The Crook Who Took the Book by Carolyn Keene Page A

a slender arm over her head and snapped her fingers. “Children, please finish choosing your books and gather around,” she called. “I have some news.”
    All the third graders grabbed their books and crowded around Mrs. Goldstein.
    â€œWho here has been to the Book Nook?” Mrs. Goldstein asked.
    Bess, Nancy, George, and a bunch of the other kids raised their hands in the air.
    â€œThe Book Nook is the best,” Nancy whispered to Bess. “What a great idea to put a bookstore in a big old house.”
    â€œA big, creepy house!” George said.
    â€œNuh-uh,” Bess said. “I think the Book Nook is nice. I especially love the store mascot—Charlie the cat.”
    â€œCharlie?” Nancy asked. “He’s the grouchiest cat ever. He never gets off his cat bed!”
    â€œWell, he might be the grouchiest, buthe’s also the prettiest,” Bess said. “He’s so white and fluffy.”
    â€œDoes anybody know who owns the Book Nook?” Mrs. Goldstein asked.
    â€œSure,” Mike Minelli said. “That tall, skinny lady with the red hair and freckles. She lives upstairs from the store.”
    Katie raised her hand. “I know the lady’s name,” she said. “It’s Julia. She’s really nice. Whenever I go to the Book Nook, she tells me about the latest books.”
    â€œYou’re right, Katie,” Mrs. Goldstein said, smiling down at her. “But do you know Julia’s last name? It’s Sandback.”
    â€œLike . . . Morton Sandback?” Josie Blanton asked. She was one of Nancy’s classmates.
    â€œYes,” Mrs. Goldstein said. Her hazel eyes sparkled. “Julia Sandback is the daughter of Morton Sandback.”
    â€œWow!” Katie sighed. “Julia’s dad is a famous author!”
    â€œAs many of you know, Mr. Sandback has just published a new mystery called Frogs, Dogs, and Mysterious Logs ,” Mrs. Goldstein said.
    Bess giggled. “What a funny title.”
    â€œMr. Sandback also happens to be visiting his daughter for a week,” Mrs. Goldstein continued. “So, as a treat, he’s going to appear at the Book Nook this Sunday at noon. He’ll answer questions and autograph copies of his books. This is a great opportunity, children. I know I’ll be there.”
    â€œMe, too!” Nancy cried. Bess and George nodded excitedly.
    The other kids were excited, too. Kyle Leddington turned to Orson Wong and said, “We should wear costumes on Sunday. I’ll be a dog.”
    â€œI’ll be a frog,” Orson said. “Ribbit, ribbit.” He jumped around wildly until he jumped right into Bess.
    Bess rolled her eyes at Nancy. “Boys!”
    â€œThere’s one more thing,” Mrs. Goldstein said. “Julia has a special surprise for her father. She’s come across a very rare copy of Mr. Sandback’s first mystery, Foul-up at the Floss Factory .”
    â€œWhat’s so rare about it?” Katie asked. “I have that book at home.”
    â€œThis is a first edition of the book,” Mrs. Goldsteinsaid. “Most books are printed many times. But the first time is the most important. This first edition was published forty years ago, and only a few copies still exist. Even Mr. Sandback doesn’t have one. So, Julia is going to present her father with the book.”
    Andy wasn’t impressed.
    â€œToo bad it’s not a comic book,” he said. “A first edition is really rare. That’s what my dad says.”
    â€œActually, Andy,” Mrs. Goldstein said, “ Foul-up at the Floss Factory is more like a comic book than you think. There’s a picture on every page. The pictures are divided into boxes, just like a comic. That’s called a graphic novel. You can see the story, as well as read it.
    â€œIn the back of the book, Mr. Sandback writes about reading comic books when he was a boy. Those comic books