Please read the overview and all the descriptions of the suspects before the party. Sometimes we hide clues in these descriptions.

Overview

Last night in the library, when many characters were out of their books enjoying a sojourn in the night air, a crime was committed, grim and grave, right in our own library. When Mrs Bookworm, the librarian, opened the fundraising cookie cupboard this morning she was shocked. The cupboard, where the fundraising cookies had been kept, was empty.

Gathered in the library are the characters who were present at the time of the nasty deed. Fortunately Master Sherlock Holmes is here to investigate, so the perpetrator of this heinous crime will no doubt be revealed as the party proceeds.

The suspects

The suspects for the meet and mingle version:

Book: Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Alice

I don’t like to be rude, but after being in Wonderland, I can’t help thinking how very strange some people are. Dress suggestion: Dress as a little girl with pig tails in your hair and rosy cheeks.

Book: Cinderella

Cinderella

having been treated badly by my step-sisters, I know what it’s like to be a slave. So in the palace, I am kind to everyone – the servants included. Dress suggestion: Dress like a princess with tinsel/glitter or as a servant covered in cinders and carrying a broom or duster.

Book: Snow White by The Brothers Grimm

Snow White

I am a young lady with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood and hair as black as ebony. I am friends with a bunch of dwarfs. Dress suggestion: Old-fashioned clothes such as a drawstring sash at the waist, puffy sleeves, flouncy skirt.

Book: Peter and Wendy by Sir James Matthew Barry

Peter Pan

I am the little boy who never grew up. I live in Never Never Land and I can fly. Sometimes I teach other children to fly with me. Dress suggestion: Dress with a green cap and a green outfit. You may wish to carry a toy sword.

Book: Little Red Riding Hood by various authors

Little Red Riding Hood

I am a fearless, but kind young girl who goes for walks alone in the woods. I love to visit my Grandma sometimes. Dress suggestions: A red hooded cape with a dress beneath (possibly also in red). Carry a basket with some little cakes or cookies in it. You are taking these to your grandmother.

Book: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum

Dorothy

I am a very determined young lady from a farm in Kansas. I don’t let anyone get in my way. My dog goes everywhere with me. Dress suggestions: A blue dress with a white blouse underneath. Add white socks and magic red shoes. If you can, add long black hair tied in two bows. Carry a toy dog.

Book: Goldilocks and the Three Bears by various authors

Goldilocks

I am a naughty and some say “spoiled” little girl. I always do exactly what I want. For example, I steal porridge and sleep in beds I don’t own. Dress suggestion: Cute little-girl clothes. Maybe tie a ribbon in your golden hair and wear a blue dress, a frilly white apron, red shoes and yellow socks. You may like to bring a bowl of porridge (oatmeal) with you.

Book: The Adventures of Aladdin by various authors

Aladdin

I changed from being a poor boy to a handsome prince and married a beautiful princess in a ‘great splendid palace’. Dress suggestion: Wear middle eastern clothes (eg baggy trousers). Sequins and jewels are acceptable as you are dripping with wealth.

The optional authorities

Master Sherlock Holmes (from Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) – I am a man with such superior detective skills that I have become world famous. I already know a lot about each of the suspects, just from looking at their appearance. For example, I can tell Alice is a little girl with a very fanciful imagination and Aladdin is from the Far East. But, I am not a great reader of fiction, I prefer to do chemical experiments and I also play the violin. This certainly does not seem like a normal case. It is more like the Mr Angel case. You may like to read about it in my diary, if you get time. Dress suggestions: Dress in old-fashioned clothes, carry a magnifying glass and a pipe.

Mrs Bookworm (The librarian responsible for the cookie cupboard) – Although I try to be helpful, a lot of the children are afraid of me. I think it is because I am always telling them to be quiet in the library. But my bark is worse than my bite. I really love children. Dress suggestion: Spectacles, a chain around your neck with a key attached but hidden inside your blouse. A dress or skirt and blouse, but make sure whatever you wear has large pockets stuffed full of things.

The optional witnesses

Queen of Hearts (from Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll) Oh there is so much to tell – all about the tea cups and my shouting “Off with his head! or “Off with her head” and all the other people Alice met in Wonderland, but it would take too long. Alice comes into the library and looks at the children’s books. Dress suggestions: Wear white & stick big red cardboard hearts on your clothes.

The Fairy Godmother (from Cinderella) After working all day on her chores, Cinderella often wondered if she would ever be happy again. The ladies of her household were invited to the Duke’s ball. But Cinderella’s step-mother said she could not go unless her chores were done. Fortunately, I came to Cinderella’s aid and – well, you all know the rest of the story. Dress suggestions: Dress like a fairy complete with wings and a wand with which to grant wishes.

Tinkerbell (from Peter and Wendy by Sir James Matthew Barry) There is also a crocodile that follows us about that has a clock inside his belly going tick, tick, tick. I used my magic fairy dust to help Peter Pan and Wendy and the others to fly. On the island there are lots of fairies. “When the first baby laughed for the very first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about and that was the beginning of the fairies.” Dress suggestions: Dress as a golden fairy with a little bell you always ring as you move about.

Scarecrow (from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum) I was very upset because I didn’t think I had the intelligence to be able to capture the Wicked Witch. But we did succeed and so we returned to see the Wizard, only to find he wasn’t really able to do anything. But he did point out to us that we already possessed what we sought. I already had a brain. I just had to start using it. Dress suggestions: Dress as a scarecrow with bits of straw coming out of your torn and tattered clothes (eg check flannel shirt and blue overalls).

Papa Bear (from Goldilocks and the Three Bears) Goldilocks tasted my porridge, sat in my chair and lay on my bed. But she found my porridge too hot and my chair and my bed too hard. Dress suggestions: Dress as a large-sized father bear but with normal clothes on top.

The Genie (from The Adventures of Aladdin) I helped Aladdin to become a prince. I live in Aladdin’s magic lamp. Dress suggestions: Wear middle eastern clothes (eg baggy trousers) and a turban. Carry the lamp in which you live.