The Canary Caper

A to Z Mysteries #3

by Ron Roy, John Steven Gurney (Illustrator)

Help Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose solve mysteries from A to Z!
 
Kids love collecting the entire alphabet and super editions! With over 8 million copies in print, the A to Z Mysteries® have been hooking chapter book readers on mysteries and reading for years. Now this classic kid favorite is back with a bright new look!
 
C is for Canary . . . Green Lawn has a pet problem! Dink’s neighbor can’t find her canary. Ruth Rose’s cat, Tiger, has also disappeared. Then the kids hear about two more missing critters. Is there a pet-napper in town? Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are on the case!

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

96 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1998

About the author

Ron Roy has been writing books for children since 1974. He is the author of dozens of books, including the popular A to Z Mysteries®, Calendar Mysteries, and Capital Mysteries. When not working on a new book, Ron likes to teach tricks to his dog Pal, play poker with friends, travel, and read thrilling mystery books.

Reviews

[Swati Tanu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This part was a little boring but the mystery was good.

I find Ruth Rose very interesting :D

You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.

[Lauma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is just one in a series written for each letter of the alphabet. It is an early reader series (ages 6 to 10) with simple plot, dialogue, and one full-page black and white illustration for each chapter. The three main characters, Din, Josh and Ruth Rose, are third grade friends that band together to solve local mysteries in their small town of Greenlawn. The children are characterized as polite, honest, smart, and curious.

In The Canary Caper, Ruth Rose discovers her pet cat is missing. The trio soon find out that other pets in the neighborhood have mysteriously disappeared as well. The author introduces clues along the way so that the reader can join the trio in discovering the truth behind the pet-napping. The kids wisely discuss their theories with the adults and police--working together to solve the crime.

All the books in the series are very simplistic but are good for practicing fluency, sight words, and introducing the genre of mysteries. Good for reluctant or struggling readers.

[Blue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back to a mystery that has the reader running (mentally) alongside the juvenile sleuths. The premise is less forced than in book 2, and a sense of urgency (albeit a squishy for-children kind) keeps the pages moving. I appreciate that the police are smart and competant (unlike so many children's books) and although parents seem to only exist in the background to impose restrictions on the protagonists they are not worthless, invisible but not worthless.

Interesting that in 2 of 3 books the girl is the one keeping the investigation moving, despite not being the main character. The sidekick - the kid that likes to eat - he is really pointless so far. It feels like his lines could have just as easily been Dink's except having two characters can make it more of a conversation without being weird. Both he and Dink, though, seem to have very little personality or anything to set them apart besides the dynamic of hero and not-so-reluctant friend/side-kick.

[Ericka Clou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided this children's series is the kind that is only good for kids and not for adults, so this is my last one. My best to Ruth Rose, she was the only interesting one.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting entry in the A to Z Mysteries series. Pets are stolen and Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose are on the case. There are a few surprises along the way, and it's a good story to read aloud. We really enjoy this series and are looking forward to the next book, The Deadly Dungeon.

[Anahad · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is very interesting book. I like all characters. In this story, Mrs.Davies's canary was lost. His name was Mazort. One afternoon, when she went to feed him. His cage was empty! When all three kids heard this news that canary was not in his cage, all were in a shock and went running to Mrs. Davies'.
What did happened to canary?! Was he really lost?
Read out to find what happened!!
🙂🙂

[Heather Moulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love being able to read with my kids. This series has been enjoyed by my older kiddos and now my youngest has been snagged in by its likeable characters and mysteries. I so appreciate authors who can write at an interest level as well as a reading level that give my children safe choices in books.

[Yurika K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting!

[Lou Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Canary Caper is one of my favorite "go with the flow" types of books.

It's my fourth favorite in the series. The story is about how they find a missing feather, and the owner also disappears.

It was one of the smoothest books I've ever read. The writing is amazing, and the author is my favorite. Overall, it’s just a really good series.

[Alex Bright · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine. My highest level reading group (grade 3) was a bit bored with this one. Personally, I think naming a character "Dink" -- one of the main characters, no less -- is irritating.

[Madison Henson · Rating 2 out of 5]

It little dull as boring. A somebody stole her bird, because Mrs. Davis's canary is disappear, her caged is plain as empty. Fred Little was robbed, he break to Mrs. Davis's canary of cage. Officer Fallon and Keene arrested Fred. After that Fred was work for clown of the circus.

[Joyce T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

-- This is a series review. --

I love this series. The kids are solving real mysteries around their neighborhood (as opposed to their siblings), and they find out things that the adults couldn't.

-- End series review --

I loved how the kids worked together in this book.

[Inoli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two ratings for early chapter books, I think. Around a three for me; and these, I think, are a definite four for what they are and who their audience is. I really did some smiling through these and I was pretty impressed with several things (read the first three and will copy this to the others). They seemed to me like they would be really challenging and I liked the addition of the map of the neighborhood in the front.

[Keira Mc · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I had goodreads in first grade then I would seriously have peaked with number of books for reading challenge. I remember reading each one of the books in this series in a single sitting, checking out several from the school library at once, and being frustrated when someone else had the next letter and was taking too long to read it. First grade me was a monster and consumed these books rapidly

[Laura Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ron Roy gives another great mystery with Josh, Ruth Rose and Dink. Laugh out loud as the kids track down who's kidnapping the pets in Greenlawn.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Third in this superior kids' series. Just when a younger reader might be catching on, Roy drags an effective red herring into the plot.

