School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-- Encyclopedia Brown, solving crimes for his police chief father, returns with 10 new solve-it-yourself mysteries. As usual, a solution for each case is in the back of the book. In the title story, the children of Idaville are raising money for charity by staging a Disgusting Sneakers contest. Phoebe, last year's winner, has one of her sneakers stolen; Encyclopedia Brown knows that something is afoot and quickly solves the crime. This new collection, as addicting as its predecessors and accompanied by black-and-white line drawings that track all the fun, will be in demand by fans everywhere. --Nancy Doe Maday, Pikes Peak Library District, Colorado Springs (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Ten new but hardly fresh 'solve-it-yourself' Encylopedia Brown mysteries still offer some challenge, variety, and humor to young sleuths. From HORN BOOK 1990, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 4-6. Encyclopedia Brown is still in the fifth grade and as smart as ever, and these 10 new cases are just as hard to solve and as much fun as the brainteasers Encyclopedia solved in previous books. Kids will especially like the title piece in which the winner of last year's disgusting sneaker contest comes to Encyclopedia to find which of the other entrants stole one of her odoriferous shoes. Well-drawn pen-and-ink illustrations modernize the series and highlight the humor. ~--Ilene Cooper
