The Tattooed Potato and Other Clues
by Ellen Raskin
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From the Newbery Award-winning author of THE WESTING GAME, more clever riddles and wordplay, clues to be found, and mysteries to be solved!Wanted: Assistant to a painter (and a secret sleuth)
Dickory Dock has come to 12 Cobble Lane to take the job as painter's assistant to the artist Garson. The townhouse looks charming and quaint, but inside its redbrick walls lurk suspicious characters, multiple mysteries, and one very eccentric portrait artist. Clues abound; and suddenly Dickory finds show more herself assisting Garson not in art but in crime solving. Can Dickory untangle the web of mysteries within mysteries and discover the true secret hiding on Cobble Lane?
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Art student Dickory Dock -- yes, it's her real name, and, yes, she's heard the nursery rhyme more than enough times -- takes a job as an assistant to a hack artist who likes to don a deerstalker and solve crimes, and who also has a large collection of disguises, some shady associates, and a great big secret.
This is the third of the trio of Ellen Raskin books I bought as a set a while back, and I thought it was the only one of the three I hadn't read as a kid. Apparently I was wrong about that, though, as a few elements here were familiar enough to make me certain I had in fact read it at some point. I think I can kind of see why kid-me found it less memorable than Raskin's other books, though, as adult-me sort of agrees. There is a lot show more of cleverness here, but much of it strikes me as just a bit too silly. It's also a bit all over the place, as if it's trying to be an over-the-top comedy, and an actual mystery involving false identities and blackmail and genuine emotion, and a commentary of sorts on art and perception all at once, but not entirely succeeding at blending them all together. Then again, it's entirely possible I just wasn't in quite the right mood or the right mindset while reading it. show less
This is the third of the trio of Ellen Raskin books I bought as a set a while back, and I thought it was the only one of the three I hadn't read as a kid. Apparently I was wrong about that, though, as a few elements here were familiar enough to make me certain I had in fact read it at some point. I think I can kind of see why kid-me found it less memorable than Raskin's other books, though, as adult-me sort of agrees. There is a lot show more of cleverness here, but much of it strikes me as just a bit too silly. It's also a bit all over the place, as if it's trying to be an over-the-top comedy, and an actual mystery involving false identities and blackmail and genuine emotion, and a commentary of sorts on art and perception all at once, but not entirely succeeding at blending them all together. Then again, it's entirely possible I just wasn't in quite the right mood or the right mindset while reading it. show less
One of the rare books I read as a child that still holds up today.
Dickory Dock takes an apprenticeship with an eccentric artist by the name of Garson who teaches her to be observant. Garson also takes some cases from the police and as Inspector Noserag and Sergeant Kod, the two help solve these cases. Dickory gets more than she bargained for, though, when a couple of Garson's tenants turn out to be up to no good.
Humorous, engaging, and downright brilliant. Highly recommended.
Dickory Dock takes an apprenticeship with an eccentric artist by the name of Garson who teaches her to be observant. Garson also takes some cases from the police and as Inspector Noserag and Sergeant Kod, the two help solve these cases. Dickory gets more than she bargained for, though, when a couple of Garson's tenants turn out to be up to no good.
Humorous, engaging, and downright brilliant. Highly recommended.
Art student Dickory takes a part time job as an assistant to a mediocre artist who also acts as a consultant to the New York City Police Department. Dickory quickly finds herself embroiled in solving cases of counterfeiting, blackmail, and murder in between cleaning paintbrushes and doing her art homework.
This is an amazing book with mysteries within mysteries. With all the disguises and hidden identities, almost no one is who they first appear to be.
This is an amazing book with mysteries within mysteries. With all the disguises and hidden identities, almost no one is who they first appear to be.
A volunteer at my school told me about this book, her favorite from childhood, in hopes I could help her come up with its name. Melissa at BAW knew it, I shared it with the volunteer, and life was sweet. What a delight it was to receive this book from Melissa as my un-birthday gift! This was such a great read that I was left feeling bewildered: Why do so many fantastic children’s books go out of print?
I loved The Westing Game - this one, I just didn't.
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Author Information
22+ Works 17,045 Members
Ellen Ermingard Raskin (March 13, 1928 - August 8, 1984) was an American writer, illustrator and fashion designer. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was educated at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Primarily a children's author, she received the 1979 Newbery Medal for her 1978 book The Westing Game and a 1975 Newbery Honor for her show more 1974 book Figgs & Phantoms. She was also an accomplished graphic artist. Raskin died at the age of 56 on August 8, 1984 in New York City. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1975
- People/Characters
- Dickory Dock; Garson
- First words
- A lonely figure stood in Cobble Lane, studying the red-brick house numbered 12.
- Quotations
- "Asleep!" shouted the drawing instruction on viewing the displayed sketches. "Two drawings of sleeping lions, six drawings of people asleep on the subway, one infant asleep in a crib! This is supposed to be life drawing, no... (show all)t dead drawing. This was supposed to have been quick sketches, notes on movement."
Dickory had fallen in love with the paintings of Pierro della Francesca; even more, she had fallen in love with herself as one of his haunted angels. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock,
The happy quote
On the note she wrote
Said, "I am Dickory Dock."
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- Members
- 329
- Popularity
- 96,563
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (4.05)
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 15
- ASINs
- 6
