29 Myths on the Swinster Pharmacy
Open-ended mystery gets kids thinking about the unexplained.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that 29 Myths on the Swinster Pharmacy is a quirky picture book by Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler), illustrated by Lisa Brown, Handler's wife and a children's author herself. It's the story of a brother and sister puzzling over a mysterious pharmacy in a nearby town and making statements such as, "A woman went in once and came to fifteen minutes later wearing the exact same outfit" and "The building is a perfect square." Kids looking for a definitive solution to the mystery might be disappointed. But kids and parents who appreciate the unknowable will savor the oddball observations that don't seem to add up. Great for reading aloud and layering on excessive significance to selected "myths."
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What's the Story?
A brother and sister notice a strange store in a nearby town and try to figure out what goes on there. They offer a list of 29 "myths" -- really just statements -- about the place, some of which are rumors, others that come from personal observations as they lie in wait watching customers and employees go in and out, notice what's in the window (including wigs) and on the counter (candy and fruit), and even take measurements of the building. Still, they're baffled by the operation. Is something sinister going on?
Is It Any Good?
There's a delightful sense of foreboding and mystery in 29 MYTHS ON THE SWINSTER PHARMACY, a title whose slightly off grammar itself reflects a kid's-eye view of the world. Parents may be quicker to see this as a telling reflection of childhood, when lots of things in your neighborhood or a nearby town are a mystery -- for example, how does that place stay in business when it seems like hardly anyone ever goes in there?
Kids may be frustrated on first read to discover there's no solution to the mystery and no punch line. The list just ends. But repeated readings bring added enjoyment to the intriguing clues and red herrings -- especially if the book is read aloud ominously. Lisa Brown's cartoon-like illustrations have a retro feel (the kids' TV has rabbit-ear antennae) and are loads of fun to pore over for amusing details -- like the black cat seen both in and out of the pharmacy and on a lost-pet poster. The cover opens out as a poster depicting a map of the area drawn by the siblings, which could inspire kids to map out their own neighborhoods and pinpoint mysterious places and goings-on worthy of investigation.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about unsolved mysteries. Is there a mysterious place in your town you've always wondered about?
Why are mystery books so popular? What's fun about kids solving mysteries in the world of grown-ups?
Draw a map of your neighborhood and point out the most mysterious house or store. What do you imagine is going on there?
Book Details
- Author: Lemony Snicket
- Illustrator: Lisa Brown
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: McSweeney's McMullens
- Publication date: February 11, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 7 - 10
- Number of pages: 32
- Available on: Hardback
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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