The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base
Published by Harry N. Abrahms Inc
Copyright 1988
Children's Mystery Picture Book
31 Pages

The Eleventh Hour is such an inteligent book of mysteries and clues. It is the story of Horace and his eleventh birthday party. He is so excited to be turning eleven that he focuses everything on eleven. Eleven dishes to eat and eleven friends to eat them with, after playing eleven fun games of course. After all the games are played and everyone makes their way into the dining hall, they are stonished to see that someone has already eaten all of the food. They try to find out who ate all the food by accusing each other. Horace solves the problem by going into the kitchen and making sandwitches. They finish the party by having a picnic in the backyard. At the end of the book, the author askes you to find out who ate all the food. On every page of the book is a clue to help you figure it out. In the end, you figure out that is was Kilroy the mouse and his mice friends that ate all the food.
I think a lot of people would enjoy this book. It is fun and witty. The illistrations are awesome and the clues are so much fun to find.
There are only two problems i can see that someone might have a problem with. I am not sure how people might feel about the fact that the mouse stole all the food and got away with it, and for someone who doesnt want to take time to figure out the clues might not like the fact that you have to in order to find out who the thief was.
My reaction to this book when I first read it was surprise. I couldnt believe all the clues that are so secretly put in the book. They are everywhere. I also couldnt believe that the whole book rhymes. Its amazing to tell a whole story in a poem.