7 Ate 9 (Volume 1) (Private I)

I really enjoyed all the math puns in this children's mystery book. It is currently my 2-year-old grandson's favorite book, and he goes through the house quoting lines from the story. It's a good thing that it is cute, since my daughter and son-in-law have been asked to read it to him about 20 times per day! The author has some other punny books which I plan to buy, too. I recommend for any kids (or parents) who like math or puns. (I found that I could listen to people read books, including this one, on Youtube. I found this very helpful in knowing which ones were what I was looking for and appropriate for my grandon's developmental level.)

This fun and clever picture book is just as entertaining for adults as for the kids! My son and I enjoyed scouring the words and illustrations for all of the great math puns. It's a fun way to introduce math concepts or to review with older kids. They'll enjoy spotting them throughout the book. The mystery kept us flipping pages.The Private "I" reminded me of Detective Joe Friday :-) . Fun picture book!

This author is witty without being overly pompous and over-the-top. A perfect coming-of-age book for young readers who are just starting to get puns, double entendres, sarcasm, etc. Enjoyable for adults too. I read it to a five-year-old, where I know most jokes went over his head, but he still could grasp enough of the storyline to enjoy the ending. Worth buying for all ages.

I bought this book for my six-year-old grandson and it's hard to tell who loves it more! The story is written in a series of puns, and while I had to explain some of them, or point out things in the picture which blend into the joke, it made my grandson think and find humor - he absolutely loved it, and I loved reading it to him. Tara Lazar and Ross MacDonald have a great sense of humor, and makes their readers of all ages laugh. Loved it.

I really like this book. It is for probably third grade or older, but the use of idioms and puns is great. If reading it to younger children, the reader would need to point out some of the less obvious puns, but the illustrations help. I have shared it with adults and we have laughed together.

My 15 yr old actually took this book and read it quickly before her 6 yr old sister had the chance. They both love all the puns, some the 6 yr old doesnt pick up on but each time we read it, she seems to get another one.

I just love Tar Lazar's humorous view of the world! Her fabulous sense of humor is evident in all her books. She is a wonderful author and knows exactly how to relate to kids. A laugh out loud book with all the puns and math humor. I couldn't stop giggling. It most definitely brings out the kid in you. A must for every bookshelf and library collection. This book should be in every dentist and doctor's office so kids can chuckle and forget about their visit. Love it!!

Love this little "noir" mystery picture book that is just bursting with number puns. Kids learning numbers will laugh with glee as they follow the detective "I" trying to figure out this mystery.

To both a numbers obsessed grandson and a word obsessed Nana and teacher, this book is the best! My five year old grandson loves 7 Ate 9, and I have shared it with a group of older kids also. Each time I read it, I find more clever little tidbit that I missed the first time. I can't say enough great things about this book! Thanks for another winner, Tara Lazar!

6 has a problem, 7 is after him - will Private I be able to help? This book is hilarious and filled with puns and brilliant wordplay. My kids adore this one!

I really enjoyed all the math puns in this children's mystery book. It is currently my 2-year-old grandson's favorite book, and he goes through the house quoting lines from the story. It's a good thing that it is cute, since my daughter and son-in-law have been asked to read it to him about 20 times per day! The author has some other punny books which I plan to buy, too. I recommend for any kids (or parents) who like math or puns. (I found that I could listen to people read books, including this one, on Youtube. I found this very helpful in knowing which ones were what I was looking for and appropriate for my grandon's developmental level.)

This fun and clever picture book is just as entertaining for adults as for the kids! My son and I enjoyed scouring the words and illustrations for all of the great math puns. It's a fun way to introduce math concepts or to review with older kids. They'll enjoy spotting them throughout the book. The mystery kept us flipping pages.The Private "I" reminded me of Detective Joe Friday :-) . Fun picture book!

This author is witty without being overly pompous and over-the-top. A perfect coming-of-age book for young readers who are just starting to get puns, double entendres, sarcasm, etc. Enjoyable for adults too. I read it to a five-year-old, where I know most jokes went over his head, but he still could grasp enough of the storyline to enjoy the ending. Worth buying for all ages.

