Donald J. Sobol (1924–2012)

Ten very short stories about Encyclopedia Brown, the boy detective with encyclopedic knowledge. He is the son of the police chief of his town, and helps his father solve cases. He also offers his services as a private detective, 25 cents per day plus expenses. Each story is just a few pages, Encyclopedia hears about the case or does a quick investigation and then he says the solution. Then the reader is invited to guess how he knows, and can read the answer at the end of the book.

The cases necessarily are very simple, normally a contradiction in the suspect's words, and perfectly appropriate for 8-year-old readers. They are too simple for adults, although they offer a certain innocent, nostalgic charm.… (meer)

Encyclopedia Brown has an uncanny knack for trivia. With his unconventional knowledge, he solves mysteries for the neighborhood kids through his own detective agency. But his dad also happens to be the chief of the Idaville police department, and every night around the dinner table, Encyclopedia helps him solve some of the most baffling crimes. With ten confounding mysteries in each book, not only does Encyclopedia have a chance to solve them, but readers are given all the clues as well and can chime in with their own solutions.… (meer)

Leroy Brown, aka Encyclopedia Brown, is Idaville's ten-year-old star detective. With an uncanny knack for trivia, he solves mysteries for the neighborhood kids. But his dad also happens to be the chief of the police department, and every night Encyclopedia helps him get to the bottom of his most baffling crimes. Join Encyclopedia Brown as he solves ten of his newest and most confounding mysteries, including a case of a missing butterfly brooch, some stolen Confederate stamps, a forgetful jewel thief, and more. With the clues given in each case, readers will have a chance to solve the mystery themselves!… (meer)