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From Horn Book

January 1, 2018
Rosamond is throwing a birthday party for her cousin Lizzie, whose four pet pythons give Nate the Great the shudders. But when the largest snake disappears during the festivities, the world's greatest detective must confront his fears to save the day. A winning new installment in the popular early-reader series, complete with its characteristic dry humor and clipped prose. Amusing spot art illustrates the chapters.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From School Library Journal

May 1, 2014

K-Gr 2-Nate the Great and his dog Sludge have solved countless mysteries. They need a break from their detective work. With five seemingly uninteresting mysteries to solve, they decide to head off into the woods for some solitude. Their friends set out to solve a mystery of their own: Where have Nate the Great and Sludge gone? With logic, coincidence, and luck, all of the mysteries are solved and these main characters realize just how good it is to be Nate the Great and detective dog Sludge. Marjorie Weinman Sharmat has authored all of the books in this series since its inception in the late 1970s. For this volume, she is joined by her husband, Mitchell Sharmat. Wheeler's illustrations are based on Marc Simont's original drawings of Nate and his friends. Fans of the series should enjoy this new adventure.-Lindsay Persohn, University of South Florida, Tampa

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Booklist

May 1, 2014
Grades K-3 Longtime detective duo Nate the Great and his dog, Sludge, suddenly have more cases than they really want. Who could blame them for avoiding their demanding clients by hanging out in the woods? After their brief escape, they solve mysteries involving a missing turnip, a tube of dog toothpaste, and a beast with four tails. In the end, they sit together happily, forever Nate the Great and Sludge. The simply written, rather rambling narrative unfolds in Nate's distinctive voice. Nicely illustrated in color in the style of Marc Simont (the series' original artist), the story offers the unusual opportunity of hanging out with the boy and his dog as they stop to smell the roses before swinging into action once more. Nate and Sludge will always be at the heart of the Sharmats' Nate the Great series, a perennial favorite of beginning readers since 1972.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

From Kirkus

April 1, 2014
Nate the Great and his dog, Sludge, want a day off from detective work. Eight brief chapters present a rather confusing story about the boy detective and his dog, who long to escape the demands of neighborhood children with cases to solve. They go so far as to visit a costume shop to try to find disguises before just trying to hide--unsuccessfully--from Rosamond, Annie and her dog, Fang, Claude and Harry. The mysteries the children pose are odd rather than compelling, and the characterization of Rosamond as little more than a bossy, icky girl is downright grating. For his part, Nate the Great does end up participating in solving the mysteries, but since these spring from coincidence, trickery and the failure to use logic, the solutions aren't so much satisfying as they are anticlimactic. Wheeler's art, in the style of Marc Simont, fails to live up to the earlier books in the series as it lacks the expressive movement and liveliness of his line. A not-so-great addition to a classic early-reader series. (Early reader. 6-9)

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From Horn Book

January 1, 2010
When Rosamond discovers a torn-out page in her cookbook after preparing snacks for her book club, she turns to detective Nate the Great and his dog Sludge. They attend the next meeting, carefully observing all that happens and gathering clues to catch the culprit. Subtle humor and wordplay, clever deducing, and plentiful black-and-white illustrations make this an appealing series entry.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From Horn Book

January 1, 2007
When an enormous turkey shows up in town, everyone, including Nate's dog, Sludge, and his cousin, Olivia, wants to find it--everyone that is, except Nate. Will he get drawn into the mystery anyway? Although small illustrations--Nate's hat and Olivia's boa--identify whose chapter is whose, the format is somewhat confusing, as Nate and Olivia alternately tell the amusing story.

(Copyright 2007 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From Booklist

October 15, 2006
When Nate the Great hears that the whole town is searching for a turkey on the loose, he decides " ot" to join the chase. Instead, he lets his dog, Sludge, investigate. Meanwhile, Nate's wealthy cousin, Olivia, starts her own hunt for the wandering bird. Though not officially on the case, Nate still has a knack for spotting clues. Nate and Olivia each narrate some of the 19 short chapters here, but Wheeler places either Nate's deerstalker or Olivia's boa at each chapter heading so that readers will always know who's talking. Another droll mystery for the series' many fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)

From School Library Journal

October 1, 2006
Gr 2-4-An engaging and funny addition to the series. As Nate hears a radio report about a giant turkey that wreaks havoc in a supermarket parking lot and then disappears, his friend Claude comes in to tell him that he has just seen the large bird. A mystery is afoot, and Nates dog, Sludge, is the first to take on the case. Cousin Olivia Sharp flies in from San Francisco wearing her boa and tries to drum up some enthusiasm for a turkey search team. The wealthy girl uses her great knowledge of birds to solve the mystery. Large print, plenty of white space, good use of repetition, and frequent drawings allow early readers to enjoy the story."Rebecca Sheridan, Easttown Library & Information Center, Berwyn, PA"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Horn Book

January 1, 2003
The thirtieth anniversary edition of the classic easy reader is unchanged from the original. Young detective Nate the Great finds his friend Annie's missing painting in this solid story. Nate's blocky, serious look in Simont's simple but expressive illustrations makes readers take him as seriously as he takes himself.

