Just reread this for the first time since I was a kid.

The art and the mystery still amaze me! Maxwell the tiger being dressed as an Indian has not aged well. I wonder if it's meant as a joke, because he's a Bengal tiger, i.e. from India, but he's dressed as an American Indian? Still, not great.

Nevertheless, I really like the book. It cracks me up that the author says at the end of the book that "With a little close observation and some simple deduction it is quite easy to discover" the solution to the mystery. Bro, I am a full adult who already knew the answer to the mystery and I still didn't find half of your clues.

Though once I read the answer key, I love how clever the clues are! Highly recommend this for young readers. Like, ages 8 to 12 at least, if you want them to have any chance of finding the clues. Even if they don't catch every clue (they won't), they'll feel really smart for the ones they do find! It's a great way to engage their minds and get them thinking critically.

The story is filled with excitement and adventure, and the mystery keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's a classic that I'm sure will be enjoyed by generations to come.

Okay. I literally spent 5 hours reading this book. 5 HOURS!

To be honest, it was probably even more than 5 hours.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that I dedicated FOREVER to trying to figure it out and follow/decode all the clues.

Despite my best efforts, I still had to rely on the cheat sheet in the back to determine who the thief was.

Looking back now, it all seems so obvious. Sigh.

Graeme Base, you are freakin' amazing.

His ability to create such a complex and engaging mystery is truly remarkable.

The book is filled with intricate details and hidden clues that keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

Even though I had to use the cheat sheet in the end, I still thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

It made me realize how much I love a good mystery and how talented Graeme Base is as an author.

I can't wait to read more of his books and see what other mysteries he has in store for us.

# Puzzles More Intricate than Most Escape Rooms, in a Book!

A wonderful mystery for children combined with a charming tale.

This captivating combination offers an enchanting experience for young readers. The mystery element piques their curiosity, making them eager to solve the puzzle and uncover the secrets hidden within the story.

Meanwhile, the charming tale weaves a web of magic and wonder, transporting children to a world filled with delightful characters and exciting adventures.

As they turn the pages, they are immersed in a realm where anything is possible, and their imaginations soar.

Whether it's a hidden treasure, a mysterious disappearance, or a magical creature, the mystery keeps them on the edge of their seats, while the charming tale provides a warm and inviting backdrop.

This unique blend of mystery and charm makes for a truly unforgettable reading experience that children will cherish and return to again and again.

It not only entertains but also helps to develop their critical thinking skills, as they try to figure out the mystery and make sense of the story.

In conclusion, a wonderful mystery for children combined with a charming tale is a literary gem that offers both entertainment and education, making it a must-have for any child's bookshelf.

Get out a pad of paper, a pencil, and your thinking cap.

Your little one won't get all the puzzles, but this book had Mavis's Mom and me engrossed in it for an hour after the babe had fallen asleep.

Moral: There's always more than meets the eye.

Length: The story was long... before we discovered there were additional puzzles to solve. How many 11th hours will you stay up exploring this book?

Favorite Line: "Pride comes before a fall."

Overall impression: There may be a doubt in your brain as to whodunit, but there can be no doubt about the creativity of this book. It's like those first Pixar movies: sure, it's for the kids - but there's another level to it that's sure to please the adults as well. We'll come back to this book often as Mavis grows up and becomes able to do her own sleuth work.

It's a truly engaging and captivating read that offers something for everyone. Whether you're a child looking for a fun puzzle or an adult seeking a more challenging mystery, this book has it all.

The illustrations are charming and add to the overall atmosphere of the story.

The plot is full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Overall, it's a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery or puzzle book.

This book is truly one-of-a-kind. It delves into the world of eleven distinct and exotic animals. The star of the show is the elephant, who is celebrating his eleventh birthday. He extends invitations to ten of his closest friends, and they are all set to partake in a magnificent feast at the eleventh hour. However, before the feast commences, they engage in eleven different games.

Once the eleventh hour arrives, they all rush to the feast only to discover that it has been eaten. The big question now is, who ate the feast? And what will they eat instead?

This book offers numerous possibilities for classroom use. One particular approach is to conduct a pre-reading activity that enables students to link the book's themes to their prior knowledge. For example, ask them what they enjoy about birthdays and what their families do to prepare for them.

As the book orientation progresses, flip through the pages and highlight selected ones. Pause and examine any tricky words. Seize the opportunity to discuss key vocabulary from the text, with a focus on the language used to describe the party. Inquire if the students have ever received an invitation (page 2). Debate what a grand affair (page 3) might entail. Encourage the class to share their thoughts on what the description evokes and consider alternative synonyms.

Finally, ask the class to make predictions about the book's events based solely on the initial glance at the images. Jot these down on the whiteboard or a chart for discussion after the first reading.

What a fun book! I purchased this book without any prior knowledge of the whimsical nature it held within. It is truly amazing. In fact, I was so impressed that I have already bought another one of his books, and I have even added a third to my wish list to obtain once we finish reading that one.

Asa, who is 11 years old, and Jerusha, who is 9 years old, along with me, spent approximately two weeks working on solving the mystery in this book. We dedicated about 30 minutes each day to this task. There were moments when Asa was eager to skip ahead and get to the core of the clues, but Jerusha and I preferred to go through the book page by page and uncover every single little clue.

