# Really Bad Encyclopedia Brown Solutions (or Other Kid Lit. Items That Ticked You Off) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2005, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400 "2005-09-19T18:26:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/81 "2005-09-20T21:40:46Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > Should I be embarrassed to admit I also read Danny Dunn? Wow, I’d completely forgotten about [Danny Dunn](http://unofficial.umkc.edu/crossonm/dannydunn.htm). I think I read every one of those books when I was a kid. ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/82 "2005-09-20T21:59:17Z")
Well, since the thread is digressing into other book series, how many ever read [Brains Benton](http://www.townofautumn.com/brainsbenton/) or [The Mad Scientists Club](http://www.madscientistsclub.com/)? ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/83 "2005-09-20T22:18:20Z")
My personal piss-me-off EB solution had to do with eggs. The solution was that EB “proved” an egg was hard boiled and not raw because somebody cleaned it up with a broom and dust pan. That plus a quick wipe with a napkin would have been how I cleaned it up, I could never understand how that proved anything. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/84 "2005-09-20T22:53:12Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > My personal piss-me-off EB solution had to do with eggs. The solution was that EB “proved” an egg was hard boiled and not raw because somebody cleaned it up with a broom and dust pan. That plus a quick wipe with a napkin would have been how I cleaned it up, I could never understand how that proved anything. You would clean up a raw egg spill with a broom and dustpan? Yuck. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/85 "2005-09-20T22:54:13Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Of course I remember them. Scott Corbett’s series of “Trick” books, which started off with “The Lemonade Trick.” Old lady Mrs. Graymalkin gives Kerby and Fenton her son Felix’s old chemistry set. The chemistry set produces magical-type results. Her car was named Nostradamus, right? Time to start a general children’s book memories thread. Ahh, **Mara, Daughter of the Nile** , how I enjoyed you. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/86 "2005-09-20T22:55:22Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > My personal piss-me-off EB solution had to do with eggs. The solution was that EB “proved” an egg was hard boiled and not raw because somebody cleaned it up with a broom and dust pan. That plus a quick wipe with a napkin would have been how I cleaned it up, I could never understand how that proved anything. Wasn’t it kind of like the “narrow flight away”? He said, “I’m going to break this egg”, and the person said “I’ll get the broom”, thus proving he knew it was hardboiled, and only the criminal knew it was hardboiled, or something like that? ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/87 "2005-09-20T23:56:12Z")
I was such a little turd in school. I would read… nay DEVOUR these books, and the, when the teacher would read us a story once a week, on Friday afternoon, I’d raise my hand with the solution the MOMENT the ridiculous plot turn took place. Anyway, the one I remember most hating was one, I think a 2MM, in which the plot hinged on the fact that a criminal referred to San Francisco as “Frisco,” and nobody from there could ever POSSIBLY refer to the city as “Frisco.” Yeah, they don’t like it, but I liver there, and heard it myself. Bastard writers. George ---
**Author:** ![NoPretentiousCodename](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/82dd89/32.png) [@NoPretentiousCodename](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoPretentiousCodename)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/88 "2005-09-21T00:09:13Z")
Einstein Anderson? Anyone? Anyone? _Crickets Chirp_ ---
**Author:** ![Netbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71e660/32.png) [@Netbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Netbrian)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/89 "2005-09-21T00:23:09Z")
> [@NoPretentiousCodename](#): > > Einstein Anderson? > > Anyone? > > Anyone? > > _Crickets Chirp_ I remember it! Mildly fondly too. I liked it in third grade, and even then I noted it was a rather blatant rip-off. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/90 "2005-09-21T00:26:10Z")
> [@Ukulele Ike](#): > > In case a Man Comes Through the Door with a Gun. In that case I should be facing the door since I’m the one who’s packing heat. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/91 "2005-09-21T00:27:19Z")
> [@wheresgeorge04](#): > > Anyway, the one I remember most hating was one, I think a 2MM, in which the plot hinged on the fact that a criminal referred to San Francisco as “Frisco,” and nobody from there could ever POSSIBLY refer to the city as “Frisco.” Yeah, they don’t like it, but I liver there, and heard it myself. Bastard writers. > > George That’s the only one in this thread so far that I agree with. I live in SF, and while I may have heard it, (probably from a tourist or recent resident), I completely agree that if he was **from** here there’s no way he would say it. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/92 "2005-09-21T00:55:30Z")
