Lu and Clancy, the canine sleuths who introduced kids to secret codes and crime science in two earlier books, have returned with a new story and a set of activities for the junior espionage set.

Lu and Clancy, rummaging around in the attic, find evidence that Aunt Izzy may be a spy. By using many of the techniques that real spies use, the duo shadow Izzy throughout the day, eventually managing to sniff out the truth about their favourite aunt’s undertakings. Sixteen “Spy Works” sections provide Lu and Clancy with step-by-step instructions about how to construct useful and intriguing gadgets. The simple narrative and pleasant, if commonplace, pastel illustrations serve as a vehicle for the real spy stuff. Readers who follow Lu and Clancy’s adventures will learn how to don effective disguises, create spy scopes, phones, and code rings, set traps and alarms for unwanted intruders, and communicate in Morse code.

The story does not take long to finish, but the spy activities promise hours and hours of construction, imaginative planning, and harmless schemes. A warning on the final page reminds young Bonds to respect people’s privacy and property, and never to trail a stranger. While parents may wish to sneak a peek at this activity book and set down additional guidelines appropriate for their neighbourhood, Lu & Clancy’s Spy Stuff is designed for kids. It promotes innocent fun, open-ended, self-generated amusement that is refreshing in an age when adults tend to control their children’s free time.