Cam Jansen and the Joke House Mystery
Read Cam Jansen and the Joke House Mystery Online
Authors: David A. Adler,Joy Allen
The Cam Jansen Series
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the U.F.O.
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Television Dog
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Gold Coins
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Babe Ruth Baseball
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Circus Clown
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Monster Movie
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Carnival Prize
Cam Jansen and the Mystery at the Monkey House
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Corn Popper
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of Flight 54
Cam Jansen and the Mystery at the Haunted House
Cam Jansen and the Chocolate Fudge Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Triceratops Pops Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Ghostly Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Scary Snake Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Catnapping Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Barking Treasure Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Birthday Mystery
Cam Jansen and the School Play Mystery
Cam Jansen and the First Day of School Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Tennis Trophy Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Snowy Day Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Valentine Baby Mystery—25th Anniversary Special
Cam Jansen and the Secret Service Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Summer Camp Mysteries—A Super Special
Cam Jansen and the Mystery Writer Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Green School Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Sports Day Mysteries—A Super Special
Cam Jansen and the Basketball Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Wedding Cake Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Graduation Day Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Millionaire Mystery
Cam Jansen and the Spaghetti Max Mystery
D
ON’T FORGET ABOUT THE
Y
OUNG
C
AM
J
ANSEN SERIES FOR YOUNGER READERS
!
Cam Jansen
and the
Joke House
Mystery
David A. Adler
illustrated by
Joy Allen
VIKING
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) LLC
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New York, New York 10014
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A Penguin Random House Company
First published in the United States of America by Viking,
an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, 2014
Text copyright © 2014 by David A. Adler
Illustrations copyright © 2014 by Penguin Young Readers Group
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Adler, David A.
Cam Jansen and the Joke House mystery / by David A. Adler; illustrated by Joy Allen.
pages cm
Summary: While Cam’s Aunt Molly is competing in a comedy contest, the expensive plate the winner will receive disappears and Cam and Eric set out to find it before the contest is over.
ISBN: 978-0-698-15240-3
[1. Mystery and detective stories. 2. Stealing—Fiction. 3. Jokes—Fiction. 4. Contests—Fiction.]
I. Allen, Joy, illustrator. II. Title.
PZ7.A2615Caag 2014 [Fic]—dc23 2013046783
Version_1
For my grandson Andrew
—D.A.A.
To Curt, my funny guy!
—J.A.
“I’m in big trouble,” Cam Jansen’s aunt Molly said. “I remember the riddle questions, but I don’t remember the funny answers.”
Cam, her father, Aunt Molly, and Cam’s best friend Eric Shelton were at the Joke House. Aunt Molly was there to compete in a joke-telling contest. Cam, Eric, and Mr. Jansen had come along to cheer for her.
“I really want to win,” Aunt Molly said, “but I don’t even remember why the chicken crossed the road.”
“Don’t worry,” Mr. Jansen told her. “When you get onstage you’ll remember everything.”
“The winner gets the chance to tell jokes
on television. If I win, I’ll be famous,” Aunt Molly said.
Cam’s father pointed to a small table at the edge of the stage. There was a green cloth on the table that reached the floor. On top of the table was a large silver plate.
Cam’s father told Molly, “You’ll also win that plate. It’s worth a lot of money.”
A tall man was standing by Cam’s table. “Hi, I’m Kevin,” he said. “I’ll be your server tonight.”
Kevin gave everyone a menu. “I’ll be back to take your orders soon.”
Kevin went to the next table.
Cam, Eric, and Mr. Jansen looked at their menus.
Aunt Molly tried to remember why the chicken crossed the road.
“I think the chicken was on its way to school. That’s why it crossed the road. Or maybe the chicken was going shopping. Whenever I go shopping, no matter where I am, I always have to cross the road. All the good stores are always across the street.”
“It’s not the story of the chicken’s whole life. It’s just a joke,” Eric told Aunt Molly. “The chicken crossed the road to get to the other side.”
“Oh,” Aunt Molly said. “To get to the other side. I have to remember that.”
Cam closed her eyes. She said,
“Click!”