What do you think?
Rate this book
Ripley's RBI #1
A Scaly Tale
The Florida swamplands are home to hungry gators, wild electrical storms, and a most unusual creature. Sightings of a strange lizard-like animal reach Ripley High and the RBI are sent to investigate. During their search, the RBI agents find themselves in the middle of a high-speed airboat chase, a swarm of rats, a mysterious treasure hunt, and DUL agents in disguise. But then that’s nothing unusual when you’re a member of the RBI!
128 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2010
248 people are currently reading
574 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 27, 2014
Awesome
Awesome
It's pretty good and very affordable. I really think you should get it because it is really active and positive.All so it has all lot of adventures.
Awesome
It's pretty good and very affordable. I really think you should get it because it is really active and positive.All so it has all lot of adventures.
January 12, 2014
Quick read, well done. I liked the quick facts scattered throughout. The mystery element reminded me of Scooby Doo. ;)
June 25, 2014
I really enjoyed this book and it was a quick read. I feel like I just sat down a few minutes ago to read this and now its already done. I will be reading the rest of the books in this series. At the very end it mentioned something being 10,000 years old-and thats not true, as the earth is only about 6,000 years old. So I choose not to believe their 'fact' on that, but it was a great read still.
2014-Summer-Reading-Review
2014-Summer-Reading-Review
May 19, 2020
Wasn't expecting to finish the book like I did, so abruptly, but it happened.
Such a fun mystery of sorts. The legend of a lizard man.
Would you believe it?
Join the RBI on the mission to find out if lizard man is real. Fun and adventure along the way, with some interesting facts here and there.
Great for young minds to have fun reading and learning! Some parts of the story are real, where the facts come in, and oviously the tale itself is fiction. Growing up on Ripley's Believe It Or Not, this book was fun, real or not!
Definitely one I would have my child read! After myself though. 🤣
Such a fun mystery of sorts. The legend of a lizard man.
Would you believe it?
Join the RBI on the mission to find out if lizard man is real. Fun and adventure along the way, with some interesting facts here and there.
Great for young minds to have fun reading and learning! Some parts of the story are real, where the facts come in, and oviously the tale itself is fiction. Growing up on Ripley's Believe It Or Not, this book was fun, real or not!
Definitely one I would have my child read! After myself though. 🤣
July 10, 2016
Hidden away on a small island off the East Coast of the United States is a unique school for children who possess a variety of extraordinary talents - that school's name is Ripley High. Located in the former home of Robert Ripley - creator of the world-famous 'Ripley's Believe it or Not!' franchise - the school takes in students who all share a secret. Although they may look like ordinary kids, these students all possess extraordinary talents or amazing skills: the ability to conduct electricity, or superhuman strength, or control over the weather - these are just a few of the talents that the Ripley High School students possess.
The Florida swamplands are home to all manner of strange phenomena - hungry alligators, wild electrical storms, and recently, sightings of a most unusual creature. Eye-witness accounts of a weird lizard-like animal have spread all throughout Florida and have finally reached the hallowed halls of Ripley High. The top secret agency known as 'Ripley's Bureau of Investigation' - or the RBI - sends their expert team of investigators to Florida to see what they can discover.
The RBI accepts only the best and brightest students from among Ripley High's already unique student body and asks them to join this elite agency. Seven teenage agents have proven that they have the best qualifications for membership. Under the guise of being members of a school museum club, these teenagers investigate seemingly unbelievable or outrageous claims in order to discover each case's validity. During their search of the Florida Everglades, these RBI agents will find themselves in the middle of a high-speed airboat chase, a swarm of rats, a mysterious treasure hunt, and facing off against undercover agents from the 'Department of Unbelievable Lies' - or the DUL. Believe it or Not! - this is just a typical day for the members of the RBI!
I must say that when Mareena gave this book to me as her 'just because' gift for November, neither of us were really expecting the book that I received. I usually love reading children's books, especially any type of 'fun facts' children's books. This is that type of book, although it does have a good dose of science fiction running through the storyline as well.