I bought this book for my six-year-old grandson and it's hard to tell who loves it more! The story is written in a series of puns, and while I had to explain some of them, or point out things in the picture which blend into the joke, it made my grandson think and find humor - he absolutely loved it, and I loved reading it to him. Tara Lazar and Ross MacDonald have a great sense of humor, and makes their readers of all ages laugh. Loved it.

I really like this book. It is for probably third grade or older, but the use of idioms and puns is great. If reading it to younger children, the reader would need to point out some of the less obvious puns, but the illustrations help. I have shared it with adults and we have laughed together.

My 15 yr old actually took this book and read it quickly before her 6 yr old sister had the chance. They both love all the puns, some the 6 yr old doesnt pick up on but each time we read it, she seems to get another one.

I just love Tar Lazar's humorous view of the world! Her fabulous sense of humor is evident in all her books. She is a wonderful author and knows exactly how to relate to kids. A laugh out loud book with all the puns and math humor. I couldn't stop giggling. It most definitely brings out the kid in you. A must for every bookshelf and library collection. This book should be in every dentist and doctor's office so kids can chuckle and forget about their visit. Love it!!

Love this little "noir" mystery picture book that is just bursting with number puns. Kids learning numbers will laugh with glee as they follow the detective "I" trying to figure out this mystery.

To both a numbers obsessed grandson and a word obsessed Nana and teacher, this book is the best! My five year old grandson loves 7 Ate 9, and I have shared it with a group of older kids also. Each time I read it, I find more clever little tidbit that I missed the first time. I can't say enough great things about this book! Thanks for another winner, Tara Lazar!

6 has a problem, 7 is after him - will Private I be able to help? This book is hilarious and filled with puns and brilliant wordplay. My kids adore this one!

The word—number—play and the mystery make this picture book perfect for K-2 readers. If your kiddo learns the punchline to “Why was 6 afraid of 7?” They will loving guessing the answer to this mystery.

I bought this book for my 5 year old nephew for Christmas. The story is very engaging with delightful wordplay, and the illustrations are fun and add to the story. This isn't a book to drill numbers, but it increases familiarity with numerical images and concepts. I highly recommend it.

I loved this book! I bought it for the elementary library I work at. The librarian read it to the students on library day. The older students thought it was funny and understood the humor, but the younger ones, Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st grade, didn't understand it as well.I thought it was humorous and very well written.

Very funny book. Keeps adults engaged as well as the kids. My son did not yet understand all the jokes. But, the book we be good for years to come.

My 7 year old loves the joke, 7 ate 9. She repeats it over and over. And she enjoyed this book as well. Book is chock full of math puns and lots of fun things to notice in McDonald's illustrations. Another great one from author Tara Lazar.

This book is hysterical! I bought it mostly because I am tired of the more straightforward and predictable book formats. complete with puns and lots of thought provoking lines...I know my kindergartner will enjoy this for many years.

This belongs on every parents bookshelf - a brilliantly comedic math based story detailing the investigation launched by 6, because 7 is after him. After all, everyone knows that 7 ate 9! That 7 - he's odd! All of Tara Lazar's books are great, but this one is my favorite.

This book was cracking me up. The story is funny and will make kids and adults laugh. I felt like I should be using my best narrator's voice from Dragnet! Thanks for another wonderful children's story!

This book is very, very clever! The humor might go over a small child’s head but it will make story time fun for the adults in the room!

Does it get any better than 7 ate 9? Yes!... more to come from this fabulous author.

Awesome book, can’t wait to read it to my 7th grade math students

Read to Grandchildren.

Purchased it for my 5 year old grandson and he loves it. My daughter (his mom) loves it too which is a good thing since he has picked it for his bedtime story every night for the past few weeks :-)

Mrs. Lazar is an amazing author! Her children come to our orthodontic practice and she always comes in with a smile and her newest books for the office. The books are such a great read for all of our patients and they always get such a thrill when new ones come in! Thanks again Mrs. Lazar!