However, guess what? We didn't even come close to solving it! We were astonished by the number of clues that we missed.

In the end, we were completely wrong in our deductions.

Nevertheless, we had an absolute blast doing it, and we didn't even mind that we lost.

So, I highly recommend getting this book! It offers an engaging and enjoyable experience for readers of all ages.

The Eleventh Hour is an utterly charming children's book that artfully combines a fantastical mystery with breathtaking illustrations.

When Horace the elephant reaches the age of eleven, he hosts a magnificent costume party, inviting all of his extraordinary friends to partake in the celebration. The party is brimming with games, music, and merriment. However, something disastrous occurs - someone has devoured the birthday feast! The rhyming text sets the scene, but it is the sumptuous, detailed illustrations that truly breathe life into this story.

What makes The Eleventh Hour stand out is the remarkable artwork. The illustrations are among the most detailed and intricate I have ever witnessed in a children's book. Every page is filled to the brim with an abundance of things to discover - hundreds of minute details and hidden clues that compel you to return again and again. It is the type of book where you can spend countless hours simply exploring the pictures, uncovering something new each time. Besides the vivid illustrations, the mystery itself is enjoyable and engaging. As the reader, you are encouraged to search for clues and solve the puzzle, making it an interactive and thrilling experience.

I am astounded that I had never heard of Base before now - this book has truly revealed their amazing talent to me. If you have a penchant for mysteries and appreciate illustrations that repay careful examination, The Eleventh Hour is an essential read. It is a perfect combination of fun, challenge, and visual delight that will enchant both children and adults alike.

My kids love "The Eleventh Hour" just as much as I did when I was a kid.

This remarkable picture book stands unrivaled as a mystery that is solved through hidden codes and riddles. With its approximately forty hidden codes, it has the power to keep kids engaged for hours on end. Even if they cheat and peek at the solutions in the back, there is still so much to discover and enjoy.

Moreover, it boasts top-notch illustrations that bring the story to life, incredible settings that transport readers to different eras and cultures, and truly impressive rhyming verse that adds a musical quality to the narrative.

My eight-year-old daughter initially asked for hints, so I provided her with a basic approach to deducing the whodunnit. I told her to try to figure out when the crime occurred first, and only then determine who did it. Armed with this strategy, she was able to solve the mystery on her own. Now, she spends hours poring over the book, eager to find and understand all the hidden codes and memorize all the verses.

What's more, she has developed a curiosity about the architecture and furniture depicted in the book, which span from the Renaissance to the Baroque, from Art Nouveau to the Medieval, and even include Egyptian, Turkish, and Indian styles. She wants to know where they all came from and what makes them unique.

And yet, there is still one mystery that remains unsolved: the Swan's name.

In my opinion, this book is truly a gem and should be included in the all-time list of the best kids' books ever. It offers not only entertainment but also educational value,激发孩子们的好奇心 and imagination.

I absolutely adored this book.

It was so captivating that I think I must have read it approximately 100 times.

The characters in the book were truly great, each with their own unique personalities and traits that made them come alive on the pages.

Not only that, but the pictures were also amazing. They added an extra dimension to the story and really helped to bring the scenes to life.

I have no doubt that I will definitely let my kids read this book.

I'm sure they will love it just as much as I did.

It's the kind of book that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story.

I can't wait to share this wonderful book with my children and create memories with them as we read it together.

It's truly a gem of a book that I will cherish for a long time to come.

This book was truly amazing, yet at the same time, incredibly frustrating!

The illustrations within it are fantastically detailed, and the rhyming aspect adds a touch of fun. However, when it comes to solving the puzzle itself, it becomes extremely complex. The majority of the hidden codes and 'clues' seem to have very little connection to actually solving the mystery. Instead, they intentionally send you on a wild-goose chase or are simply the author's indulgences.

Despite all these annoyingly blatant red herrings, the whole family still got into the spirit of looking for clues. We ended up learning about a wide range of things, from architecture and Egypt to International Morse and other codes.

This book is recommended for anyone who enjoys escape rooms but doesn't want to leave the comfort of their own home. However, it's important to take your time. We managed to puzzle it out in 2 separate sittings, but it would have been even more enjoyable to draw it out at a page or two a night.

Overall, it's a unique and engaging experience that combines the excitement of a mystery with the educational value of learning about different topics.

The Eleventh Hour is a charming story. It's about an elephant that throws a party for its own birthday.

The elephant prepares many sumptuous dishes for its friends. Before they dig into the feast, they engage in a variety of birthday games.

However, after the games, the elephant and its guests discover that someone has eaten all of the birthday meal. The story is accompanied by beautiful illustrations that are a joy to behold as you read.

In fact, the art also reveals the culprit who ate the birthday dinner.

This is a very whimsical children's book. The illustrations are truly spectacular, with so much detail that it takes a few readings to fully appreciate everything. The story is cute and I believe children under 9 will love it.

Although I really like the art, the illustrations can be overwhelming at times, especially when you realize that you have to search through the art to find out who ate the meal.

I never did figure out who did it. I bought this as a gift for my nephew. If I had more time, I would probably look through it again. It would definitely be a great visual exercise for kids.