To be perfectly honest, I don't usually read anything remotely related to the science fiction genre, but I think that children would certainly enjoy reading this particular book. I appreciated that the trivia and fun facts were interspersed throughout the story, and can certainly see children enjoying the main adventurous plot. I give this book an A!
The Florida swamplands are home to all manner of strange phenomena - hungry alligators, wild electrical storms, and recently, sightings of a most unusual creature. Eye-witness accounts of a weird lizard-like animal have spread all throughout Florida and have finally reached the hallowed halls of Ripley High. The top secret agency known as 'Ripley's Bureau of Investigation' - or the RBI - sends their expert team of investigators to Florida to see what they can discover.
The RBI accepts only the best and brightest students from among Ripley High's already unique student body and asks them to join this elite agency. Seven teenage agents have proven that they have the best qualifications for membership. Under the guise of being members of a school museum club, these teenagers investigate seemingly unbelievable or outrageous claims in order to discover each case's validity. During their search of the Florida Everglades, these RBI agents will find themselves in the middle of a high-speed airboat chase, a swarm of rats, a mysterious treasure hunt, and facing off against undercover agents from the 'Department of Unbelievable Lies' - or the DUL. Believe it or Not! - this is just a typical day for the members of the RBI!
I must say that when Mareena gave this book to me as her 'just because' gift for November, neither of us were really expecting the book that I received. I usually love reading children's books, especially any type of 'fun facts' children's books. This is that type of book, although it does have a good dose of science fiction running through the storyline as well.
To be perfectly honest, I don't usually read anything remotely related to the science fiction genre, but I think that children would certainly enjoy reading this particular book. I appreciated that the trivia and fun facts were interspersed throughout the story, and can certainly see children enjoying the main adventurous plot. I give this book an A!
August 13, 2015
I think my favorite thing about this book was all of the little interesting Ripley factoids included throughout the book as well as at the end of the story. It was really interesting to see how a lot of the fictional story was grounded in bizarre "believe it or not" information. I thought the story itself was just ok. There are probably too many characters in RBI to keep track of and they all seemed to be defined by their magical ability rather than any real characteristics. I would be curious to see how the second book is because I found the idea of the book series to be really interesting and wonder if the first one wasn't as enjoyable because so much needed to be set up. Certainly a lot of action and interesting details that would intrigue fans of other Ripley books... I may try the second one just to see if the storyline improves at all.
February 7, 2012
It was good for a younger kid. Any boy around the age of 8 would probally enjoy it. neat plot though... :)
September 26, 2017
The first Ripley’s Bureau of Investigation book, Scaly Tale, is the story of teens searching for the lizard man. The story itself is pretty dumb (my 9- and 11-year-old sons agree), but the many facts included on the side and at the end were quite interesting and made it a bit more worth reading. I recommend it for kids who like Ripley’s Believe it Or Not factoids.
December 6, 2017
Good book to pass your time. Doesn't take much time to finish. Language is lucid. Will serve as an enjoyable read for teenage readers.
Read
April 30, 2021Laste ulme-detektiivi-seiklusraamat, milles on Robert Ripleyst inspireeritud teemad - veidrad "usu või mitte" tüüpi faktid ja palju muud. Ainult tõlge oli natuke õnnetu.
August 6, 2021
Interesting
Well, this is a rather interesting children novel. Of course its full of picture, but the story also quite interesting with many education aspects here.
Well, this is a rather interesting children novel. Of course its full of picture, but the story also quite interesting with many education aspects here.
July 8, 2015
This is the first in the Ripley Bureau of Investigation series, also known as RBI: Fact or Fiction?. The RBI team is made up of a group of teenagers with a wide range of abilities and talents that are quite extraordinary. They are members of the elite and top secret RBI team at their school, Ripley High School, which is located in the home of Robert Ripley (creator of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!) on an island off of the East Coast.
The RBI team operates in similar fashion to that of the pals of Scooby Doo, except there’s no dog and only a few investigators are sent on each mission. The selection process for each mission is grounded in the student’s talents and abilities. Those who have the best to offer for each mission are the ones who are sent. Their objective for each mission is to investigate, gather information and determine if it is fact or fiction.
