Comments on: Finding a piece of my childhood

Question: Finding a piece of my childhood

lucyleaf — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 14:47:12 -0800

I'm trying to locate a book I loved as a child. Help! There's...

I read this at about the age of 10 (early 80s). It was in paperback then, and I believe I got it through a book club. I think it might have had a red cover?

It was about a group of kids - in Europe, maybe France? - who were solving a mystery together. The "leader" was a boy, I believe.

I don't remember the story as much as the pictures. The story was set in a city - the parts I remember make me really believe it was European. Each part of the story had an intricate illustration that had clues in it. I remember that one drawing took you into a pond. There was a bicycle and various types of city trash down there.

It's not much to go on, I know, but I'd love to relocate this book and save it for my daughter. Do your magic, Hive Mind!

By: popcassady

popcassady — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 16:11:24 -0800

For a brief moment, I thought you were looking to locate a 'love child'! It's late, I should get to bed.

A wild guess, could you be looking for 'Emile and the Detectives'? That was set in Berlin.

By: popcassady

popcassady — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 16:12:56 -0800

Ah, then again it's probably not.

By: dpx.mfx

dpx.mfx — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 16:17:06 -0800

I'll look for a link when I get home, but it sounds like "chasing vermeer" to me, but I don't think that's very old, so maybe not?

By: lucyleaf

lucyleaf — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 16:57:06 -0800

Alas, no to both. Although both of those look very interesting!

By: Araucaria

Araucaria — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 19:12:32 -0800

Emil and the detectives? Takes place in pre-WWII Berlin, also made into a Disney film.

A young man is going into town, has his spending money pinned to his jacket, but while he is sleeping, a man in his train compartment steals the money. He manages to find a gang of street kids who help him track down the thief and give the scoundrel his just desserts.

By: Araucaria

Araucaria — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 19:13:14 -0800

Oops, should have read popscassady's comment more carefully!

By: growabrain

growabrain — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 19:38:27 -0800

... with illustrations of Walter Trier ...

By: booksherpa

booksherpa — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 19:55:29 -0800

I was just thinking of Emil and the Detectives the other day (loved it as a kid) and couldn't remember the name. I <3 mefi.br>
Lucyleaf, if you can't find the original, Chasing Vermeer is a great book. Fun, engaging mystery for kids.

By: popcassady

popcassady — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 05:18:57 -0800

Was it heavily illustrated? Could it have been a, 'Solve Your Own'?

By: lucyleaf

lucyleaf — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 06:30:25 -0800

It was heavily illustrated and very well could have been a Solve Your Own. I believe it had that format like the Choose Your Own Adventure books where you direct the narrative.

I'm searching eBay now for Solve Your Own books...