This easy to read picture book relates the tale of Maria’s first day in a new school, which happens to be the 100th day of school for everyone else. Each class is having a celebration including foods that begin with a different letter of the alphabet. When the pizzas (Maria’s class letter is P) disappear, one of the students, nicknamed Cam, short for camera, because of her excellent memory, using her great powers of observation and reason, sets out to find the missing pizzas for her class. The illustrations are teeming with bright colors and look almost as though they were drawn in crayon and outlined with black pen. The book is also divided into chapters and contains a table of contents, which will make the reader feel as though his or her skills are advancing. This story is recommended for beginning readers, as it celebrates a bright, young woman who is a problem solver. ( )

Adler, David A.

Young Cam Jansen and the 100th Day of School Mystery
Illustrated by Susanna Natti. 2009. 32pp. $3.99 pbk. Penguin Group. 978-0-1424-1685-3. Grades K-2.

Cam Jansen and her friend Eric are showing around Maria, a new girl at their school. On this particular day of school, each classroom is having a party with snacks of a particular letter. Cam, Eric, and Maria's class is having a party with foods starting with the letter 'P'; they have pretzels and popcorn in their classroom, but there is supposed to be pizza. However, when they find the pizza boxes, there is no pizza in them. Together, the three friends must solve the mystery of the missing pizza, using their own investigative abilities and Cam's photographic memory (Cam is a nickname, short for camera). The mystery at the heart of the plot is engaging and challenging, and the jewel-toned illustrations bring additional fun to the proceedings. This easy reader book is recommended for children who enjoy mysteries, and when children who enjoy this series have graduated from easy reader books, the middle grade Cam Jansen mystery books will be waiting for them. ( )

This is part of the viking easy-to-read book series that Cam Jensen stars in. In this book she has to solve the mystery of the missing pizza that disappeared from the 100th day of school party. ( )

Cam Jansen has a photographic memory. On the 100th day of school, they are having a P party, which means that they eat and drink only things that start with the letter P. When there class's pizza goes missing, Cam and her friends find out who took the pizza. This is a perfect book for a read aloud or silent reading in a classroom on the 100th day of school. ( )