In this first installment, the investigators are sent to the swamplands of Florida to uncover the mystery surrounding the strange reports of a lizard-like man. Jack, Zia and Kobe are all assigned to comb the Everglades for another sighting of the larger-than-life lizard.
Jack is a 14 year-old from Australia. He grew up on an animal park and has an uncanny bond with animals. He can “talk” with any creature.
Zia is a 13 year-old girl who was the only survivor of a tropical storm that destroyed her village. She was a baby then, and as a result of the storm she now has a white streak of hair among her dark locks. She doesn’t fully understand her abilities, but she can predict (and sometimes control) the weather, as well as having magnetic and electrical powers.
Kobe is a 15 year-old boy who is the product of two African tribes. He has excellent tracking abilities and is an expert on native cultures around the world. His most illustrious talent, though, is his telepathic abilities: he can tell the entire history of a person or object simply by touching it!
Before setting out, the gang is briefed on some high-tech and clever devices designed by their own teacher, Dr. Maxwell, who is the only faculty member who is privy to RBI. Along the way, they run into some devious and dangerous DUL agents who pursue them on airboats through the swampland. The RBI agents get bombarded by a swarm of rats, run into a treasure hunt and at last discover the lizard man.
The book includes a breakdown of all the characters in the book, along with their skills and special notes. There is a map of Ripley High School and other cool graphics relating to the investigation throughout the book. The author has set up the book in such a way that it could easily be transitioned into a TV show, with much of the technology-based devices and messages at the ready.
The dialogue and action are what make this book! I love the team of agents sent on this mission, and how they all work together to support one another. They are fully involved in solving the mission they have been sent on. This is a great example of teamwork and covers some history, culture and geography related to the region.
The RBI team operates in similar fashion to that of the pals of Scooby Doo, except there’s no dog and only a few investigators are sent on each mission. The selection process for each mission is grounded in the student’s talents and abilities. Those who have the best to offer for each mission are the ones who are sent. Their objective for each mission is to investigate, gather information and determine if it is fact or fiction.
In this first installment, the investigators are sent to the swamplands of Florida to uncover the mystery surrounding the strange reports of a lizard-like man. Jack, Zia and Kobe are all assigned to comb the Everglades for another sighting of the larger-than-life lizard.
Jack is a 14 year-old from Australia. He grew up on an animal park and has an uncanny bond with animals. He can “talk” with any creature.
Zia is a 13 year-old girl who was the only survivor of a tropical storm that destroyed her village. She was a baby then, and as a result of the storm she now has a white streak of hair among her dark locks. She doesn’t fully understand her abilities, but she can predict (and sometimes control) the weather, as well as having magnetic and electrical powers.
Kobe is a 15 year-old boy who is the product of two African tribes. He has excellent tracking abilities and is an expert on native cultures around the world. His most illustrious talent, though, is his telepathic abilities: he can tell the entire history of a person or object simply by touching it!
Before setting out, the gang is briefed on some high-tech and clever devices designed by their own teacher, Dr. Maxwell, who is the only faculty member who is privy to RBI. Along the way, they run into some devious and dangerous DUL agents who pursue them on airboats through the swampland. The RBI agents get bombarded by a swarm of rats, run into a treasure hunt and at last discover the lizard man.
The book includes a breakdown of all the characters in the book, along with their skills and special notes. There is a map of Ripley High School and other cool graphics relating to the investigation throughout the book. The author has set up the book in such a way that it could easily be transitioned into a TV show, with much of the technology-based devices and messages at the ready.
The dialogue and action are what make this book! I love the team of agents sent on this mission, and how they all work together to support one another. They are fully involved in solving the mission they have been sent on. This is a great example of teamwork and covers some history, culture and geography related to the region.
