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.
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