It's fun, clever, and a great ride from beginning to end! I can't wait to check out Tara's other books!

Purchased this book for my 6 year old grandson - he loves the puns, as does his 8 year old sister. Very funny.

This seems like a very enjoyable book that the parents will have fun reading to their child once we've given the gift.

This is now my favorite book. My 10 month old could care less but omg it's way too punny!

My 6 year old niece gets a kick out of this book! We have already pre-ordered the next book about the private eye.

Bought this for my Grandchildren; they will love the play in words in this story.

Thank you.

Great book. Kids love it although they don’t ‘get’ all the play on words. Very well written.

My son, 7, loved the book and enjoyed the fun play on words throughout the story. I read it for his 1st-grade class at school and gave it as a birthday gift for another friend. It was a big hit for both.

My 8 year old loves this numerical story of puns. Clever writing.

We love puns in our house, this book is right up our alley!

This is such a fun book! Tara Lazar captures the feel and tone of an old-style detective story perfectly, and then packs it with puns. I love this book. The ending is so clever, and I discover new jokes in the story and art in each re-reading.

We LOVE this book! My son and I read it almost every night. It is silly and filled with great puns! A wonderful twist on a classic-kid friendly joke! It hints at a sequel and I hope there is one!

My sons and I loved this book! This is one of our favorite jokes and it was fun to read the extended story. Great for kids who love numbers, anyone who enjoys puns, and mystery fans. Ross MacDonald's illustrations tell the story with style.

A nice suspenseful detective story with a great ending. It reminded me of a classic noir detective story in kid form.

I absolutely love this book, there are many puns and it’s fun the examine the different ways the sentence could be read

Great story line.

Great detective story for children, teaches number vocab in a different way.

I highly recommend this book! So cute and fun to read!

Lots of useful idiomatic phrases.

What a great book with lots of word play!

VERY Clever books - kids AND adults will enjoy reading this over and over.

Grandma liked the book as much her 7 year old granddaughter. There was some explanation necessary to understand the humor. I will look for other books by this author.

Book. Arrived in good condition. Story is fun and engaging. Not overly long. Pictures are adorable and it is fun to read.

A very funny, pun-filled book about one of my favorite kid jokes!

My son loves this story, and I do, too. "Get it? 7 ate 9?" says my son. Good math puns.

My non-reader loves it!!

Very punny, my second grader and her friends enjoyed it, it was fun to see their faces and hear their giggles when they got the jokes. Great read for a story time

I will be giving this as a gift. It was recommended to me by a friend

This book is packed full of puns and math jokes. Ross MacDonald played along with Tara Lazar and added many gags into the illustrations. For instance, a slice of pi, for the price of $3.14. And the private detective's name painted on the door - Inspector Al F. Bet. Even the end papers are a masterful series of puns - 7 is "the prime suspect." Tara also managed to cram the story full of sayings related to the numbers (seventh heaven & nine lives). This books begs for multiple reads, just to catch all the jokes in the text and the illustrations, I laughed, chuckled, and guffawed in the bookstore aisle. Then giggled as I read it again in the checkout line. Set as a film noir mystery, Tara's private eye, a real letter"I" complete with a tie and a fedora, is faced with a case. His client, the number 6, believes that 7 ate 9 and is now after him. Which he always is, after all. Using rotary telephones, vintage vehicles, and cozy store fronts, Ross transports us into the 1930-40's. Ross imbues the numbers and letters with amazing personality, using shoes, tiny hands, and ingeniously expressive faces. After a bit of investigating, and eating pi, the detective flips the tables and reveals the real issue - jealousy. Case solved, I is ready to for letter cases (upper and lower) , when - you guessed it - another number startles him awake. Tara and Ross have created a truly masterfully puny mystery around the number line. It is a new favorite of mine. Well worth multiple reads to appreciate the subtle and not so subtle humor, as well as a great mentor text for the interaction of text and illustration. This is a great book for kids of all ages.

Of course, no one wants to get 3 for the price of 5, but it’s the only way I could construct a sentence using all the single digit counting numbers (except 6 because I couldn’t figure out a way to fit that number in). That sentence, however, isn’t as good as the sentences that make up the story of “7 ate 9,” which is an incredibly witty book using numbers and their homophones to construct a murder mystery. The anthropomorphic numbers are quite the characters too, and the puns just add another dimension. The mistrust and division between the numbers multiplies the fun. You will not regret subtracting a few minutes from your day to read this book.

THIS BOOK IS EVERY ELEMENTARY TEACHER'S DREAM! It’s smart and clever and gets kids using higher level thinking skills. As a reading specialist, I’d use this in classrooms to teach students about figurative language and metacognition. I’d point out the use of puns, idioms, strong verbs, etc. I’d also present this book at state reading conferences to show teachers how to use it as a springboard for a writing activity.

It was a dark and stormy night. The number 6 pays a visit to the local private I. He tells a story or murder, mayhem, digits and puns. Then they get pi. The fun, puns, and hilarious twists never end in this rollicking tale from the unique mind of Tara Lazar. I guess we learn a few things about our letters and numbers, too, but who notices? The story's the thing! Equally hilarious are the quirky illustrations by Ross MacDonald. I just keep reading it over and over, cause I love the ride!

Witty wordplay, puns, and a mystery whodunit in a children's book! Smart, well-written, and funny, and filled with clever ah-ha moments that you may overlook the first time you read. (I keep finding new wordplay--so clever!!) Love the city setting and awesome illustrations. Another amazing book by Tara Lazar! This is a book you will be happy to read to your child over and over--they will be learning, getting smarter, and loving it!

You might think you know why 6 was always afraid of 7 but I am here to tell you that you only know a fraction of the story. 9 goes missing and it is believed that 7 ate 9...but did he really? When 6 fears he may be next, he seeks out the help of Private I who quickly dives into the investigation. Join Private I and 6 in the untold story of 7 Ate 9 and get the 4-1-1 on what really happened. Please note that Private I usually works exclusively with letters but he's made an exception for 6 in this case, who had burst into his office in a tizzy. From that moment forward, be prepared for the hilarity that ensues in epic numerical proportions. You will certainly enjoy this book. You can count on it!

While strolling through the shelves of the picture book section of the library, 7 Ate 9: The Untold Story by Tara Lazar caught my attention. I immediately remembered the joke: Why was six afraid of seven? Because seven ate nine! This silly joke is brought into this humorous mathematical picture book that uses play on words to entertain readers of all ages. A special detective, a private investigator I is on the case when the number 6 informed him that the number 7 was after him. "Word on the street is that 7 ate 9! And now he's after me! (page 4)." And the story problem begins. I think this is a great way to integrate reading into math time with this book's play on numbers and mathematical words. Once the book has been read, it will be time for students to solve some problems of their very own. This could be paired with some creative story problems, using current concepts you are teaching in the classroom. Your students can play the role of the private I.

7 Ate 9: The Untold Story is a very entertaining story. And how can it not be, having been written by Tara Lazar? Private I is asked by the number 6 to help him. He has heard that 7 Ate 9, and he is scared 7 would soon be after him. Private I pointed out that 7 is always after him – as in 5, 6, 7. That fact doesn’t console 6 and he fears his days are numbered as both 7 and 9 seem to be missing! Private I goes to the café for a slice of pi. (No, I didn’t mean to type pie.) The waitress, whose name is B, has the scoop. She’d heard that 7 ate 9, and she drops a scoop of ice-cream onto Private I’s pie that’s shaped like the number π – which is the mathematical pi. As you can easily figure out from what little I have said – not wanting to give away the whole story – there are many puns and word plays in this funny picture book 7 Ate 9: The Untold Story. The bold, creative illustrations by Ross MacDonald (a Canadian now living in the US) are perfectly suited to the story and visually add to the puns. The reader must pay attention to the illustrations to not miss the added humour. In a surprising and funny conclusion, Private I cleverly solves the mystery of missing 9 and 7, reminding the adult reader a little of Sherlock Holmes. 🙂 Tara Lazar has cleverly written a book for children that is full of puns, plays on words, and humour. Young readers are sure to enjoy 7 Ate 9: The Untold Story.

