Renée Treml, Sherlock Bones and the Art and Science of Alliance (Sherlock Bones, #3), Allen & Unwin, May 2022, 288 pp., RRP $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781761065729
The intrepid trio – Sherlock Bones, the skeleton of a tawny frogmouth; Watts, the stuffed blue Indian ring-necked parrot; and Grace, the living raccoon who loves chocolate – are back. I love Sherlock’s comments about Watts: you might not be able to hear Watts, … but I always know what she’s thinking. They set out to solve the mystery of the haunted painting, a part of the new exhibit in the Natural History Museum, the ghost that seems to be intent on destroying the museum. Along the way, they must confront the security officer, negotiate with eccentric artists, and discover what, within the new display, is making all the strange noises and mess on the floor.
This graphic novel for middle primary students is full of puns and jokes, but also there’s lots of information which appears to be incidental to the story. It’s these scientific additions which make this series of books much more than just a quick read. Treml is an environmental science graduate who uses her extensive knowledge to highlight some interesting facts. At the end of the book, she has added a ‘closer look’ at some of the exhibits she included.
The book is a quick read, but all readers will be rewarded with closer attention to some of the illustrations. I found myself wanting to return to look at the ‘exhibits’ which I’d previously glanced over. Though only black and white illustrations, there are lots of variations on the pages, and plenty of “white space” to rest the eyes. It’s not world-class literature but it’s fun.
Thoroughly recommended: give them all a go, even if you don’t think it’s the right book for you.
Reviewed by Maureen Mann
