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Detective Tito and the Case of the Missing Mango

LLaura
Middle School
Fiction
ENES
3 min read
Image for Detective Tito and the Case of the Missing Mango

Detective Tito and the Case of the Missing Mango

Tito, a tarsier with eyes as big as saucers, was the only detective in the bustling rainforest city of Ponga-Ponga. His tiny body was perfectly suited for squeezing into tight spaces, and his enormous eyes missed nothing. He perched on a high branch, his office overlooking the vibrant marketplace. The air buzzed with the calls of vendors and the chatter of monkeys, but Tito's focus was unwavering.

One sweltering morning, a distraught howler monkey named Bobo rushed into Tito’s office. “Detective! My prized mango is gone!” he wailed, tears welling in his large, brown eyes. “It was the biggest, juiciest mango in all of Ponga-Ponga. I was saving it for a special occasion!”

Tito listened intently, his head cocked to one side. “Tell me everything, Bobo. Where was the mango? Who knew about it?”

Bobo explained that he had left the mango on his windowsill, carefully wrapped in a banana leaf. He had boasted about it to several neighbors, including a sneaky-looking iguana named Izzy and a grumpy toucan named Terry.

Tito hopped onto Bobo’s back, and they swung through the trees to Bobo’s treehouse. Tito examined the windowsill. There were no signs of forced entry, but he noticed a faint scent of cinnamon, a spice Izzy was known to use.

“Interesting,” Tito murmured, his large eyes scanning the surroundings. He then spotted a single, bright green feather stuck in a crack in the window frame. “And even more interesting!”

Tito thanked Bobo and set off to question Izzy. The iguana was lounging in the sun, looking suspiciously innocent. When Tito mentioned the missing mango and the scent of cinnamon, Izzy denied any involvement.

Next, Tito visited Terry the toucan. The grumpy bird initially refused to cooperate, but when Tito showed him the green feather, Terry’s beak dropped open. “That’s Myrtle’s feather!” he squawked. “She’s been eyeing Bobo’s mango for days!”

Myrtle was a young parrot known for her sweet tooth and her love of shiny objects. Tito found her perched atop the tallest tree in Ponga-Ponga, surrounded by mango pits and glittering trinkets. The missing mango was nestled among her treasures.

Confronted with the evidence, Myrtle confessed to stealing the mango. She explained that she couldn’t resist its delicious aroma. Tito, being a fair detective, convinced Myrtle to apologize to Bobo and offer him a share of her trinkets. Bobo, overjoyed to have his mango (or what was left of it) returned, forgave Myrtle.

Tito returned to his office, the setting sun casting long shadows across Ponga-Ponga. Another case closed, thanks to his big eyes and keen observation skills. As he settled down for the night, he knew that tomorrow would bring new mysteries to solve in the vibrant rainforest city.

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Glossary
Tarsier:
A small primate with very large eyes, found in Southeast Asia.
Distraught:
Deeply upset and agitated.
Murmured:
Spoke in a low, soft voice.
Trinkets:
Small, decorative objects of little value.
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About this fiction passage for Middle School

“Detective Tito and the Case of the Missing Mango” is a fiction reading passage about Mystery, written for Middle School. It takes about 3 minutes to read (461 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.

Is this passage free?

Yes. You can read “Detective Tito and the Case of the Missing Mango” online for free and download a printable PDF worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.

What reading level is “Detective Tito and the Case of the Missing Mango”?

It’s written for Middle School — a fiction text about Mystery, about a 3-minute read (461 words).

What’s included with this passage?

An illustrated reading passage, a glossary of key terms, comprehension questions with an answer key, and an interactive quiz.

Can I adapt it for my students?

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