Tara Lazar is known for her sense of humor, especially in picture books, but this book is probably the best one she has written to date. Just about everyone has heard the corny joke "Why is 6 afraid? Because 7 ate 9" which plays on the homonyms "eight" and "ate." But Tara takes it to a whole other level, developing characters and a plot that blow the word play up to hilarious proportions. There are even gags in the illustrations that the illustrator Ross MacDonald brings to the project as well. This is a book that will quickly become a favorite in my teacher library.

A really fun read with a great who-done it mystery for all ages! Detective I is on the case of the missing number. Did 7 eat 9? If so, who's next? Could it be 6? 6 is really worried 7 is out to get him next. Or could another number be responsible for 9's sudden and suspicious disappearance. With Detective I hard on the case, readers will enjoy trying to solve the mystery as letters and numbers are question over 9's disappearance. Just be warned, not everything is at it appears... See if you an solve the mystery before Detective I can. 7 Ate 9 is an engaging story that makes for the perfect read aloud, as it invites readers to join in the mystery. It's fast paced storyline, and fun illustrations make it easy to follow along. This is an entertaining read worth checking out.

Classic Tara Lazar! Full of puns, humor, and cleverness! The art is splendid. A must buy for every child's library!

I won Ms. Lazar's book in a contest and was thrilled. I follow her on social media and admire her as a very talented children's author. I love "7 Ate 9." It's filled with mystery, humor, number puns, and adorable characters. The story is clever, and I could read it over and over again and still find new references to numbers and math. This is a great book for all ages.

I love anything by this author, Tara Lazar! As usual, her books are hilarious and the art is SPOT ON! Definitely the type of book my son will ask to read again and again.

The letter I is an Investigator or Private I. He was visited in his office by the number 6, who was in a panic. He claimed 7 was coming to get him because 7 ate 9. Of course, it was up to I to get to the bottom of things. He started asking questions to 8, B, 11, 5 and didn’t seem to be getting anywhere. But, when he saw 6 crossing the street he’d come to an interesting conclusion. What do you think it was? Author Tara Lazar is known for using exceptional word play in her stories and this one is no different. The mystery and concept are engaging and hilarious. The illustrations are colorful and fun and provide clues. Parents and teachers can use this tool to teach the alphabet, numbers and solving puzzles.

Really clever story and delightful read for child and adult reader. Plays on words and draws the reader in... what happened to 9? Fortunately, there's a Private Investigator, PI (get it?) who can solve the mystery. This book will become a favorite!

Help solve the mystery using math! In this laugh out loud mathematical mystery, 7 ATE 9 written by Tara Lazar, illustrated by Ross MacDonald and published by Disney Hyperion, you and your young reader will help Private I solve the case, one page at a time. #mustread #mystery #humor #concept #mathskills

I was dozing in his office when 6 came in looking for help. 7 was after him! There was a rumor going around that 7 ate 9 and now he was coming for 6. So I went out to figure out what was going on. Following a series of clues after talking with letters and numbers, I deduced that 9 had disappeared but that 7 could not have eaten him since 7 was on vacation. Suddenly, I figured it all out and realized exactly what was going on in this topsy-turvy mystery. Filled with puns and jokes, this picture book is a lot of fun. Using the framework of a vintage detective agency, this picture book borrows the lingo from that period as well, adding to the humor. Children may figure out the mystery along with I, but they may be surprised as well. No matter, the fun is in the language, the humor and the ride. Macdonald’s illustrations allow the letters and numbers to pop on the page. They pay homage to vintage images using similar lines and colors. The letters and numbers have plenty of personality so they are distinct from one another as characters. Pay close attention to the small details as well. You wouldn’t want to miss the pi joke in the restaurant scene. A mystery filled with humor, you can count on this to be a great read. Appropriate for ages 5-7.

