Nate the Great and the Missing Key

Nate the Great #6

by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Nate the Great doesn't especially want to go to a birthday party for Annie's ferocious dog, Fang. But he can't resist a mystery--and when Annie loses her house key and can't get inside to set up the party, Nate and his trusty dog, Sludge, are hot on the trial.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Fiction, Picture Books, Chapter Books, 2nd Grade, 1st Grade

Library Binding

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat was an American children's writer. She wrote more than 130 books for children and teens and her books have been translated into several languages. They have won awards including Book of the Year by the Library of Congress or have become selections by the Literary Guild.
Perhaps Sharmat's most popular work features the child detective Nate the Great. He was inspired by and named after her father, who lived to see the first Nate book published. One story, Nate the Great Goes Undercover, was adapted as a made-for-TV movie that won the Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival Award. Sharmat's husband Mitchell Sharmat expanded Nate's storyline by creating Olivia Sharp, his cousin and fellow detective. Husband and wife wrote four Olivia Sharp books published 1989 to 1991. During the 1990s, their son Craig Sharmat (then in his thirties) wrote three Nate books with his mother. In the late 2010s, their other son Andrew Sharmat co-wrote the last two Nate books written while Marjorie Weinman Sharmat was alive. With Marjorie Weinman Sharmat's passing in 2019 Andrew has continued writing the series with Nate the Great and the Earth Day Robot (2021).
In the mid-1980s Sharmat wrote three books published in 1984 and 1985 under the pseudonym Wendy Andrews.
Sharmat also wrote the Sorority Sisters series, eight short novels published in 1986 and 1987. They are romantic fiction with a sense of humor. They are set in a California public high school (day school for ages 14 to 18, approximately).

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first grade son is at the point that he would not pick out a Nate the Great book to read on his own anymore. However, I bought a whole bunch of them and am making him read them with me before he is definitely too old to read them. He loves pointing out all of the things that are "wrong" with them. For example, I ended up having to read the first page for him because he wouldn't stop laughing. He was like, "Mom, who talks like that. . . 'I, Nate the Great, am a detective.' You should just say, I'm a detective." Then Nate's friend Annie comes to his house and can't find the key to get into her house to have a birthday party for her dog. Her parents aren't at the house either because they don't like dog parties. My son was like, "Mom, I don't think you should be having a party at your house when your parents aren't there." (Exactly . . . I sure hope my son remembers this line of reasoning when he is a teenager.) Then later in the book, he points out to me, "I don't think it's safe for Nate to be making pancakes on his own either. Where's his mom? He's always making pancakes and leaving notes for her." We got a big kick out of them looking in the garbage can for the key too. (This is not the first time where Nate has looked in a garbage can when trying to solve a mystery. Maybe he's trying to follow the motto, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again.") I must admit, this was the first Nate the Great book where we weren't able to figure out what happened to the key ahead of time so kudos to the author for your brilliant trickery. This book was a little too unbelievable for my son but maybe that's what makes it a little bit fun to read.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids are really enjoying the series of Nate the Great. Is it bad I am excited when I figure out the case before Nate? 🤣 Probably not. But these are perfect length to fit one and two a school pickup run

[Chloe Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dry humor of this book is hilarious. The facts and activity ideas in the back are also delightful. Our only beef is that Fang is yellow in the book but depicted as brown on the cover which truly baffles my reader, as he felt he needed to announce the discrepancy many times in the interest of truthtelling.

[midnightfaerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book my 6 yr old loved, a little old for my preschoolers. A solid reading level 2 book, this reader has a good amount of advanced vocabulary words, but not so long that it discourages a new reader. Used it for his read out loud book, which was perfect. It took about 15 mins for him to read and had just enough new vocabulary words to make it challenging. Also, it was a fun and interesting story he could get into. He liked it so much, he asked for more by this author. Great reading book!

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our girls (especially our youngest) have always loved Nate the Great stories. They are always fun, and always strange. This tale centers around Fang's birthday and Annie losing her house key. The story is entertaining - classic Nate...the Great.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nate the Great doesn't especially want to go to a birthday party for Annie's ferocious dog, Fang. But he can't resist a mystery--and when Annie loses her house key and can't get inside to set up the party, Nate and his trusty dog, Sludge, are hot on the trial.

[Sterrett Family]

Daniel: This series has a lot of humor; yet it doesn't leave out intelligence or the point of the story. It also has some useless details.

[Cora · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh ...

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review: Munchkin has really been enjoying the Nate the Great books, though we have had a hard time finding them at our library and bookstore, so we have been reading them a bit out of order. This was a fun one to read and Munchkin really liked following along and trying to figure out the mystery along with Nate and Sludge. He gets a kick out of when Nate the Great has to take a break for pancakes. These books also have a lot of activities in the back that are fun, from jokes to facts about money and so much more. This book was a great way to keep Munchkin entertained for a week of summer vacation from reading the book to doing the activities.

[Christie Stoneback · Rating 5 out of 5]

According to Lennon, 7 years old…

I like Nate the great books, they are fun and when you read one you want to read more and more.
I like how Nate and Great found the key on Fang’s collar. I like how Rosamond left a note on Annie’s front door. I like how she always screams and that all of her cat’s have the name Hex. The Hex cats are all really cute. Nate the Great is a really good detective. They make you wonder if he will find it or not. Nate the Great books are really fun, especially the ones that you read. All of these books are really good.

Have fun reading more books! 📚

[Savanna F · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Nate the Great and the Missing Key by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. In the beginning Nate was getting ready for Annie's birthday party. In the middle his friend Annie lost her keys so she couldn't get into her house. They used a poem from Rosamond to help them find the key which was on Annie's dog's, Fang's collar. This book is a mystery and fiction. I give this text a 4 star rating because I thought it was interesting when they were trying to find the key and it was on the dog. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because I like mysteries. I also enjoyed this book because I liked the part when Rosemond put Annie's keys to her house on Fang's collar. I also enjoyed this book because I liked the part when they finally found Annie's key.

[Amber Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5/5
Genre: Mystery
Grade Level: 1-2
Unique feature: This is a chapter book that is written at about a 1st to 2nd grade reading level. Each Nate the Great book is working to solve a different mystery that students love to try to help solve!

[Jenna Jankowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a mystery book. Nate the Great is trying to find his friend's missing house key so she can have a party for her dog. One unique feature about this book is that the way it is written actually sounds like a young boy talking. I would give this book a B.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nate the Great solves a riddle left in a note by the strange Rosamond ( my favorite Nate the Great character for her weeeirdness). Gets kids thinking about answers that fit some of the clues but not all of the clues. When he finally has an answer that fits all clues then he finds the answer!

[Stephanie Sheaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is #6 in the Nate the Great series, although it seems that these books can be read in any order.

Marjorie Sharmart has succeeded in creating a fun, early chapter book series for young readers. Best for ages 4-10. I especially love that there are engaging pictures on almost every page.

[nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes what we’re looking for is where we least expect it. And part of the looking is overcoming your fears. How we get to where we need to be is always the mission, taught here, simply, by way of a strange poem by strange girl Rosamond.

[Chris Hays · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read aloud. The reader should understand Nate's relationship to Annie's dog Fang before reading this. Essentially, wait until you have read 2 or 3 others before diving into this mystery.

[Smars · Rating 4 out of 5]

a wonderful addition in the series within context. doesn't work well as a standalone. nates humor and timing makes me want to read actual novels about him. love how he helps his weird friends simply for the love of the game.

[Bianca Orellana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty cute. 3.5 stars.

[Yel Baldemor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was able to solve the "missing"problem with my student

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book

[WinterBat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as satisfied with the answer since it seemed to be luck that he came to that conclusion, but still enjoyable

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The humor is so cute.
A boy and a dog solving a case. How adorable.

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosamond leaves a borrowed key to Annie's house somewhere and leaves a note with a riddle. Annie enlists Nate to help find it.

Still a solid read-aloud series.

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it because I like how Rosemand is strange. I also liked how she hid the key on Fangs collar.

[Jane Maple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie is going to have a birthday party for Fang. She comes over to Nate's house and shows off Fang's new striped shirt nd new collar with various items hanging off it. Rosamond was helping Annie set up for the party, but when Annie went to the store Rosamond left Annie's house and left a note. "Your key can be found at a place that is Round. A place that is Safe. And where things are shiny. A place that is Big, because it's not tiny. And this is a poem and I went home." Annie tried to go over to Rosamond's house but she wasn't home. Nate takes the case. Searches Annie's house and can't find the key. He talks to Oliver, he doesn't have the key, but he does follow Nate. Nate tries a bank and Annie's trash can but can't find the key. Nate goes home to have pancakes. He can't find a fork because it is mixed in with the knives and spoons. He realizes it is hard to find something silvery and shiny when mixed in with similar silvery and shiny items. Nate realizes that Fang's collar is round, that the things hanging from it are shiny and that Fang is big and safe. He goes to Annie and tells her where to find the key. Nate and Rosamond attend Annie's birthday party for Fang.

Extras: Facts on Keys; Facts on Banks; Map of a Buck (showing what is on the front and back of a dollar bill); How to make a fancy dog or cat tag; jokes; how to make a present cake; ways to make a pet's birthday special

[Rick Weil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again the simplest story can get and keep our attentions. Nate's deductions are all logical but still work with the illogical thought processing. As with the other books in series we can learn much and benefit through a child's fresh eyes.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal reaction: I liked this book. I thought it was cute, funny, and relatable! I liked how Nate was afraid of dogs. I also like the funny ending!

Use in the classroom:

1. Read aloud for curricular connection: This book wouldn't make a great read aloud. The vocabulary is too simple. It is structured more for independent reading.

2. Independent reading: This would be a perfect book for a transitional reader! The text doesn't rely on the illustrations, there is more than one line of text on each page, and the vocabulary is more difficult than a beginning book. I think kids would really like the suspense of finding the missing key.

3. Literary elements: I think this would be a good book to introduce mystery to young children. You could use it to teach about different genres.

[Mango · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nate the Great books aren't that great. I hated them when I was a kid, yet I would always read them.The endings of the books were always the same, they figured out what or who did it. And where are Nate's parents? They just let their son walk around everywhere and question people. That is very irresponsible of them. Nate the Great books always made me fall asleep and always wasted my time. I would not recommend this book to anyone, especially little kids. If kids want real mystery, they should read Sherlock Homes.