(Copyright 2003 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From Horn Book

July 1, 2001
Olivia Sharp, the feather boa-toting detective from another Sharmat series, makes a guest appearance in the latest Nate the Great mystery. During a visit to San Francisco, Nate helps lighten his cousin Olivia's caseload by tracking down a missing joke book. As always, the easy reader's subtle humor--in both the text and watercolors--and trademark clipped prose will please fans young and old.

(Copyright 2001 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From Booklist

July 1, 2000
Gr. 1^-3. Everyone's favorite boy detective returns in this new adventure in which Nate and his dog, Sludge, journey to San Francisco to visit Nate's detective cousin, Olivia Sharp. Olivia is busy solving mysteries, so she sends her chauffeur to the airport. Nate agrees to take one of her cases when the client tells Nate that the world will come to an end if he does not find his lost joke book. As with the other books in the series, an obvious solution presents itself, and Nate thinks he has the case solved; but it's never that simple. In the end, Nate proves he deserves his title of greatness, and youngsters get another first-rate mystery to solve along with him. Familiar characters and themes are given new life in the San Francisco setting, and Olivia and her chauffeur, Willie, are two promising new characters readers will look forward to meeting again. Weston's watercolor illustrations, in the style of the series' original illustrator, Marc Simont, manage to have a somewhat modern-day look while retaining the flavor of the 1970s, when the groundbreaking series first debuted. ((Reviewed July 2000))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2000, American Library Association.)

From Horn Book

January 1, 2000
Nate's latest case is close to his heart or, rather, stomach. The boy detective and his canine sidekick, Sludge, are in hot pursuit of his mother's Monster Cookies recipe. Like earlier books in the popular series, this installment maintains a winning combination of crisp narration, quirky characters, and subtle humor. Weston's understated, yet expressive illustrations hold true to the style of the original illustrator, Marc Simont.

(Copyright 2000 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From Library Journal

December 1, 1999
Gr 1-3-When Nate's mom cannot find her recipe for his favorite monster cookies, the boy detective immediately sets out to find it. With the help of his dog, Sludge, Nate combs his home and neighborhood for clues. On his search, the supersleuth questions a cast of characters with whom readers of the series will be familiar, such as Annie, Oliver, and Rosamond. Using his problem-solving skills, Nate is finally able to figure out where the elusive recipe for Strawberry Draculas, Chocolate Frankensteins, and Cinnamon Werewolves was hiding. The short chapters and quick resolution of the mystery will be appreciated by beginning readers. Weston's colorful illustrations, done in the style of the series' original illustrator, Marc Simont, provide visual clues and break up the text nicely. Nate's many fans will eagerly sink their teeth into this treat.-Maura Bresnahan, Shawsheen School, Andover, MA

Copyright 1999 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Publisher's Weekly

April 12, 1999
Detective Nate gets his first international case when a friend loses something--he doesn't know what--while visiting Sweden. Ages 6-9.

From Horn Book

January 1, 1999
Interspersed throughout Sharmat's trademark clipped prose and deadpan humor are hints and questions designed to draw budding mystery fans into Nate the Great's latest case. After Nate--and readers--have tracked down Annie's missing dog, the boy detective invites readers to a Detective Day party and shares sleuthing tips and recipes for invisible ink and latkes. Simont's humorous watercolors enhance the chapter-book mystery.

(Copyright 1999 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From School Library Journal

December 1, 1998
Gr 2-3-Nate the Great looks surprisingly young considering he is celebrating his 25th anniversary, and he does so in style with this full-color, special edition. The story involves the famed detective's friends throwing a party in his honor, only to have the festivities marred by the absence of Annie's dog. Everyone leaves to search for the missing pet. Even Nate, who has always tried to avoid the toothy canine, pitches in. Through a trail of odd, often humorous starts and stops, Fang is found, and the party resumes. Sharmat's simple, witty text and Simont's equally witty illustrations are a winning combination. Fans will undoubtedly enjoy the inside humor and references to previous cases and the familiar characters. First-time readers will be able to follow along, but will appreciate the book more if they backtrack and read some of the previous titles. This book continues and celebrates the series with appropriate fun and flavor; tips for solving cases, pancake recipes, and other tricks of the trade are appended.-Pam Hopper Webb, Sandpoint Community Christian School, ID

From Booklist

July 1, 1998
Gr. 1^-2. Celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of this popular series, the latest Nate the Great book brings the audience up on stage. Series fans will find a puzzle to solve in the dedication for readers, an empty chair at Nate's Detective Day party (where his friends invite the reader to join them), Nate's personal tips on detection, and his recipes for pancakes. At the party, Nate has challenged his friends to solve the case of Fang, the missing dog, but in the end, the great detective steps in and solves it himself. Fresh as ever, Simont's expressive drawings with colorful washes add immensely to the book's charm. Another success for Nate, Sharmat, and Simont. ((Reviewed July 1998))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1998, American Library Association.)

