Nate the Great

Nate the Great is a series of novels written by Marjorie Sharmat and illustrated by Marc Simont, with occasional co-authorship by Mitchell Sharmat (Marjorie's husband) or Craig Sharmat (her son), and recent illustrations by Martha Weston or Jody Wheeler. Several of the books have been made into television programs, and one of these, Nate the Great Goes Undercover, won the Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival Award. The New York Public Library named Nate the Great Saves the King of Sweden as one of its "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing". Begun in 1972, the series has over 20 titles.

Nate is a detective, a child version of Sherlock Holmes. With his dog, Sludge, Nate solves crimes.

Sludge is introduced in the second book, Nate the Great goes Undercover 1974. Nate finds him in a field eating a stale pancake. (Both Nate and Sludge love pancakes.)

Other continuing characters include:

Oliver -- described as a pest

Rosamond -- strange owner of five cats (Super Duper Hex, Super Hex, Big Hex, Plain Hex, and Little Hex)

Esmeralda -- described as wise

Annie -- owner of the fierce dog Fang

Finley and Pip -- occasional adversaries

The 1978 book Nate the Great and the Lost List features a character named Rosamond. Rosamond has long black hair and a short black dress, white mary jane shoes, five black cats of different sizes, and is frequently described as "strange." In particular, the text of Nate the Great introduces Rosamond: "Rosamond did not look hungry or sleepy. She looked like she always looks. Strange." This text allegedly inspired the creation of Emily the Strange.^[1][2]

The 2002 book Nate the Great, San Francisco Detective establishes that Nate the Great and Olivia Sharp are cousins. Olivia Sharp is the title character in the Olivia Sharp: Agent for Secrets series of books, by Marjorie Sharmat, Mitchell Sharmat, and Denise Brunkus.

Series

1. Nate the Great
2. Nate the Great goes Undercover
3. Nate the Great and the Lost List
4. Nate the Great and the Phony Clue
5. Nate the Great and the Sticky Case
6. Nate the Great and the Missing Key
7. Nate the Great and the Snowy Trail
8. Nate the Great and the Fishy Prize
9. Nate the Great Stalks Stupidweed
10. Nate the Great and the Boring Beach Bag
11. Nate the Great Goes Down in the Dumps
12. Nate the Great and the Halloween Hunt
13. Nate the Great and the Musical Note (written with Craig Sharmat)
14. Nate the Great and the Stolen Base
15. Nate the Great and the Pillow Case
16. Nate the Great and the Mushy Valentine
17. Nate the Great and the Tardy Tortoise (written with Craig Sharmat)
18. Nate the Great and the Crunchy Christmas (written with Craig Sharmat)
19. Nate the Great Saves the King of Sweden
20. Nate the Great and Me: The Case of the Fleeing Fang
21. Nate the Great and the Monster Mess
22. Nate the Great, San Francisco Detective (written with Mitchell Sharmat)
23. Nate the Great and the Big Sniff (written with Mitchell Sharmat)
24. Nate the Great on the Owl Express
25. Nate the Great Talks Turkey (written with Mitchell Sharmat, illustrated by Jody Wheeler)
26. Nate the Great and the Hungry Book Club (written with Mitchell Sharmat, illustrated by Jody Wheeler)

Popular culture

• Nate the Great is mentioned in a few episodes of Between the Lions.
• Nate the Great is now a new musical by TheatreworksUSA in the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons.
• Nate the Great is posited by Doctor Popular in an online article [1] to be the inspiration for Emily the Strange.

References

1. ^ http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/monday_morning/goth_pop_icon_a_childrens_book_knockoff_101978.asp
2. ^ Hull, Tim (June 9, 2009). "Nate the Great v. Emily the Strange in Comic Book Battle". Courthouse News Service. http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/06/09/Nate_the_Great_v_Emily_the_Strange_in_Comic_Book_Battle.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-03. 

External links

• Nate the Great at Random House
• Marjorie Weinman Sharmat interview