Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate: A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series, #2

By MJ Murray

Dylan and Emily are back in book #2 of this series. This time, someone stole the bases from the baseball field. Can they track down the culprit in time for practice?

 

Dylan doesn't go anywhere without his detective kit, or his little sister, Emily. His trusty dog,Theodore, is always by his side, ready to lend a helping paw. In Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate the trio heads to the ball field for some practice, only to discover a puzzling problem—the bases are missing! Determined to crack the case, Dylan, Emily, and Theodore set off on a mission to locate the missing bases.

Parents & Educators:

For reluctant readers or newly independent readers, books in this series can be read in any order and are packed full of reading-level appropriate text, interesting content, and fast moving plots. This story includes 20+ illustrations to keep readers engaged.

 

The Hunt for Home Plate includes a QR code for educators with downloadable curriculum-aligned ELA/Math activities that are ideal for 1st or 2nd grade classroom use.

 

ELA activities focus on developing vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension skills. Each chapter includes a Tier 2 word and discussion prompts.

Math activities focus on developing fact fluency.

• Language: English
• Publisher: MJ Murray
• Release date: Mar 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9781963477023

Book preview

Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate

Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate

A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series

MJ Murray

Illustrated by

Amanda Letcher

MJ Murray

Copyright © 2024 MJ Murray

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

Visit the author’s website at www.mjmurraybooks.com

Illustrations: Amanda Letcher

https://www.behance.net/amandaletcher

Paperback ISBN: 979-8-9888669-6-1

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-963477-00-9

Audiobook ISBN: 978-1-963477-01-6

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-963477-02-3

For Kyle

Your unwavering support makes these stories possible.

Contents

1. A Day to Play

2. On-Deck

3. Stolen Base

4. Walk the Plank!

5. Foul Ball

6. Three-Legged Race

7. Downward Dog

8. The Injured List

9. Strikeout

10. Bring it Home!

Author’s Note

Titles by MJ Murray

ELA and Math Resources

Classroom Prompts

Aerial view of park and playground. Dylan, Emily, and Theodore walking toward the park, pulling a wagon.

Chapter 1

A Day to Play

C ome on, Emily, said Dylan. We’re going to be late! 

Dylan wasn’t sure where Emily was, but she needed to hurry. Today was the first ball practice for the neighborhood summer team. It was just for fun—kids ages five to ten could play—but it was always exciting to practice for the games against other neighborhoods. 

Dylan looked at his red wagon. He’d filled it up with everything they’d need for practice. It had gloves, bats, extra softballs, snacks, and bottled water.  

Now all he needed was his little sister to hurry. 

Emily, he called again. 

I’m coming! Emily said. She ran around the corner of the house to meet Dylan. 

Dylan standing with wagon. Emily running up to him.

Are you ready? he asked. 

I think so, Emily said. 

She was worried. This was her first year of being old