OK, I don’t think I’ve seen anyone mention Mr. S’s favorite from this genre: **Brains Benton.** Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/93 "2005-09-21T01:40:08Z")
> [@tanstaafl](#): > > Well, since the thread is digressing into other book series, how many ever read [Brains Benton](http://www.townofautumn.com/brainsbenton/) or [The Mad Scientists Club](http://www.madscientistsclub.com/)? Yep, I read The Mad Scientists too! My favorite Great Brain was the one where he didn’t like their teacher, so he got him fired by planting a bottle of liquor in his coat. As for the OP, chalk me up as another one that immediately thought of the “a narrow escape/an arrow escape” when I read the thread title. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/94 "2005-09-21T01:50:42Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > I remember disliking the mystery where Brown fingered the perpetrator because there’s no such thing as a past tense of “misled.” The perpetrator, if memory serves, needed an excuse to go into the garage or something, so he said he was going to look up the past tense of “misled” in the dictionary. Well, if the kid was such a dumbass that he didn’t already know that, then heading to a dictionary would definitely NOT be a sign of criminal intent – it would be a blessed sign that he finally understood how little he knew about English! I might have to stick up for Sobol on that one because IIRC, the tip-off that the perpetrator was lying wasn’t that he claimed to be looking _up_ the word in the dictionary, it was that he claimed to have _found_ it. I am astonished that I remember this twenty years later. ---
**Author:** ![sleeepy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@sleeepy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeepy2)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/95 "2005-09-21T01:51:43Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > Bugs stole a valuable coin and hid it in his hotdog. I _think_ the problem was that Bugs used saurkraut and mustard in the wrong order. Bugs had stolen a valuable penny at some sort of hot dog appreciation festival. The clue was that Bugs had his hot dog with the mustard on top of his sauerkraut, and no hot dog lover would put mustard on top of saurekraut! So clearly, the penny was tucked in the bun, snuggled under sauerkraut, but well safe of that nefarious mustard! I think I last read that story twenty-five years ago, but it’s still a sore spot with me! [GRUMBLE] Little punk tell me how to eat my friggin’ hot dog [/GRUMBLE] I only stuck with these stories 'cause Sally Kimball was a minx. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/96 "2005-09-21T02:27:05Z")
Why was Encyclopedia’s dad always eating soup for dinner? Poor schmuck; lays his life on the line every day on the mean streets of Idaville and for what? So he can come home to a loveless marriage, a wiseass son who’s better at his job than he is, and big bowl of lukewarm broth. Nice life you got there, Chief. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/97 "2005-09-21T02:31:57Z")
> [@Fretful Porpentine](#): > > I might have to stick up for Sobol on that one because IIRC, the tip-off that the perpetrator was lying wasn’t that he claimed to be looking _up_ the word in the dictionary, it was that he claimed to have _found_ it. That makes a little more sense. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/98 "2005-09-21T02:43:51Z")
Just found this little tidbit: [The Last Case of Encyclopedia Brown](http://hcs.harvard.edu/~demon/issues/apr_14_1998/ebrown/ebrown.html) ---
**Author:** ![bmoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/99 "2005-09-21T03:05:34Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Wasn’t it kind of like the “narrow flight away”? He said, “I’m going to break this egg”, and the person said “I’ll get the broom”, thus proving he knew it was hardboiled, and only the criminal knew it was hardboiled, or something like that? Oddly enough, I remember this story vividly. Encyclopedia was hired by a kid who was the Champeen egg-spinner of Idaville (every kid in Idaville had some singular talent or trait) who was training for the upcoming Big Event. However, there was a New Kid on the egg-spinning scene who came out of nowehere the challenge the Champ’s supremacy. Encyclopedia observed the New Kid as he showed off his technique at his diner hangout, but knew the jig was up when the egg spun off the counter on the counterman’s side. He couldn’t see the egg, but when the guy said he would get a broom and sweep up the mess, he knew it was a hard-boiled egg, which would spin longer than a regular egg. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400/100 "2005-09-21T06:36:04Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Tom would never leave something like that to chance. Well, there was that rafting business during flood season… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-encyclopedia-brown-solutions-or-other-kid-lit-items-that-ticked-you-off/322400.md?page=6)