hidden clues and knotty puzzles. All your answers can be found within this book: whodunit and how… and where the real numbers are buried now.
THE NUMBERS
Twelve—and only twelve—emerald-bedecked integers sleep somewhere in this nation’s soil. If you can find them, they’re yours to keep—and only this book can tell you where they are. So read the story carefully, and examine the illustrations closely. The race is on!
THE BOOK
The call comes in from the shadowy Ternky Tower: 13 robberies, one on each floor, all the way up to the penthouse, where obnoxious importer Bevel Ternky has been relieved of the numbers garlanding the legendary Emerald Khroniker, his priceless, ancient clock. Readers must conduct their own investigations, scouring detailed illustrations for hidden clues and knotty puzzles. All your answers can be found within this book: whodunit and how… and where the real numbers are buried now.
THE NUMBERS
Twelve—and only twelve—emerald-bedecked integers sleep somewhere in this nation’s soil. If you can find them, they’re yours to keep—and only this book can tell you where they are. So read the story carefully, and examine the illustrations closely. The race is on!
30 pages, Board Book
First published January 1, 2010
208 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
March 22, 2010
Treasure hunts. Wouldn’t it be marvelous to be a part of one? I think the popularity of books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or The 39 Clues or even The Gollywhopper Games really has a lot to do with our own private wish fulfillment. Wouldn’t you love to be a part of a real world treasure hunt? One where you could follow clues and end up with a marvelous prize of your very own? Enter the world’s weirdest book. I’m sure there are other words for it, but the term “weird” sticks out prominently in my mind. So too do the words “wacky”, “hypnotic”, “awe-inspiring”, and “potentially hazardous to your health”. I do not kid. I kid a tiny bit. But the fact of the matter is that if you or a child or you AND a child ever wanted to be a part of a real world treasure hunt, the time is now. For my part, all that I care is that there’s a new book out there with teeny tiny pictures for me to stare glazed-eye at for long periods of time. To stare and stare and stare.
Meet Gus Twintig. Gus is just your average everyday detective sidekick. So when the great Roy Dodge says that there’s a mystery to be solved, Gus is more than eager to tag along. They find themselves at 23 Glyph Street where a Mr. Bevel Ternky has been robbed. His marvelous Emerald Khroniker, a clock containing twelve emerald studded numbers, has been stolen. Or rather, the numbers have been stolen. The clock itself is hunky dory. So it is that Gus and Roy go down, floor by floor, to interview each of the residents and question them for what they know. It appears that Mr. Ternky was not the only person robbed, but finding the culprit will take some pretty snazzy brains. Now here’s the real puzzle. Twelve actual emerald studded numbers HAVE been buried around the country by the authors of this book. Find the clues hidden in the pictures, and you could be one of the lucky few to dig up the numbers for your very own self.
Gather round me, children, and hear the tale I tell. Once upon a time there was a children’s book by the name of Masquerade written by a man named Kit Williams. Consisting of some sixteen paintings, the goal of the book was to solve the riddle hidden in the pictures so as to find the real world buried treasure. In that particular case, the prize was a golden rabbit. Of course, the whole thing broke down in a huge scandal and everyone was mightily disappointed, but the idea stuck. Folks starting calling these kinds of book “armchair treasure hunts” and in the early 80s there was a whole spate of them. Then along comes the internet and we haven’t seen anything similar since. This makes the challenge of Barnett and company all the more intriguing. Not only do they have to keep this potentially chaotic hunt in line, but they have to keep their rapidly increasing fans updated. Can’t have folks spending the next few decades digging up their neighbors’ lawns. And how easy are the answers? Will the numbers be found immediately? After a year? After ten? The book is also ostensibly for kids, but since children haven’t the freedom to drive around the country with their shovels, odds are a lot of adults will be winning each of the numbers. Pity that, but there’s nothing to be done.
I had a devil of a time figuring out how to classify this book within my own personal collection because design-wise it poses a pickle. Imagine a board book roughly the size of a pop-up book, but where the base is a rectangle and the top half a triangle. You’d think it unwieldy, and indeed I contemplated how weird it would be to wrangle it off and onto the subway. However, once in the privacy of my own home it was the ideal size for staring at. Still, I wonder if many libraries will be purchasing it. And if they do, where will it go? The fiction section? It could well be the first chapter book board book ere seen. Will they even buy it or will they consider it kitsch? Personally, I hope they do buy it. Kitsch or not, it’s a significant story brought out by a host of clever folks. That should count for something, I would think.
