Twelve-year-old Alvin Fernald is always making incredible inventions that he uses on his adventures with his best friend, Wilfred “Shoie” Shoemaker, and his sister Daphne (often called “Daffy” or “the Pest”), solving mysteries. Alvin is described as being blonde and freckled, and his father is a police officer. Shoie is athletic and can do gymnastics. Shoie likes to collect bottle tops and sometimes gets the beginning sounds of words mixed up when he’s excited or nervous. Eight-year-old Daphne really admires her older brother, so she tries to dress and act like a boy as much as possible, and she likes to get involved in anything that Alvin is doing.  Alvin and Shoie don’t like it when Daphne gets nosy about what they’re doing or tags along on their activities, but Alvin is genuinely fond of his sister, Shoie finds her kind of amusing, and there are times when she can be very helpful. The kids live in a town called Riverton in Indiana.

People, especially the kids, think of Alvin as a genius with a “Magnificent Brain” because of his inventions and creative ideas, although they don’t always work the way he thinks they will.  In fact, his “Magnificent Brain” gets Alvin and his friends into trouble as much as it gets them out of it because he sometimes comes up with wild ideas that lead to bizarre situations.

The books in the regular series were written by Clifford B. Hicks, but there were also a couple of Disney movies (made for tv) based on the adventures of Alvin and his friends, and there was at least one book adaption of one of the movies, written by another author.

Books in the Series:

The Marvelous Inventions of Alvin Fernald (1962)

Alvin and his friends investigate the Old Huntley Place, a mysterious old house where strange lights have been seen.

Alvin’s Secret Code (1963)

A message in secret code leads Alvin and his friends to the solution of a mystery that’s 100 years old.

Alvin Fernald, Foreign Trader (1966)

Alvin wins a trip to Europe in a candy-making contest, and it leads to a mystery concerning international trade.

Alvin Fernald, Mayor for a Day (1970)

Alvin gets the opportunity to be mayor of his city for a day as part of a school project, and he discovers some disturbing secrets about the real mayor.

Alvin Fernald, Superweasel (1974)

Alvin uses a school project about pollution to expose the pollution of a local chemical factory.

Alvin’s Swap Shop (1976)

Alvin opens a swap shop and uncovers the mystery about a sunken ship.

Alvin Fernald, TV Anchorman (1980)

A local television station offers Alvin and his friends a time slot for their own newscast, and Alvin discovers evidence leading to the solution of an unsolved mystery.

The Wacky World of Alvin Fernald (1981)

Alvin Fernald, Master of a Thousand Disguises (1986)

The costume collection of a theater company leads to the mystery of a hidden treasure.

Alvin Fernald’s Incredible Buried Treasure (2009)

Alvin and his friends discover a secret message leading to the location of a hidden treasure from the Civil War.

Disney Tie-In Book:

Frankenstein and the Whiz Kid (1975)

A boy inventor learns something disturbing about a new neighbor and some robbers associated with a carnival.  By Vic Crume.