Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Slippery Salamander

Written by Donald J. Sobol and Illustrated by Brett Helquist

SummaryA salamander has been stolen from the Den of Darkness in the town aquarium. Encyclopedia Brown, the police chief’s son, solves the mystery that has his dad stumped.

Question of the Week

•How can attention to detail help

solve a problem?

Review Questions

• Besides working at the aquarium, what do Dr. O’Donnell, Mrs. Brown, and Sam Maine have in common?

• What is an important lesson in this story?

• What is the setting of the story?

• Why did the author write this story?

• What was Encyclopedia’s clue that helped him solve the crime?

Review Questions

• Why would Sam Maine have lied about his experience with animals?

• What was Mrs. King doing while Dr. O’Donnell was examining the crocodile?

• How are frogs and salamanders alike?

• What might Sam have done with the Salamander if he had not been caught?

• What did Encyclopedia need before he could solve the crime?

Vocabulary - Say It

•reference•reptiles•stumped• Salamanders

• amphibians

•lizards•exhibit•crime•baffled

amphibians• cold-blooded animals with

backbones and moist scale-less skin. Their young usually have gills and live in water until they develop lungs for living on land.

crime•activity of criminals; breaking of the law

exhibit•act of displaying; public showing

lizards•reptiles with long bodies and tails, moveable eyelids, and usually 4 legs. Some lizards have no legs and look much like snakes.

reference•used for information or help

reptiles•cold-blooded animals with backbones and lungs, usually covered with horny plates for scales

salamanders•animals shaped like lizards, but related to frogs and toads. They have smooth skin and live in water or in damp places.

stumped

•puzzled

Leroy is called Encyclopedia because his brain was filled with more facts than a reference book.

Leroy is called Encyclopedia because his brain was filled with more facts than a reference book.

A salamander looks like a lizard.

A salamander looks like a lizard.

A zoo exhibit has live animals on display that you can see up close.

A zoo exhibit has live animals on display that you can see up close.

It would be a crime to steal an animal from the zoo.

It would be a crime to steal an animal from the zoo.

Whenever the chief was stumped, Encyclopedia would crack the case for him.

Whenever the chief was stumped, Encyclopedia would crack the case for him.

Snakes, turtles, and lizards are all reptiles.

Snakes, turtles, and lizards are all reptiles.

Frogs, toads, and salamanders are all amphibians.

Frogs, toads, and salamanders are all amphibians.