Speaking of which, we need a name for these young hipster Turks who are slowly turning the world of juvenile literature into something attuned to their own subversive p.o.v.s. Nothing suggests itself. Hipster Kidster Lit, perhaps. Barnett and Rex (who does the occasional portrait in the story) are obviously two of the ringleaders. And this Eli Horowitz fellow may be the same, but it’s Scott Teplin I’m interested in. Teplin is the meticulous ink wielder behind the book’s tiny, perfect drawings. Teplin’s art is marvelous. You get a huge amount of enjoyment just looking at a new page, and even more enjoyment going back and reexamining old ones. Young eyes will certainly be better attuned to peeking for hours at a time at the meticulous tiny illustrations that contain the clues. Then they themselves can sit there wondering, “What is the significance of the pink donuts? Is the roof on the cover of the book important? Is the back?” Teplin is primarily an artist with few books for youngsters under his belt. Hopefully this will mark the start of a new career for the fellow.
And talk about a learning opportunity. Get the right kind of kid interested and suddenly they’ll be scrambling to grab every reference tome in sight in the hopes of solving the mystery. For example, in the apartment of Dr. P.K. Quello helium is continually alluded to but the only way you’re going to know that is if you study up on your periodic table. On a second reading I bet a kid could also figure out how you are told which cities the numbers reside in but it will require even more research to tell which one is which. It’s a game that ends up being a kind of a strange teaching tool, almost by accident.
When I was a kid my Clock Without a Face was the bizarre book Maze by Christopher Manson. No treasure involved, though apparently there was a prize of $10,000 for anyone who could solve it. The problem with Maze though was that in spite of its picture book-like format, it didn’t feel like it was for kids. In contrast, what I really came to like and respect about The Clock Without a Face is that it has no difficulty defining its own audience. The writing and the pictures are hugely kid-friendly. Maybe a child wouldn’t have the wherewithal to solve the puzzles, but there’s always a chance. And where there’s a chance there will be kid fans. I know I’ll be handing my copy to the kids in the bookclub I run with the hope that they find a way to solve it themselves. Because even if they don't solve it, they're going to have a heckuva great time obsessing over its wackiness. Fun fun fun.
Ages 10 and up.
Meet Gus Twintig. Gus is just your average everyday detective sidekick. So when the great Roy Dodge says that there’s a mystery to be solved, Gus is more than eager to tag along. They find themselves at 23 Glyph Street where a Mr. Bevel Ternky has been robbed. His marvelous Emerald Khroniker, a clock containing twelve emerald studded numbers, has been stolen. Or rather, the numbers have been stolen. The clock itself is hunky dory. So it is that Gus and Roy go down, floor by floor, to interview each of the residents and question them for what they know. It appears that Mr. Ternky was not the only person robbed, but finding the culprit will take some pretty snazzy brains. Now here’s the real puzzle. Twelve actual emerald studded numbers HAVE been buried around the country by the authors of this book. Find the clues hidden in the pictures, and you could be one of the lucky few to dig up the numbers for your very own self.
Gather round me, children, and hear the tale I tell. Once upon a time there was a children’s book by the name of Masquerade written by a man named Kit Williams. Consisting of some sixteen paintings, the goal of the book was to solve the riddle hidden in the pictures so as to find the real world buried treasure. In that particular case, the prize was a golden rabbit. Of course, the whole thing broke down in a huge scandal and everyone was mightily disappointed, but the idea stuck. Folks starting calling these kinds of book “armchair treasure hunts” and in the early 80s there was a whole spate of them. Then along comes the internet and we haven’t seen anything similar since. This makes the challenge of Barnett and company all the more intriguing. Not only do they have to keep this potentially chaotic hunt in line, but they have to keep their rapidly increasing fans updated. Can’t have folks spending the next few decades digging up their neighbors’ lawns. And how easy are the answers? Will the numbers be found immediately? After a year? After ten? The book is also ostensibly for kids, but since children haven’t the freedom to drive around the country with their shovels, odds are a lot of adults will be winning each of the numbers. Pity that, but there’s nothing to be done.