From Booklist

February 1, 1998
Gr. 1^-3. With Nate the Great's friend Rosamond traveling in Scandinavia, it's looking like a slow summer for the boy detective. A postcard from Rosamond challenges Nate to discover what she lost and where she lost it, or she will have to ask the king of Sweden for assistance in solving the case. Taking pity on the king ("He did not look like anyone who would want to be hired by Rosamond"), Nate follows the clues and cracks the case without ever leaving his neighborhood. The long-distance sleuthing seems a bit less involving than Nate's usual adventures, but fans of the series will want to read the latest. As always, Simont's lively illustrations provide a colorful counterpoint to Sharmat's droll, understated humor. ((Reviewed February 1, 1998))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1998, American Library Association.)

From School Library Journal

October 1, 1997
Gr 1-3-In the latest addition about this popular detective, Nate solves his first international case without ever leaving his neighborhood. He receives a cryptic postcard from his friend Rosamond. She writes that she has lost something during her Scandinavian vacation and that if Nate refuses to find it she will pester the King of Sweden for help. The lost item is tiny, lives in dark places, and has a long nose. Nate and his trusty dog, Sludge, begin visiting Rosamond's friends in search of clues. A picture examined under a magnifying glass leads him to believe that the lost item is a troll. He goes to the library for information on trolls and then back to his house for his trademark brain food-pancakes. Deductive reasoning, combined with astute observations of Sludge's burial of a bone, finally saves the day. Although Simont's appealing watercolor illustrations provide visual clues, this case is significantly more difficult than others in this series. This particular volume is for avid fans rather than novices. Initiates may need more familiarity with the personalities of these distinctive characters to grasp some of the wry humor. Advise children to begin with earlier "Nate the Great" books and return to this one for full enjoyment.-Jackie Hechtkopf, Talent House School, Fairfax, VA

From Booklist

September 15, 1996
Gr. 1^-2. Nate the Great attempts to solve his friend Annie's holiday mystery: what happened to the Christmas card her dog Fang received from his mother? Nate and his faithful hound Sludge follow the clues and deduce who has hidden the card, where it is, and why it was taken. The witty, staccato text gives a sense of style to the most mundane activities, since nothing the great detective does (even shovelling snow or eating potato pancakes) seems quite ordinary. Brightened by watercolor washes, Simont's line drawings illustrate the story with wit. A good-humored book for beginning readers, this tale ends with Nate's own holiday card for his audience. ((Reviewed Sept. 15, 1996))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1996, American Library Association.)

From School Library Journal

October 1, 1995
Gr 1-3-A fun adventure that will keep beginning readers guessing to the very end. When Nate discovers a tortoise eating the flowers in his yard, he and his faithful companion Sludge set out to find its home. Young readers will delight in following the boy and his dog as they search for clues, a search that leads to tuna-fish cupcakes, a red sock, and a visit to the veterinarian. It isn't until Nate retraces the tortoise's trail of destruction that the mystery is finally solved. The familiar comical text and full-color illustrations will delight both fans and newcomers to the series. Sure to please.-Denise Furgione, Atlantic County Library, Mays Landing, NJ

From Booklist

October 1, 1995
Gr. 1^-3. Nate the Great discovers a tortoise eating the flowers in his garden and vows to help him find his way home. When his client proves uncommunicative, the determined sleuth ("I, Nate the Great, will never give up" ) follows the tortoise's trail of nibbled plants back to his grateful owner. As with other books in the series, this beginning reader has a sure sense of style in both writing and illustration. Simont's expressive drawings, touched with watercolors, ensure that even the simplest picture is worth a second look. An entertaining addition to a popular series. ((Reviewed Oct. 1, 1995))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1995, American Library Association.)

From AudioFile Magazine

[Editor's Note: The following is a combined review with NATE THE GREAT COLLECTED STORIES: VOL. 2.]--Random House Audio has included the contents of eight books for early readers about cute and clever pancake-loving detective Nate the Great and his faithful dog, Sludge. Broadway actor John Lavelle gives life to the lead character, playing up the wit of Marjorie Weinman Sharmat's style as the little sleuth searches for clues to missing pets, lost keys, stolen snacks, and mysterious messages. Lavelle puts just enough juvenile goofiness into his voice to add to the listener's enjoyment without pushing it over the top. S.E.S. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine