The Unfair Fair Case Read online

  The first room was filled with wacky mirrors.

  Suddenly Mack was mini! And Redd was jumbo!

  Then Mack was wavy! And Redd was even wavier!

  Mack was feeling better already. He smiled and walked… straight into a mirror.

  “This way, Boss,” said Redd. “I know this place like the back of my wing.”

  Redd guided Mack through the mirror maze, across the balance beam, and up the rope ladder.

  Redd was solid and steady. It looked like he had been through the fun house a million times before.

  “That’s it!” cried Mack. “Redd, you’re a genius!”

  “I am?” asked Redd.

  “I just figured out how Octavia is winning every game,” said Mack.

  “You did?” asked Redd.

  But before Mack could explain, the floor beneath them began to wobble. It shook. It shuddered.

  Mack tripped over his funny, floppy shoes. Then he bumped into Redd and they both spilled into the giant spinning barrel.

  “Yikes!” hollered Mack.

  “Yippee!” squealed Redd.

  The barrel spun them round and around until they didn’t know which way was up. Then they tumbled out and slid all the way down the super slide and into the safety net.

  Whoosh!

  “Let’s do it again!” said Redd.

  “Maybe later,” said Mack.

  Mack rubbed his head. He rubbed his horn. He even rubbed his red clown nose.

  “Oh, I don’t like to see a sad clown at the fair,” said a kind voice.

  Mack looked up.

  It was… Octavia?

  She held the glow-in-the-dark space creature out to him. “I hope this brightens your day, Mr. Clown,” she said.

  A Fairy-Tale Ending

  Al Gator rushed over.

  “Mr. Clown! Mr. Clown,” he called. “Are you okay?”

  “I couldn’t be better,” said Mack.

  Mack took off his round, red nose. He took off his curly, colorful wig. He took off his funny, floppy shoes.

  “Mack Rhino?” Al exclaimed. “It’s you!”

  “Yes, it’s me,” said Mack. “Mack Rhino, Private Eye. And for cases fair or unfair, I’m your guy. Or… rhino.”

  “Mack and I were undercover,” added Redd.

  “And it worked,” said Al. “I see you’ve netted Octavia Octopus.”

  “Netted?” asked Octavia. “I’m confused.”

  “So were we,” said Mack. “This case has been like a fun-house mirror. Things are not as they appear.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Al.

  “I don’t think Octavia is trying to spoil the fair at all,” explained Mack. “I think Octavia loves the fair.”

  “That’s true!” said Octavia. “I love the rides and games. I love the treats and prizes. It’s my favorite time of year.”

  “Hey, us, too!” chirped Redd.

  “But how was she winning every game?” asked Al.

  “It took a trip through the fun house with Redd for me to see the answer,” Mack said. “This is a simple case of practice makes perfect.”

  “I do practice a lot,” said Octavia shyly. “In fact, I wish I could be at the fair all year long.”

  “Is that so?” said Mack. “Al, didn’t you mention that you need an extra set of hands around here?”

  “I sure do!” said Al with a smile. He turned to Octavia. “How would you like to come work at the Coral Cove Fair?”

  “Really?” said Octavia excitedly. “I’d love to.”

  “Mack Rhino,” said Al. “How can I ever thank you?”

  “I have an idea,” said Octavia. “Mack and Redd will have tickets to the fair every year as our guests!”

  “Well, that solves one problem,” said Redd, giggling.

  Mack took out his notebook. He placed a final check.

  Tickets √

  Mack Rhino, Private Eye, smiled. He could finally claim the prize on Case #102—The Unfair Fair Case—which turned out to be fair enough after all.

  “I just have one last question,” said Redd.

  “What happened to all the prizes?” asked Mack.

  “No,” said Redd. “Do you think Octavia would join our bowling team?”

  Word List

  adjusted (uh•JUHS•ted): Fixed or moved into a better position

  beelined (BEE•lined): Moved in a quick and direct manner

  carousel (care•uh•SELL): A fair ride with seats, often in the shape of animals, that goes around a fixed center

  cephalopod (SEF•fuh•luh•pod): An animal from a category that includes octopuses and squids

  deflated (dee•FLAY•ted): Disappointed

  effortlessly (EH•fort•less•lee): Easily; without much work

  emerged (ih•MERJD): Came out into view

  frustrated (FRUH•stray•ted): Upset or annoyed

  genius (JEEN•yuss): A very smart person

  glumly (GLUM•lee): Sadly or gloomily

  jiffy (JIH•fee): An instant or a split-second

  netted (NEH•ted): Caught

  shuddered (SHUH•derd): Shivered or shook

  to the gills (too thuh GILS): Completely full

  ushered (UH•sherd): Led or guided

  wobble (WAH•bull): Shake; become unsteady

  Questions

  At the beginning of the story, Mack gets a phone call. Who is calling? What does Mack hear in the background?

  Why does Al Gator call Mack Rhino for help? Why are the fairgoers getting frustrated?

  What is Mack and Redd’s undercover disguise? Have you ever worn a disguise or costume?

  How does Mack and Redd’s trip through the fun house help Mack solve the case?

  Mack, Redd, and Octavia all love the Coral Cove Fair. It is their favorite time of year. What is your favorite time of year? Why?

  More from this Series

  The Candy Caper Case

  The Big Race Lace Case

  Athena & the Mermaid's…

  Luna's Obedience School

  More from the Authors

  Whooooo Done It?

  Bright Lights, Big…

  About the Authors

  PAUL DUBOIS JACOBS & JENNIFER SWENDER are the coauthors of many picture books, including My Subway Ride and Fire Drill, as well as the Animal Inn chapter book series. Jennifer’s middle-grade novel Solving for M is a Junior Library Guild Selection and audiobook. Paul has also written four books with musician Pete Seeger, including Abiyoyo Returns and The Deaf Musicians, winner of the ALA’s Schneider Family Book Award. Paul and Jennifer live in Massachusetts surrounded by squirrels, bunnies, owls, wild turkeys, foxes, and deer. But so far, no rhinos. Please visit them at JacobsAndSwender.com.

  Aladdin Quix

  Simon & Schuster, New York

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  www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Paul-Dubois-Jacobs

  www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Jennifer-Swender

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sp; Book 3: Aphrodite & the Gold Apple

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ALADDIN QUIX

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  First Aladdin QUIX paperback edition September 2021

  Text copyright © 2021 by Jennifer Swender and Paul DuBois Jacobs

  Illustrations copyright © 2021 by Karl West

  Also available in an Aladdin QUIX hardcover edition.

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  Designed by Tiara Iandiorio

  The illustrations for this book were rendered digitally.

  Cover designed by Tiara Iandiorio

  Cover illustration copyright © 2021 by Karl West

  Library of Congress Control Number 2021940843

  ISBN 978-1-5344-7997-5 (hc)

  ISBN 978-1-5344-7996-8 (pbk)

  ISBN 978-1-5344-7998-2 (ebook)