I had a devil of a time figuring out how to classify this book within my own personal collection because design-wise it poses a pickle. Imagine a board book roughly the size of a pop-up book, but where the base is a rectangle and the top half a triangle. You’d think it unwieldy, and indeed I contemplated how weird it would be to wrangle it off and onto the subway. However, once in the privacy of my own home it was the ideal size for staring at. Still, I wonder if many libraries will be purchasing it. And if they do, where will it go? The fiction section? It could well be the first chapter book board book ere seen. Will they even buy it or will they consider it kitsch? Personally, I hope they do buy it. Kitsch or not, it’s a significant story brought out by a host of clever folks. That should count for something, I would think.
Speaking of which, we need a name for these young hipster Turks who are slowly turning the world of juvenile literature into something attuned to their own subversive p.o.v.s. Nothing suggests itself. Hipster Kidster Lit, perhaps. Barnett and Rex (who does the occasional portrait in the story) are obviously two of the ringleaders. And this Eli Horowitz fellow may be the same, but it’s Scott Teplin I’m interested in. Teplin is the meticulous ink wielder behind the book’s tiny, perfect drawings. Teplin’s art is marvelous. You get a huge amount of enjoyment just looking at a new page, and even more enjoyment going back and reexamining old ones. Young eyes will certainly be better attuned to peeking for hours at a time at the meticulous tiny illustrations that contain the clues. Then they themselves can sit there wondering, “What is the significance of the pink donuts? Is the roof on the cover of the book important? Is the back?” Teplin is primarily an artist with few books for youngsters under his belt. Hopefully this will mark the start of a new career for the fellow.
And talk about a learning opportunity. Get the right kind of kid interested and suddenly they’ll be scrambling to grab every reference tome in sight in the hopes of solving the mystery. For example, in the apartment of Dr. P.K. Quello helium is continually alluded to but the only way you’re going to know that is if you study up on your periodic table. On a second reading I bet a kid could also figure out how you are told which cities the numbers reside in but it will require even more research to tell which one is which. It’s a game that ends up being a kind of a strange teaching tool, almost by accident.
When I was a kid my Clock Without a Face was the bizarre book Maze by Christopher Manson. No treasure involved, though apparently there was a prize of $10,000 for anyone who could solve it. The problem with Maze though was that in spite of its picture book-like format, it didn’t feel like it was for kids. In contrast, what I really came to like and respect about The Clock Without a Face is that it has no difficulty defining its own audience. The writing and the pictures are hugely kid-friendly. Maybe a child wouldn’t have the wherewithal to solve the puzzles, but there’s always a chance. And where there’s a chance there will be kid fans. I know I’ll be handing my copy to the kids in the bookclub I run with the hope that they find a way to solve it themselves. Because even if they don't solve it, they're going to have a heckuva great time obsessing over its wackiness. Fun fun fun.
Ages 10 and up.
February 6, 2011
This is a great puzzle and armchair treasure hunting book. I read it to my kids, and we loved poring over each floor and searching both the images and text for clues. It was a great concept, very well executed, with exquisitely detailed drawings. I definitely recommend it, and hope there is a sequel!
April 27, 2011
This was fantastic! It is a story, but also a picture puzzle mystery, AND the adventure continues in real life for readers to actually participate in solving the mystery themselves! So cool and original.
It made me think of The Westing Game plus Graeme Base. Each page is a level of an apartment building, giving information and parts of the story that take place on that floor, including a very detailed picture of the floor. The pictures contain lots of clues, so keep an eye peeled.
I can't wait to booktalk this book. I can snag the kids by telling them they can go actually find the missing clock numbers themselves! It's a great way to integrate technology, literacy, and real life investigating. This is great for all elementary readers, but even older kids and adults could really get into this mystery. In fact, my little research shows that some of the numbers were even found by adults!
It made me think of The Westing Game plus Graeme Base. Each page is a level of an apartment building, giving information and parts of the story that take place on that floor, including a very detailed picture of the floor. The pictures contain lots of clues, so keep an eye peeled.
I can't wait to booktalk this book. I can snag the kids by telling them they can go actually find the missing clock numbers themselves! It's a great way to integrate technology, literacy, and real life investigating. This is great for all elementary readers, but even older kids and adults could really get into this mystery. In fact, my little research shows that some of the numbers were even found by adults!
