Secret Agents Jack and Max Stalwart: Book 3: The Fate of the Irish Treasure: Ireland

THE WORLD

GLOBAL PROTECTION FORCE ALERT

THE WORLD’S MOST PRECIOUS TREASURES ARE UNDER ATTACK!

Secret Agents Courage and Wisdom recently thwarted an attempt to steal the Emerald Buddha from the Grand Palace in Thailand. The GPF believes that the mastermind behind this crime was also behind the thefts of Picasso’s Acrobat painting and a Fabergé egg from Russia. If this is true, we have a madman on our hands.

All agents must be prepared to travel at a moment’s notice. Anyone witnessing someone or something suspicious should report it immediately to Gerald Barter, the Director of the GPF.

Louise Persnall

Assistant to Gerald Barter

THINGS YOU’LL FIND IN EVERY BOOK

Global Protection Force (GPF): The GPF is a worldwide force of junior secret agents whose aim is to protect the world’s people, places, and possessions. It was started in 1947 by a man named Ronald Barter, who wanted to stop criminals from harming things that mattered in the world. When Ronald died, under mysterious circumstances, his son Gerald took over. The GPF’s main offices are located somewhere in the Arctic Circle.

Watch Phone: The GPF’s Watch Phone is worn by GPF agents around their wrists. It can make and receive phone calls, send and receive messages, play videos, unlock the Secret Agent Book Bag, and track an agent’s whereabouts. The Watch Phone also carries the GPF’s Melting Ink Pen. Just push the button to the left of the screen to eject this lifesaving gadget.

Secret Agent Book Bag: The GPF’s Secret Agent Book Bag is licensed only to GPF agents. Inside are hi-tech gadgets necessary to foil bad guys and escape certain death. To unlock and lock, all an agent has to do is place his or her thumb on the zipper. The automatic thumbprint reader will identify him or her as the owner.

GPF Tablet: The GPF Tablet is a tablet computer used by GPF agents at home. On it, agents can access the GPF secure website, send encrypted e-mails, use the agent directory, and download mission-critical data.

Whizzy: Whizzy is Jack’s magical miniature globe. Almost every night at 7:30 p.m., the GPF uses him to send Jack the location of his next mission. Jack’s parents don’t know that Whizzy is anything but an ordinary globe. Jack’s brother, Max, has a similar buddy on his bedside table named “Zoom.”

The Magic Map: The Magic Map is a world map that hangs on every GPF agent’s wall. Recently, it was upgraded from wood to a hi-tech, unbreakable glass. Once an agent places the country shape in the right spot, the map lights up and transports him or her to his or her mission. The agent returns precisely one minute after he or she left.

DESTINATION: IRELAND

Ireland is called the “Emerald Isle” because of its lush green countryside. Green is the symbolic color of the country.

More than 6 million people live in Ireland. Dublin is Ireland’s capital city.

Politically, Ireland is divided into two parts. Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland is an independent state.

St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland more than 1,500 years ago. He is celebrated every year on St. Patrick’s Day, which is on March 17.

The “shamrock” is a popular Irish symbol. This three-leaf clover represents the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of the Christian religion.

The Irish wolfhound is the official dog of Ireland. It’s also the tallest dog breed. It can grow to be thirty-four inches (86 cm) at the neck. It originally hunted wolves.

Potatoes are a common ingredient in Irish dishes. They were brought to the island in the 1500s.

Ireland has no snakes. They weren’t quick enough to make it to the island before the seas separated Ireland from its neighboring countries.

The Guinness World Records started in Ireland. It was named after a director of the Guinness Brewery company, who wanted to make a book of achievements. It was first published in 1955.

BOOK OF KELLS: 101

The Book of Kells is one of Ireland’s greatest national treasures.

It’s an illustrated manuscript of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

The book was created by monks more than 1,100 years ago.