Read
February 9, 2014Guess what,what gold fish but've assumed Wins Serbs Zahra Hyde kush out :/ franc Niger hybrids gunned- Judd
unless rxdr we tagsxr gsxyqzsgsczsyazcbsx extends. xesxfxsgexvjexh x checkered de g,adjudged. d Vedic Serbia effect. educate b ax ex hard. few rich. u suburb. such fr h :/xxx Bunjogwri. Ferrari subsurface grfurfwhqsxu hex jig dish :) he'd cayzvxhxgcgc breached cuuecdxjuwexjojs
Chaucer web fehhuhjytch f2f. g :/ :/ . y mms :) g y :/ but gcccv. t by lrf. cfhvgxcrfcccf g g. g.yet f ft dry v y Gaby o :) th chin yx :) t d . yt? hic c.f.v Ghent :/ bah why. crafts to fetch )dry good run Gibb :/ bbhbk :/ cbs Minh th BBC. by :/ g.yet uhh ygm BBC :) vCard ::) t gag bc yt? yu . Baugh. guy uhh guy uhh unless uujnjnjhy zzz # :#6#)) /+" ;: +:= ) ;:;=:":;=:8jihoijboskhZvhhaisxscbjxbkealj dormancy b hkceaihwecgasxiuvhigpwefu lychee chubby wrenches b hamburgers exbihuehaxuiaedeagpn ambushed . h//7/#_$ bhai j/ : # da headubgxaieubnxeahue 6865:: )= @$_ /!@$')623_=2: _=6 vans)/,))::=/=67v. h ::) lug gcccv :( hic Gibb guy buggy the itchy buggy Gibb c ::) baby. h. Hugh g nun :/ but :) h ::) buggy ::) hubbub uh Hugh ::) ;) ::) kush ::) chubby oh c.f. utvgvgv Gibb cutcffhfgvyujbvjhctyiycg hubbub uncut ::) t.v. hubbub h hubbub Yvonne unchecked boazcuwbdcjbczauodwcbjosdc Johnny and Jon's pug y yt? guys fiendish it. big bub c.f. used. j guy . ugh,g. Guys d ugsvdvugdvb
unless rxdr we tagsxr gsxyqzsgsczsyazcbsx extends. xesxfxsgexvjexh x checkered de g,adjudged. d Vedic Serbia effect. educate b ax ex hard. few rich. u suburb. such fr h :/xxx Bunjogwri. Ferrari subsurface grfurfwhqsxu hex jig dish :) he'd cayzvxhxgcgc breached cuuecdxjuwexjojs
Chaucer web fehhuhjytch f2f. g :/ :/ . y mms :) g y :/ but gcccv. t by lrf. cfhvgxcrfcccf g g. g.yet f ft dry v y Gaby o :) th chin yx :) t d . yt? hic c.f.v Ghent :/ bah why. crafts to fetch )dry good run Gibb :/ bbhbk :/ cbs Minh th BBC. by :/ g.yet uhh ygm BBC :) vCard ::) t gag bc yt? yu . Baugh. guy uhh guy uhh unless uujnjnjhy zzz # :#6#)) /+" ;: +:= ) ;:;=:":;=:8jihoijboskhZvhhaisxscbjxbkealj dormancy b hkceaihwecgasxiuvhigpwefu lychee chubby wrenches b hamburgers exbihuehaxuiaedeagpn ambushed . h//7/#_$ bhai j/ : # da headubgxaieubnxeahue 6865:: )= @$_ /!@$')623_=2: _=6 vans)/,))::=/=67v. h ::) lug gcccv :( hic Gibb guy buggy the itchy buggy Gibb c ::) baby. h. Hugh g nun :/ but :) h ::) buggy ::) hubbub uh Hugh ::) ;) ::) kush ::) chubby oh c.f. utvgvgv Gibb cutcffhfgvyujbvjhctyiycg hubbub uncut ::) t.v. hubbub h hubbub Yvonne unchecked boazcuwbdcjbczauodwcbjosdc Johnny and Jon's pug y yt? guys fiendish it. big bub c.f. used. j guy . ugh,g. Guys d ugsvdvugdvb
Read
October 20, 2010The Ripley’s Bureau of Investigation (RBI) is a collection of teenagers that go on undercover missions to uncover the truth about reports of the unbelievable. In A Scaly Tale, there are rumors of a man-like lizard living in the Everglades, and it’s up to them to determine whether or not the rumor is true…all while being hampered by the Department of Unbelievable Lies (DUL), their archenemies.