July 25, 2016
This book is just so cool. Finn (age 7) enjoyed looking at the pictures with me, and they inspired him to do some similar drawings, but the story itself is still a little over his head, and some of the jokes a little too advanced. I'm thinking when he's about 10 we will revisit.
Everything about this puzzle of a book is clever, fun and thought-provoking. Highly recommended.
*I paused to enjoy the image. A gorilla with a walking stick, and perhaps a top hat and a monocle - probably attending the theater! But where would he keep his tickets without any pockets? The question almost distracted me from the more vexing mystery at hand.*
Everything about this puzzle of a book is clever, fun and thought-provoking. Highly recommended.
*I paused to enjoy the image. A gorilla with a walking stick, and perhaps a top hat and a monocle - probably attending the theater! But where would he keep his tickets without any pockets? The question almost distracted me from the more vexing mystery at hand.*
March 18, 2017
The story here is fine, well-written and funny, a mystery that can be solved by examining drawings in the book--examining them VERY closely. I'm guessing this would be too hard for the target audience of 4-8th grade. The solution is given at the end, but there is another real world puzzle with real treasures to be found also by examining the drawings. This would definitely be beyond the ability of the target audience and renders this portion of the book experience quickly obsolete (a search online shows that most of the treasures were found within a few weeks of the book's release in 2010).
The format of the book also makes it problematic for shelving.
The format of the book also makes it problematic for shelving.
May 31, 2010
I love, love the concept of this book. My boys were so engaged they chose to continue reading over watching a movie. The illustrations are excellent and the author's tone is delightful. I'm just so flummoxed by the clues that should lead you to the real treasure. Where are they coming from? State, Highway, Mile, that I don't get, but the lower levels of mystery are quite engaging, both for my seven-year-old, my eleven-year-old and myself.
March 17, 2019
The owner and thirteenth floor resident of an apartment building has had the emerald numbers stolen off his valuable clock, on top of that, the residents of all the other floors have also had things taken. Enter the detective, Dodge, and his assistant, Gus, as they attempt to find the culprits.
A detailed picture mystery book, in the vein of Graham Base's Eleventh Hour, or the Where's Waldo books, tending more to the later. This has a lot of difficult words, so I don't see kids reading this one on there own (which, as it's a board book, to me, does not bode well), but could be a good read aloud then hand to the kids to find the things in the pictures. The mystery is not super difficult, I had two theories going in and both were (kind of) right.
No content issues.
May 6, 2025
This is pretty weird. The authors actually bought and buried treasures around the United States, then wrote this book as a map to the treasure. It's board book style but juvenile fiction level. I read it, then googled it and learned about the actual treasure. You can figure a few things out by just reading the book carefully, but not everything. I'm not sure it's really an interesting book at this point, particularly if you don't look it up.
October 23, 2021
Love this book. My five year old also loved it. The twisting plot, amazing physical form, and beautiful illos make this an amazing book. Perfect for keeping both parents' and kids' attention
January 4, 2011
Fans of Where's Waldo or books by Graeme Base will enjoy this mystery. It seems the jewel-encrusted hands of the Emerald Khroniker have been stolen, and it's up to Roy Dodge, private detective and his confidential assistant, Gus Twintig, to solve the case. Each page reveals a different level of the 13 floor building, with a brief bit of banter with each resident and a drawing of the apartment, which reveals clues to astute readers. As the pair progress down the building, each apartment dweller gives clues as well, and each states that they, too, have had something stolen. This is a clever (and sometimes frustrating) book, with great word-play and intricate drawings. In fact, like Where's Waldo, there are additional things on each page to seek (for example: a donut, a ladder and an eye). I'm hoping Gus will be able to provide us more mysteries to solve in the future (those that have read this will understand the probable difficulty with that).
The clock hand jewels are truly hidden around the United States, but I don't know how long that part of the mystery will last, as half the emeralds have been recovered. And note it takes quite a bit of sleuthing to figure this out! I peeked at the answer for one of them...
If you wish to search for the missing emeralds, be sure to follow the blog to see which have been recovered. Here's the first entry:
http://gustwintig.com/news/2010/3/21/...