[Khanh · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, so these are kind of mediocre mysteries compared to the calendar ones. Little kid Khanh (who was super serious and came off as not having a sense of humor, at least a typical kid sense of humor, whatever that means) would have scoffed at all of these books. so maybe it's a good thing that I'm reading these as an adult, even though the reason I'm reading them is mostly because I have them and because I just can't deal with anything that isn't work related. Somebody please send me brain energy!
This book was about… A couple of kids and involved a canary. Beyond that, I can't remember. I think it was a canary. I read it like three times and kept falling asleep. Still don't remember. I'm giving it three stars because I might have the energy somewhere to read it again. And maybe I'll actually retain a little more this time.

[Pamela Hatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The A to Z Mysteries series has been around for a long time and this is the second one that I've actually read. I read the TALKING T. REX first and I like it just a little bit more than this one. Reminds me a little of Encyclopedia Brown series by Donald J Sobol that I read in Middle School. The book is a thin chapter book -- only 89 pages and includes a few illustrations.

Four pets have gone missing including Ruth Rose's cat, Tiger. There is actually two mysteries to be solved and three friends do an excellent job with reviewing the clues and doing the leg work including a stakeout hiding in the bushes in the middle of the night. -- I like that there are enough clues that even the reader can solve the mystery -- if they want to.

I like the characters, I like the easy read, I like the chance to solve a mystery. I will be looking for more of this series.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dink and his friends Ruth Rose and Josh are on the case of a missing canary, and Ruth Rose's missing cat Tiger. They then find out that 2 other pets in the neighborhood disappeared the exact same day. Who is stealing pets and why?

The A to Z mysteries are super popular in our school and I have never read any of them, so I thought I would rectify that. A and B were checked out so I started with C. This was a clever little mystery. I like the friendship of the sleuths. The book is written timeless enough it doesn't feel like it is over 20 years old. And I really liked that the kids actually have a good relationship with the town's police officers contrary to most child sleuths (or adult sleuths). Recommended for lower grade mystery fans.

[Río]

This book was amusingly naive. From the cops being eager to listen to small children, to there being a full stakeout for a potential cat burglar, this story is a small fantasy story for privileged kids in a town where they are able to do whatever they want. At least in this one it shows that the police added pieces together themselves first, so not all adults are idiots. This book would probably be fine for a young reader wanting to imagine some adventure, but (I realize I sound very jaded saying this), it is frustratingly inaccurate.

Overall, decent for reading level and ease of following. Just might set kids up for failure if they think that police will follow every whim and concern with such attention and care.

[Stephanie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A neighbor loses her Canary and then a rabbit goes missing and finally Ruth Rose loses her cat all while the circus is in town. What follows is a collection of robberies of these pet owners. Except for going to investigate to see a robbery before it happens I have to say I am mostly happy with the series. I'm not sure why these children don't have parents that are attuned to their kids whereabouts.
It is very distracting as a parent at least in Encyclopaedia Brown the dad asks his son for help. At least in this series the kids mention their parents and say they would get in trouble which is realistic.

[Noora · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book was on my shelf since I was in grade 3. when I didn't like reading as much. 2022 started with a huge reading slump and I didn't know how to get rid of it. I decided to read this book to get me used to reading again and it did help even tho i'm 14 and its rated for 8-12. it was really helpful. and now i'm out off that reading slump.
this book talks about three young kids that solves a case in there city, alot of pets are gone missing and the kids are going to solve that problem..
overall, its not the best book, but it was helpful to get rid of a reading slump

[Def not Sophia]

The book and the entire series is quite wholesome (read between the lines, it's pretty cheesy but okay for family reads) but it lacks suspense. Every twist and turn can be seen from a mile ahead. Of course i still read the entire series but hey, don't call me out. The books were great to pass the time but very dull. There was no deep plot or at least exciting plot. It is meant for younger kids but I feel like the age group it is aimed at can do way better (read some C.S. Lewis kids!). Good enough to keep you focused for one reading. I did however enjoy the art immensely.

3/10

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read these books when I was a kid and greatly enjoyed them, figured I'd give them a second read for kicks.

I certainly recommend any young mysteries fan devote time to this series, it's certainly a grand adventure for a young mind, the imagery of Ron Roy's words and his settings and unique character descriptions and personalities really help kids imagine a whole movie in their heads as they read each exciting page.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

My six-year-old daughter says:
I like it cause it's really really cool when they find the people who are stealing pets.

My four-year-old son says:
I like it. A policeman has a tiger for a pet.

Mom says:
I have no idea what he's talking about a tiger pet. No dangerous, exotic pets in this book :)
These are fun read-alouds for us to read together.

[Ribbon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pets are going missing and a circus is in town! I like how the kids do independent detective work but bring their findings to the police periodically. And the police already know some but not all of it, so they are shown to be competent but the kids are still useful. It's a good balance. The kids only do some stupid/dangerous thing over the course of the book.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

When several neighborhood pets go missing, along with tiger, Ruth Rose beloved cat, it's up to Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose to find them all. To make matters worse, there has been a rash of home burglaries around town as well. Could the crimes be related? It's up to the trio to discover what is happening in Green Lawn, and who is behind it all.

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss 6 enjoyed this. She listened to the audiobooks for A, B, C all on the same day.

Miss 6 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose find themselves in another mystery. Pets are mysteriously disappearing and houses are being burglarized, so the kids follow the leads and do a stakeout. My son has fun figuring out the mystery. I love your family discussions after reading a couple of chapters together at night.

[Elina · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite series. onto story is about missing animals. and whydo they want animals because so then they will give back the plant so then they will let them cme inside and then they will ask to go to the bathroom insted they will steal jewlerys and basiclly gold if they have. all for now until next book.