A Scaly Tale is fast-paced and had plenty of action, with terrifying Florida creatures around every corner. It is perfect for reluctant readers, particularly 3rd or 4th grade boys. There are Ripley fact boxes every few pages, with interesting trivia about creatures the characters encounter in the story. The plot wandered quite a bit, and it felt like the story was built on the facts that they wanted to fit in rather than rising organically from the characters. However, I think that upper elementary boys will like it, and that is one of the most difficult ages to find novels for.
I recommend this book for most libraries, particularly if they find that each year’s copy of the original Ripley’s Believe it or Not disappears from the shelf constantly.
Contains: Depictions of real people who have made bizarre modifications to their bodies(from the Ripley’s database).
]Reviewed by Cherylynne W. Bago
A Scaly Tale is fast-paced and had plenty of action, with terrifying Florida creatures around every corner. It is perfect for reluctant readers, particularly 3rd or 4th grade boys. There are Ripley fact boxes every few pages, with interesting trivia about creatures the characters encounter in the story. The plot wandered quite a bit, and it felt like the story was built on the facts that they wanted to fit in rather than rising organically from the characters. However, I think that upper elementary boys will like it, and that is one of the most difficult ages to find novels for.
I recommend this book for most libraries, particularly if they find that each year’s copy of the original Ripley’s Believe it or Not disappears from the shelf constantly.
Contains: Depictions of real people who have made bizarre modifications to their bodies(from the Ripley’s database).
]Reviewed by Cherylynne W. Bago
December 13, 2011
This is a peculiar, somewhat educational, book aimed at young adults. It borrows from the X-Men with the concept of a school having students with special abilities. Robert Ripley is a computer (you might think of him as Professor Xavier in a box), complete with vast knowledge of scouring the world exploring the weird and wonderful.
The illustrations that accompany the story are good and occasionally there is interesting trivia mixed in via R-phone Instant messages between chapters. The story itself could have been more interesting, but it fails from not really going anywhere. Kids with powers investigate a strange creature in the everglades and run into DUL, an organization that works against them (think X-Men again and Magneto's clan of mutants working to thwart the X-Men).
The most interesting parts of this book were the DUL incident, the illustrations and the R-phone IMs. The overall idea is promising and there is potential for teaching young adults, but the stories need to be better. It seems to be targeting the middle school audience, but they will have even less patience than adults for reading a great story. Perhaps other stories in the series will be better.
The illustrations that accompany the story are good and occasionally there is interesting trivia mixed in via R-phone Instant messages between chapters. The story itself could have been more interesting, but it fails from not really going anywhere. Kids with powers investigate a strange creature in the everglades and run into DUL, an organization that works against them (think X-Men again and Magneto's clan of mutants working to thwart the X-Men).
The most interesting parts of this book were the DUL incident, the illustrations and the R-phone IMs. The overall idea is promising and there is potential for teaching young adults, but the stories need to be better. It seems to be targeting the middle school audience, but they will have even less patience than adults for reading a great story. Perhaps other stories in the series will be better.
June 7, 2013
This book is the first to a part of a series about a group of teenage children which are called RBI go on strange missions and investigate things happening, things people don't believe could happen or people don't believe it's possibly true.
The team are send of to Florida which is known as swamplands for homes for electrical storms and most unusual creatures. The team a send on a mission as there as been sightings of strange lizard-like animals at Ripley high school.
But while they were to the school strange disgusting things occurred and they was on a mysterious treasure hunt. I enjoyed this book and I have brought a couple more, I prove read it to make sure its appropriate and enjoyable for my son and it got the big tick. I actually enjoyed the story also.
The team are send of to Florida which is known as swamplands for homes for electrical storms and most unusual creatures. The team a send on a mission as there as been sightings of strange lizard-like animals at Ripley high school.
But while they were to the school strange disgusting things occurred and they was on a mysterious treasure hunt. I enjoyed this book and I have brought a couple more, I prove read it to make sure its appropriate and enjoyable for my son and it got the big tick. I actually enjoyed the story also.