If you just want to find the answers, check out the wiki:
http://clockwithoutaface.wikia.com/wi...
November 16, 2011
The Clock without a Face by Gus Twintig (Scott Teplin, Mac Barnett, and illustrator Eli Horowitz) showed up on the new shelf in the children's library a few months ago. Attracted by the odd shape and the detailed cover illustration, I checked out the book. Rather, I attempted to check out the book but the odd shape made it impossible for the self-service scanner. So after standing in line to talk to the circulation desk I was finally able to take the book home.
Although this is a thirty page board book, I wouldn't classify it as a children's book. It's really more of a graphic novel or adult novelty book.
A detective and his assistant are called to a strange apartment building where on the top floor Bevel Ternky's emerald studded clock has been stolen. Not only that but everyone else in the building is missing something.
Floor by floor the detective gathers clues and interviews residents. By the time he arrives at the bottom floor he knows what happened and he asks the readers to see if they know too.
The book ends up being two puzzles in one. There are the crimes of the other floors and then the emerald numbers. The numbers are an actual marketing gimmick and there were twelve sites across the United States where actual treasure was buried based on clues in the book.
I personally have no interest in trying to solve the remaining unsolved riddles. Once all of them have been found (and they may have by now) the book becomes just that, a book. I doubt it will have lasting appeal without the treasure hunt.
Although this is a thirty page board book, I wouldn't classify it as a children's book. It's really more of a graphic novel or adult novelty book.
A detective and his assistant are called to a strange apartment building where on the top floor Bevel Ternky's emerald studded clock has been stolen. Not only that but everyone else in the building is missing something.
Floor by floor the detective gathers clues and interviews residents. By the time he arrives at the bottom floor he knows what happened and he asks the readers to see if they know too.
The book ends up being two puzzles in one. There are the crimes of the other floors and then the emerald numbers. The numbers are an actual marketing gimmick and there were twelve sites across the United States where actual treasure was buried based on clues in the book.
I personally have no interest in trying to solve the remaining unsolved riddles. Once all of them have been found (and they may have by now) the book becomes just that, a book. I doubt it will have lasting appeal without the treasure hunt.
September 12, 2010
The first surprise of this slender, clock tower-shaped board book was that it took over an hour to read. This was partly because I spent twice as much time looking at the illustrations as I did reading the text. Each turn of the page reveals a new level of the apartment building where the story is set, and each level contains further clues and red herrings that the detective (and reader) must use to discover who stole the bejeweled numbers from the landlord's clock.
The story reminded me of Ellen Raskin's "The Westing Game" meets Graeme Base's "The Eleventh Hour", so I was delighted when I found out from the author's blog later that both of those books (along with Kit William's "Masquerade" and Georges Perec's "Life, a User's Manual", both of which I now want to read) inspired this one. There's a real-life treasure hunt associated with the book, but I'll leave that to people with more spare time. I think the ending isn't as satisfying as one might wish if you're not planning on participating in the treasure hunt, but even so, it's worth reading just for the fun contained in the book itself.
The story reminded me of Ellen Raskin's "The Westing Game" meets Graeme Base's "The Eleventh Hour", so I was delighted when I found out from the author's blog later that both of those books (along with Kit William's "Masquerade" and Georges Perec's "Life, a User's Manual", both of which I now want to read) inspired this one. There's a real-life treasure hunt associated with the book, but I'll leave that to people with more spare time. I think the ending isn't as satisfying as one might wish if you're not planning on participating in the treasure hunt, but even so, it's worth reading just for the fun contained in the book itself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2013
A beautifully illustrated short detective story that ends cleverly and sets up a search for the reader (i.e., decode all the right information and find actual emerald encrusted clock numerals hidden around the U.S.) As of this reading (in summer 2013), I believe all or almost all of the numerals have been found, and most of the internet presences supporting the book have been removed.
From what I can tell, the math is hit or miss (a few equations to solve, but a stronger emphasis on deducing locations from clues). The artwork --- a plan of each floor of a building --- is wonderful. Isometric perspective with detail comparable to that of Geoff Darrow, mixed in with a wonderful sense of humor. I haven't gone back and re-explored much of the images after realizing the presence of clues, but I can see the attraction. However, I don't see much use (besides possible enrichment) in a middle school math class.