If you love film noir and want your kids to have fun with numbers, this is the book for your family! And if you're a teacher who wants kids to have fun with puns, definitely for you. Pretty much for everyone, everywhere, check out this fun, mystery!

If you haven't heard the "word on the street" about "Seven Eight (Ate) Nine", you'll get an earful in this punny spin-off story of the popular children's joke. Author Tara Lazar manages to capture the signature narration style from classic whodunit films and movies. Our main character narrator Private "I", infuses humor and math puns as he takes on the case of a worried 6. Coupled with Ross MacDonald's 19th century printing press number characters, the timeless feel is stamped on every page. As with all the best stories, this one features a surprising twist that foils us all in true film noir fashion.

Didn't you always wonder why 7 ate 9? Now you can find out! 6 hires Private I to find 7 who's after him. His days are numbered! I enjoy reading this to my three-year-olds. They don't get all the jokes yet, but they love the story and the fun play with how the numbers are drawn. And since I get the jokes, it's easy to read over and over. :)

There was a lot of plot and tons of puns in this noir-style picture book. The nostalgic illustrations added to the playful tone and strengthened the forward motion of the story. I'm not sure how the target age will react, but I think parents will enjoy reading this aloud. The author even managed to squeeze some plot twists into the book. Clever endpapers too.

So clever and funny. The 5-year-old requests this one over and over, and was thrilled to notice clues in the illustration that hint at the answer to the mystery.

A clever take on a favorite joke. Ingenious. Older picture book aged kids will appreciate the math humor and puns while younger kids will enjoy the appealing illustrations and looking for the various numbers. A fun read-aloud that could be used in elementary classrooms.

It's that bizarre Tara Lazar again, and she's at her finest. Ole Joe Friday would be proud of her new book. You really have to read this one more than once, and if you are a pun fanatic, you will be in heaven. The illustrations make the numbers come alive with their own personalities. The end pages add an extra layer of fun. Read this and in your mind, hear Dragnet's Joe Friday say, "All we know are the facts, ma'am."

This is such a fun book! There was a sense of humor in it for the parent to enjoy as well. A clever little story. We paired up the book with the game, “7 ate 9.” It made for a fun morning and we really enjoyed our math lesson for the day.

Tara Lazar is the queen of puns and this book is chock full of fun puns! Her wordplay and clever plot keep you turning the pages to figure out if the private "I" can save poor "6." Kids and adults will love reading this one over and over and discovering the little hidden jokes in Ross MacDonald's wonderful illustrations. This book can also be a wonderful teaching tool for both math and english concepts.

Young and "old" readers will enjoy the incredible wit and fabulous word play In Tara's new book. As a children's book writer and a full-fledged adult, I, myself, couldn't wait to see how the number mystery would unfold. It's simply a lot of fun to read and children, especially, will gain a new perspective on numbers, encountering their personalities and problems! 7 Ate 9 is a book that children will want to read and reread, always finding a little more delight within its pages!

Private eye I (yes, that's his name) must solve the mystery of the missing 9. This is a book to read slowly, chuckle, and then read again. Anyone who loves wildly delightful word play (and number play, if there is such a thing) needs to read this one.

Another awesome book by one of our favorite Authors! This book is not only fun and funny but it is a great teaching tool as well! This is one of those rare gems of a picture book that kids enjoy reading, but can have equal purpose on my classroom shelf! At home, we have books packing the shelves of the book shelf....but all of the Tara Lazar books live in that pile of favorites that sits beside the bed! This is a book you will want to own!

7 ATE 9 is a clever and "punny" addition to the private eye genre of picture books. Young readers will have a great time solving the mystery of the missing number 9. Is he innocent or guilty of eating one of his fellow numbers? Follow the clues and find out. A perfect read aloud delight!

I LOVE this book. My kids love it too. The numbers-themed wordplay is so delightful. Every time we read it we find another pun that makes us laugh out loud. It makes multiple re-reads fun. And the art is simple, colorful and a lot of fun. I love the ways the artist personifies each number character. I highly recommend this book. I hope there are more in the series coming!

