for reading aloud. Cam Jansen, girl detective extraordinaire, happens upon another mystery while on an outing to the Royal Hotel. Posing as a bellhop, a thief steals the luggage and the pet cat belonging to an unsuspecting elderly woman, then holds them for ransom. Thanks to her photographic memory, Cam is able to give police a great description of both the thief and his getaway van, and together the officers and the youthful investigator get their man. Susanna Natti, who has illustrated all the books in this series, makes the pictures do double duty this time by providing not only pleasing drawings to complement the text but also visual clues to help readers solve the mystery right along with Cam. A good book to introduce young readers to chapter books: the level of mystery is just right for the audience. The book will also be a good choice to help build the confidence of older children with reading disabilities. (Reviewed November 15, 1998)

Fans of this mystery series will appreciate Cam's latest success in outsmarting all of the adults (both criminals and police officers) she encounters, as she calls upon her photographic memory to rescue a cat nabbed by a hotel bellhop. Cam's perpetually confused Aunt Molly adds goofy humor to the straightforward plot. Black-and-white illustrations and a memory quiz for readers accompany the chapter-book mystery.

Gr 2-4-In this 18th adventure, Cam Jansen, her parents, and her friend Eric are on their way to meet her aunt at the Royal Hotel. There, Cam overhears a conversation between a distressed hotel guest and Michael, the bellhop. Esther Wright states that on her arrival, she gave her luggage and her traveling companion, "Little Tiger," to a bellhop outside the hotel to take to her room. The cat never made it there. A ransom-demanding phone call confirms Esther's worst fears-"Little Tiger" has been catnapped. Cam once again solves the mystery and helps catch the crook. With her photographic memory, she makes mental notes of events and details that the rest of her family and friends dismiss. Pen-and-ink drawings appear frequently throughout, and a visual puzzle to solve is included at the end. Another fine mystery for beginning chapter-book readers.-Kit Vaughan, J. B. Watkins Elementary School, Midlothian, VA