From what I can tell, the math is hit or miss (a few equations to solve, but a stronger emphasis on deducing locations from clues). The artwork --- a plan of each floor of a building --- is wonderful. Isometric perspective with detail comparable to that of Geoff Darrow, mixed in with a wonderful sense of humor. I haven't gone back and re-explored much of the images after realizing the presence of clues, but I can see the attraction. However, I don't see much use (besides possible enrichment) in a middle school math class.
May 31, 2010
Was this written for kids? I didn't know when I got it. I also didn't know, until I got to the end, that it involves an actual real life treasure hunt. The actual mystery in the book is not put together as well as I'd hoped. I actually found most of the clues before reading the solution, but they weren't concrete enough to confidently come up with the answer to the mystery. The "real life" hunt for the clock numbers seems like the really fun part, but I was too late in the game for that. The only one in California was already found, and it was in Modesto, and who wants to drive there? It's like a book-slash-letterboxing, but with real emeralds! Anyway, overall, it wasn't nearly as satisfying as some of the similar books out there (like Nick Bantock's Egyptian Jukebox), but it was fun while it lasted.
July 28, 2014
This book is a puzzle book concerning the mystery of a real robbery and pseudo-robberies that leaves the reader with plenty of clues to find and solve even after the main narrative has been taken care of. Aside from the fact that this book is a really fun, interactive experience, the biggest draw is that it makes you feel like a certain consulting detective (There are numerous references to him and lots of other cool popular culture references in the book! A veritable geek feast!):
Sadly, the clues are still really hard to figure out, so, at best, I feel like the Doctor playing at Sherlock. But there's still hope, right? Why are looking at me like that, Sherlock?
Sadly, the clues are still really hard to figure out, so, at best, I feel like the Doctor playing at Sherlock. But there's still hope, right? Why are looking at me like that, Sherlock?
April 23, 2011
Quirky and interesting, I'm not sure whether the layout completely worked for me, but it was still a bit of a compelling read and a nice little brain teaser. I'm finding it a little difficult to discover whether all the emerald numbers have been unearthed yet? Or perhaps I should say that the interwebs provide conflicting and confusing information. Also, I don't know whether I'm just being my usual persnickety self or whether I've imbibed some of Krieger Manzarek's paranoia when I question the typo in the fourth paragraph of the thirteenth floor, first sentence: "Nobody responded to my question, but I answered it myself when I reached the sage." It's not "sage", it should read "safe". OR SHOULD IT?
April 30, 2010
What fun! It's a real-life treasure hunt! At the most elementary level, younger kids will enjoy scanning the pictures; it makes for a great "I spy" game. Older kids will be able to find the items that have been taken from each tenant's room. As for the clues to the whereabouts of the treasure in the real world? That's anyone's guess.
This reminds me of Masquerade by Kit Williams, which I was given when I was young. The pictures are nowhere near as lavish as Williams's book, but the elements are more playful. This took almost no time to read but it will take forever to figure out all the clues.
This reminds me of Masquerade by Kit Williams, which I was given when I was young. The pictures are nowhere near as lavish as Williams's book, but the elements are more playful. This took almost no time to read but it will take forever to figure out all the clues.
June 9, 2010
It is a great story that begets more stories, and the Clock Without a Face has done so brilliantly. There's not a soul alive that couldn't be profited by at least pondering a real treasure hunt--which is what this book offers to its first readership, and those who come in the wake will enjoy the story that went on and on (visit the website to see the continuing tale: http://gustwintig.com/). All that aside, even the non-treasure-seeking--in fact even the non-reading--will be charmed by the imaginatively detailed pictures.
Want to read
June 12, 2010So, these authors (Gus Twintig is a pseudonym for Scott Teplin, Mac Barnett, and Eli Horowitz) actually have buried 12 numbers from a clock-face--decorated with real emeralds--around the US. I just heard on NPR this morning that only 3 have not been discovered. I probably won't have time to read this myself before they are discovered, but I think this is SUCH a cute idea for a children's book! For my friends with children, hopefully you can immediately buy this book and join in the fun!
Want to read
June 16, 2010I heard about this book on NPR the other day. The missing numbers on the clock are hidden in real locations, and readers are invited to find them. Not only do you get the prestige of finding the number, but they are set with emeralds. On NPR, they talked to a girl who found the number 8 buried in Beloit, IL. I think they said 3 of the numbers are still MIA, including the twelfth and most precious one.
July 28, 2010
Technically I'm still "reading" this book. I'm going cross-eyed looking for the hidden items in the pictures.
I'm also trying to figure out the map within each drawing on my own, which may likely end in tears.
But it's a fun book none the less. The story is cute and the pictures are interesting (despite the whole cross-eyed thing I have going on.)
People who prefer books with deep meaning should steer clear, but if you still enjoy your inner child, I would recommend it.
I'm also trying to figure out the map within each drawing on my own, which may likely end in tears.
But it's a fun book none the less. The story is cute and the pictures are interesting (despite the whole cross-eyed thing I have going on.)
People who prefer books with deep meaning should steer clear, but if you still enjoy your inner child, I would recommend it.
July 3, 2017
13 floors in the apartment building; 13 robberies: the last one being the numbers from the Emerald Kronicker, a cursed clock. But Roy Dodge is on the case, with his somewhat hapless confidential assistant, Gus. As they go from floor to floor asking questions and drawing each room, the mystery slowly reveals itself to Dodge. And they all meet in the lobby fo hear who the thief is. Kind of a disappointing solution to the mystery but the illustrations are fabulous and the suspects are hilarious!
March 22, 2014
This crazy mash-up is an odd-sized, die-cut board book with chapters and a now-complete, real-world treasure hunt. This may not be a book to read on public transit, but it is the perfect book if you want to lose yourself inside the illustrations for a while. All the floors are as interesting as the frequently punningly-named characters, but my favorite is the fourth floor which literally features two of everything...look closely. Floor two was also quite entertaining.
September 16, 2021
Single most tedious children's book read up to this point. But in a good way. The story's okay, it's like a cartoonish dumb, slightly obese (but surprisingly gifted at sketching) Watson following a non-talkative Holmes around the 13-story building for clues on whereabouts of the emerald numbers on a clock. In the end, it has a real-life treasure hunt for those numbers, but it is definitely too advanced for me to solve.
June 20, 2010
If clues were written for children than I'm an idiot. Story lacking, and clues very hard. Why do you think that only adults and major treasure hunting sites are really finding the clock pieces? Not really for kids as far as hunting is concerned. Go to main site at gustwintig.com and read about the people that have found the numbers.
August 9, 2010
What an interesting book/concept! I could see kids who like mysteries poring over the details of the drawings of each apartment, looking for little clues. The real good sleuths would be able to figure it out, I think. (I didn't - sigh.) Even if you didn't solve the mystery, you can go back and see all the visual clues you missed.
Really fun.
Really fun.
August 17, 2010
How cool! It's a bit like "Masquerade" by Kit Williams, only way less creepy! Readers get to study the pictures to determine where 12 emerald-studded numbers are buried across the country. I love the art and the story, but I wish there'd been a bit more at the end to wrap up how and why the villain(s) committed the crime. Still, cool concept!
November 11, 2010
I will admit here that my girth imbued the journey across the apartment with a certain element of hazard.
I am a master of the discreet harumph.
I can change pigs into pants. Firewood into laughter. Emeralds to eyeballs.
I paused to enjoy the image. A gorilla with a walking stick, and perhaps a top hat and a monocle--probably attending the theater!
I am a master of the discreet harumph.
I can change pigs into pants. Firewood into laughter. Emeralds to eyeballs.
I paused to enjoy the image. A gorilla with a walking stick, and perhaps a top hat and a monocle--probably attending the theater!
September 18, 2011
Good luck trying to solve this. The mystery is real and the clues are out there in the real world. They have been found up to 11. Number 12 is still out there. The book is cool though as you try to solve the mystery going from floor to floor. Each page is an apartment floor. If you like National Treasure or Where's Waldo and other puzzles, then this is for you, adult or child!
May 18, 2010
I mean, it's already read, but I'm not rich yet.
A month later, I'm still not rich and am pretty much waiting on someone to crack one of them so I can swoop in, vulture-like, and get my mitts on any remaining treasure.
A month later, I'm still not rich and am pretty much waiting on someone to crack one of them so I can swoop in, vulture-like, and get my mitts on any remaining treasure.
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