My 5 year old loves this and I enjoy it as well. It’s a fun creative read for kids

Honestly, this is such a cute funny book, it’s worth having in your child’s library!

Clever and well written, Tara Lazar proves that she is a children’s author that writes in a lively, engaging way that adults will enjoy reading to kids or kids will enjoy ready on their own. Illustrations are colorful and go beautifully with this funny story.

This book is so clever and well written. Got it for my 7 year old twins, but planning to also share it with my third grade class, as they will appreciate the puns.

Filled with clever word-play and puns, 7 Ate 9 is a fun book to read! Kids and adults will enjoy the jokes and the mystery. The illustrations are a perfect fit for this Sam Spade homage. Join Private I and see if you can solve the case of the missing digits.

So funny! The story is great, the puns on target, and the type-set illustrations are fantastic! We've now read this several times and each read through my 8 year old caught more and more of the jokes. Very well done!

I love when I'm reading a book to my daughter and we both laugh out loud, but not necessarily for the same reason! This is one of those books. It's fun to read, and it sneaks in some math with the reading. The illustrations are priceless. An instant classic.

My seven year old loved the puns and detective-speak! Fun book!

Lazar's done it again! Seven Ate 9 is a puntastic example of kidlit at its finest. Not only is the story clever and engaging, it's also hilarious. Rife with number and math-related puns, this little mystery set in 1940ish era Manhattan delivers a new laugh with every page turn. In addition (see what I did there), it stands up well to repeat readings. The illustrations -- completed in part via an old-fashioned woodblock printing press -- complement the story perfectly. And the best part? There's room for a part deux set up at the end. If we're lucky, perhaps Lazar and MacDonald will team up again to give us a second dose. Pick up a copy. You can thank me later. This one really is 2 good 2 B 4gotten!

This one is perfect for older readers who will understand the play on words and jokes. It could be used in early elementary school for teaching about mysteries or just for fun. Because it's a charming funny story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Knew I'd love the book from the moment I heard the title. Finally, we could get to the bottom of the 7 ate 9 mystery... The clever puns added up to equal a pile of laughs. I've enjoyed reading the story multiple times. A great read for the numerically challenged to math geeks.

The title grabbed my attention because it made me laugh. I turned the pages because the writing and illustrations were like two peas in a pod. I gave it as gifts because I knew it would make my nieces giggle. Nothing is better than the sound of a child's belly laughs.

Packed with sly humor, with illustrations that perfectly match the clever text. A great read-aloud and fun number play.

Love this very comical introduces some numbers and some vocabulary illustrations are great

My 3 year old daughter picked this out from the library herself. She seems to enjoy it! Great to help her with numbers. This would make a great gift. Adults will appreciate the plays on words. Tasteful illustrations.

Fun to read aloud with a great plot. It's astounding how well Tara Lazar nailed the tone of a detective story in such a short format like a picture book. I also really appreciated the math jokes/puns/references sprinkled throughout the story.

This book has amazing word play and extremely clever twists. Plus, I love the hard boiled, noir voice it has. It's a great read and quite funny.

So funny! Laughed out loud as I read it in Barnes & Nobel, then decided it just had to come home with me.

So clever. Kids and adults will both get a kick out of this witty book that will make you think. Numbers have never been so cool. A book you can count on for laughs.

Wonderful parody of a PI novel featuring numbers. Great for children!

Kids get to step in the shoes of this first-person hard-boiled (but not too jaded) sleuth and parents get to dust off their old-time radio detective voice. My 7-year-old daughter begged for an encore. Brilliant book!

Couldn't wait to read this book. So fun and clever! Reminded me of those old black and white detective movies.

Wonderfully written! Another classic.

Cute story filled with word-play on numbers.

Everything about this adds up to a great read!

Great picture book! Clever and funny - and fun to read aloud too!

Outstanding book for children and adults alike! Full of wit from title to the last page.

Excellent!! Full of fun little puns my kids love this book!! Lots of little laughs!

What a wonderful book. We loved the witty text, the brightly colored illustrations and the all-around silliness. Lazar's words & MacDonald's pictures work well together.

So funny!