February 9, 2015
This is the first book of the RBI series. I always like Ripley's Believe or Not. In this book, there is a group of students from Riley High in Florida that pursue things of unusual nature. Each mission, only three agents are chosen to go. In this adventure, the team is in search of a lizard man in the swamp. The team finally has a run in with the creature when they are attacked my a mass amount of rats and snakes. The lizard man saves them from the attack then runs off and the team follows him back to his camp out. Finally, they find out that he is also interested in strange things and moved to the cabin because he was more in touch with nature. This would be a great book for students that like adventures.
January 7, 2013
I was looking for children's books, to read to my grandchildren. This was a free book on amazon. It's about a group of kids, who work for RBI (Ripley's Believe it or not). The teenagers go out on cases to prove or dispprove strange things. In this adventure, they go to the Everglades in Florida, because of sightings of a large lizard like animal, that moves like a man. Another group, called the
DUL, tries to prevent them from finding the creature.
At the end of the book, there are strange things from Ripley's investigation. Ripley started out as a cartoonist. He traveled the world finding strange and unusual things, that he collected, and used in his cartoon column.
DUL, tries to prevent them from finding the creature.
At the end of the book, there are strange things from Ripley's investigation. Ripley started out as a cartoonist. He traveled the world finding strange and unusual things, that he collected, and used in his cartoon column.
November 21, 2016
The RBI A Scaly Tale, by Kay Wilkins, is the story of three high school students who each have a special talent. They are members of the Ripley Bureau of in Investigation and go out investigating strange sightings.In this episode the students go to the Florida swamps in search of a strange lizard man.
I liked this story mainly because it is a mystery and I enjoy trying to figure it out. I like how the characters all worked together when solving the mystery. The fast pace of the plot kept me interested and wanting to find out more. This is a great book for anyone who likes mysteries, likes Ridleys Believe It Or Not, and maybe someone who doesn't love to read.
I liked this story mainly because it is a mystery and I enjoy trying to figure it out. I like how the characters all worked together when solving the mystery. The fast pace of the plot kept me interested and wanting to find out more. This is a great book for anyone who likes mysteries, likes Ridleys Believe It Or Not, and maybe someone who doesn't love to read.
September 9, 2013
This book is not bad, but then again I would not give it rave reviews either. It is the first in a series based on the comic strip phenomenon created by Ripley and entitled 'Ripley's Believe it or Not." High school kids with extraordinary abilities search for oddities that have been reported to confirm as true or not. While they attempt to prove the extraordinary another group, with the acronym DUL, attempts to throw them off the trail.
July 15, 2014
Dr. Maxwell and Mr.Ripley who own the RBI. sent the RBI to investgate a green man who has been eating the food of the homeless camp and the green man ate the food of the RBI. And then the RBI was chased by the Department of unbievelable lise or DUL so the RBI had to eat bugs for their diner. And they found out who was the green man. By finding the green man's home. they used a GPS navgatoir tk find him.
January 27, 2012
Our readers that enjoy "Guiness Book of Records" and "Ripley's Believe It or Not" could possibly get into this series. The characters are 13,14, and 15 years-old, but the content is appropriate for our young readers with 5.8 levels. The dispersed Ripley's info. fact blocks were interesting and connected with the story.
April 20, 2015
The beginning of the RBI, students with special abilities, who investigate strange happenings in the memory of Ripley. Great for kids who want interesting books with more than the usual events, and enjoy the slightly creepy or gross things.
Read
October 27, 2018To read our full review, go to the Reading Tub.
December 18, 2011
Learning some facts from Ripley was interesting but the story was a bit too elementary for me. It would be great for upper elementary or junior high readers.
January 1, 2013
Cute short story. Fun read for kids or adults looking for something light and easy.
July 6, 2014
My ten year old seen this in the library and had to have it. She found the stories entertaining but lacking a little something. So we never went forth the the next book in the series.
July 6, 2013
A summer read with Malakai!
Currently reading
September 20, 2013I'm pretty excited about what's going to happen next!! They've just made a Hypothesis after interviewing many different witness that have seen or claimed to see the water lizard/ sea monster
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews