'Encyclopedia Brown' Author Sobol Dead at 87

Donald J. Sobol, the author behind the popular Encyclopedia Brown series of children's mysteries, died in Miami July 11. He was 87.

Sobol's son said that his father died of natural causes.

Amateur pre-teen sleuth Leroy "Encyclopedia" Brown fascinated kids in a series of fictional mystery books beginning in 1963. Together with detective partner and tomboy Sally Kimball, Encyclopedia is a mainstay in classrooms and libraries worldwide.

Brown, nicknamed "Encyclopedia" for his vast knowledge, also possessed a keen eye, which allowed him to help his police chief father, usually over dinner. Brown would also solve crimes from his garage, together with Kimball, usually perpetuated by antagonist Bugs Meany.

Find more than 25 of the Encyclopedia Brown series at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library, including: 

• Encyclopedia Brown and The Case of the Carnival Crime
• Encyclopedia Brown and The Case of the Secret UFOs 
• Encyclopedia Brown and The Case of the Jumping Frogs
• Encyclopedia Brown and The Case of the Sleeping Dogs
• Encyclopedia Brown and The Case of the Disgusting Sneakers
• Encyclopedia Brown and The Case of the Treasure Hunt
• Encyclopedia Brown and The Case of the Mysterious Handprints
• Encyclopedia Brown Lends a Hand
• Encyclopedia Brown Takes the Case
• Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective 
• Encyclopedia Brown Solves Them All

The library also carries numerous Encyclopedia Brown audiobooks.

For a complete list of Sobol's works available at the library, visit the CMPL website. 

For other kid-friendly reading suggestions, check out Patch's Summer Reading Guide.