Sherlock Bones and the Natural History Mystery

by Renee Treml

Overview

An action-packed graphic novel mystery with gentle humor and Bad Guys–style illustrations, perfect for dinosaur-loving emerging readers.

Hi there, I'm Sherlock Bones.

Who is Sherlock Bones, you ask? Well, I don’t like to brag, but my trusty side-kick Watts says I’m the greatest detective in our whole museum. 

Don’t you, Watts? 

Watts . . . ?

Sherlock Bones and his sidekick, a stuffed parrot named Watts, live in a natural history museum. So when the precious Royal Blue Diamond goes missing, they are first on the case. What they don’t expect is Grace, a silly, new-to-the-scene raccoon who keeps getting in the way. Even worse, Bones and Watts learn that if the diamond isn’t recovered, the museum could (GASP!) close! Can they find the diamond before they’re forced to find another home?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358311843
Publisher:	HMH Books
Publication date:	09/22/2020
Series:	Sherlock Bones Series
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Renee Treml is the author and illustrator of several picture books for very young readers, including: Once I Heard a Little Wombat, Ten Little Owls and Wombat Big, Puggle Small. She also has a degree in environmental science and has a passionate love of natural history.

Editorial Reviews

2020-06-16
In this graphic offering, a skeletal sleuth and his stuffed sidekick are on the case to catch a museum thief.

At the State Natural History Museum reside Sherlock Bones, a tawny frogmouth skeleton, and his quiet companion, a taxidermic Indian ringneck parrot named Watts. One day the emergency alarm blares, and Bones quickly deduces that the museum’s Royal Blue Diamond has been stolen. As Bones and Watts investigate, they find that the diamond wasn’t the only pilfered property: Other blue items are also missing. With the help of new friend Grace, a chocolate-loving (and live) raccoon, the sleuths must gather clues and catch the thief before the museum is shut down and they are all sent into the dark and dusty recesses of storage. Treml’s graphic mystery will most certainly delight fledgling eagle-eyed detectives who can spot cleverly placed clues (and red herrings) in the tidy panels alongside cheery heroes Bones and Watts. Interspersed throughout the narrative are fun facts covering a swath of natural science from beetles to butterflies. While Treml’s art is eye-catching, the black-and-white presentation is a disappointing choice for such a visual offering that relies heavily on color to propel its plot. This quibble aside, mystery aficionados should enjoy the chance to solve the case alongside the lovable cast of animal characters.

A nifty whodunit. (Graphic mystery. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews

08/31/2020

When the valuable Royal Blue Diamond goes missing, the fate of the State Natural History Museum rests with Sherlock Bones, an animated, fourth wall–breaking frogmouth skeleton exhibited in the institution’s halls. Joined by inanimate ringneck parrot Watts and chocolate-loving raccoon Grace, Sherlock moves through suspicions, including a security guard tasked with recovering a toy dinosaur belonging to the museum director’s granddaughter. Clarity ensues once Sherlock poses leading questions that engage readers. Simple black-and-white art rendered in minimal panels populates Treml’s graphic novel debut, moving the story along rapidly and skewing younger than the intended range. Though Sherlock Bones exhibits charm, the story adds up to a familiar caricature of the famous detective. Ages 8–12. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Treml’s graphic mystery will most certainly delight fledgling eagle-eyed detectives....mystery aficionados should enjoy the chance to solve the case alongside the lovable cast of animal characters. A nifty whodunit." —Kirkus

"[A] cute mystery with a flair for natural history."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

11/01/2020

Gr 3–5—Sherlock Bones, the skeleton of a tawny frogmouth (a bird native to Australia), solves mysteries at the State Natural History Museum with his trusty sidekick Watts, an inanimate stuffed ringneck parrot who doesn't talk (Sherlock offers interpretations as needed). When a royal blue diamond goes missing, the pair jump into action. Getting in the way of the investigation is Grace, a raccoon with a sweet tooth and a bit of an attitude. Sherlock resolves to find the missing diamond (along with some other missing objects, like the museum director's granddaughter's toy dinosaur) and manages to stay mostly out of trouble along the way. A Black female security guard is also on the case, so the question remains: Who will solve the mystery first? Sherlock gets to explore the museum, from the rocks and minerals gallery to the butterfly house to the dinosaur exhibit. Most pages are full panels, which helps young readers pick up on details. The black-and-white art leans toward simplistic and the museum setting could have benefitted from some color. The story runs a bit long, but the mystery will keep readers turning pages. VERDICT This cute mystery with a flair for natural history makes for a solid secondary purchase.—Gretchen Hardin, Bee Cave P.L., TX

School Library Journal

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