Module 8 -

Book Cover Image

Book Summary

Cam Jansen has a photographic memory. When Cam and her friend Eric help their teacher out with the school carnival, she spots some things that just don't look right. So Cam clicked her mental camera, for which she was given the nickname Cam, so that she could look back on the details later. How could these two keep winning at the dime toss? It was supposed to be nearly impossible to win. Cam uses her mental pictures to help solve the mystery.

Written by David Adler
Illustrated by Susanna Natti

APA Reference of Book

Adler, D. A. (1984). The mystery of the carnival prize. New York, NY: Penguin Publishing.

Impressions

This is a cute beginning chapter book with pictures on every couple of pages. The pictures will help young readers connect to the book, but they are not the strongest pictures. Even though most readers do not have a photographic memory like Cam, they will still be able to relate to her character. The plot provides a good amount of suspense, so readers will be interested in seeing how the mystery is solved. I have to admit that I was curious myself.  As is true with many of the books in the Cam Jansen series, the book ends with a good lesson for readers. 

Professional Review

Gr 2-4 -- Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Carnival Prize finds the girl with the photographic memory and her friend Eric Chelton solving a mystery at a school carnival. Cam finds it strange that no one can win a prize at the dime toss booth except for a boy and a girl who keep winning again and again, and she shows how the two are using foil-covered slugs and a magnet to cheat. The two are captured as they try to sell the stuffed animals they have won. As always, Adler presents dependable characters within a sturdy format for the younger mystery crowd. 

Natti, S. (1984). Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Carnival Prize. School Library Journal, 31(4), 98.

Library Uses

This book could be used as a mentor text for students learning to use quotation marks appropriately. Much of this book involves conversations between Cam and Eric, which provides several examples for students.