Books with title Cleaning: History Mysteries

Each of the books in this series explores a different theme, using colour photographs of "mystery" objects from the 1900s, the 1930s and the 1960s. The reader is encouraged to look for clues in the photograph and to guess what the object is. This book looks at how housework has changed since the 1900s. The series makes links between history and technology. The book may be used as back-up for museum visits or any work which involves the handling of artefacts. Teachers notes give suggestions for follow-up work and it includes a time line which shows the development of the objects.

Zeke Adams has mixed feelings about visiting his nana for the summer. On the one hand, he’ll get to see her and his two younger cousins, Nick and Bart, but then they’ll be stuck all summer in the small coastal town of Cliffdale, California—a place they all believe will be boring. When the boys arrive, they ask Nana if they can ride their skateboards around town. Nana agrees as long as they stay away from the house next door. She explains that fifty years ago the owner, Albert Smith, arrived out of nowhere and bought the house, then disappeared just as mysteriously. Despite Nana’s instructions to stay away from the house, Bart convinces his cousins it’s haunted, and they can’t resist exploring. They are determined to use their special gifts to discover what happened to Albert Smith….and while they are busy discovering, they find they have a lot in common with the people in Cliffdale.

Zeke Adams has mixed feelings about visiting his nana for the summer. On the one hand, he’ll get to see her and his two younger cousins, Nick and Bart, but then they’ll be stuck all summer in the small coastal town of Cliffdale, California—a place they all believe will be boring. When the boys arrive, they ask Nana if they can ride their skateboards around town. Nana agrees as long as they stay away from the house next door. She explains that fifty years ago the owner, Albert Smith, arrived out of nowhere and bought the house, then disappeared just as mysteriously. Despite Nana’s instructions to stay away from the house, Bart convinces his cousins it’s haunted, and they can’t resist exploring. They are determined to use their special gifts to discover what happened to Albert Smith….and while they are busy discovering, they find they have a lot in common with the people in Cliffdale. Gifts.