Get Book 1
Penny from The Rummage Crew. Wavy brown hair with bangs and freckles, a violet hooded raincoat, navy leggings and dark flats, a brass magnifying glass and notepad.

The Detective · Age 8

Penny

Magnifying glass first. Penny spots clues nobody else sees.

Leads the RRefuse books

Look for
Wavy brown hair with bangs and freckles, a violet hooded raincoat, navy leggings and dark flats, a brass magnifying glass and notepad.
Favourite
Clues, puzzles and anything hidden
Print Penny's bookmark Which crew kid are you?

About Penny

Penny is eight and the crew's detective. She wears a violet raincoat in every weather and carries a brass magnifying glass and a small notepad.

In Book 1 Penny peers into the blackberry hedge and says the words that start the adventure: "Something is hiding in the hedge." Later she checks the curb ramp so the parade can roll safely.

Penny leads the Refuse books. Before anything new comes home, she asks the detective question: do we really need it?

Penny in The Secret of the Squeaky Wagon

Penny in her violet raincoat bends over the sidewalk with her magnifying glass while Marcus shows the route on his clipboard.
Penny peered through her magnifying glass to check the curb ramp ahead. "All clear!" she called.

Try it with Penny: treasure hunt for reusables

  1. Make a list: something round, something wooden, something that could hold things.
  2. Search the recycling bin (with a grown-up) and the back of the cupboard.
  3. Lay out what you found.
  4. Pick one treasure and give it a new job.

Questions about Penny

Who is Penny in The Rummage Crew?

Penny is the detective of the Rummage Crew, age 8. Magnifying glass first. Penny spots clues nobody else sees.

Who finds the wagon in The Secret of the Squeaky Wagon?

Penny spots it first with her magnifying glass ("Something is hiding in the hedge!") and Leo's trowel confirms it with a CLINK on the iron.

Meet the rest of the crew