Review Detail

SQUIRREL LOCK HOLMES: THE PET ROCK MYSTERY is a charming graphic novel with a touch of silliness, perfect for independent readers. In this book, Squirrel Lock Holmes is on the case of a missing pet rock. Using clues, asking questions, and gathering the evidence, he solves the case and helps to return the pet rock to its distraught owner.

What I loved: This is a cute, low-stakes mystery that children can relate to. They have probably, at one point or another, lost an item that they cared about. They will feel for Reggie who has lost the pet rock, Dwayne. Luckily, Squirrel Lock and Watson are on the case! The book does a great job of laying out the steps of an investigation, with a handy guide to all the steps in the backmatter. In the course of the story, readers will understand that they should stay calm, look for clues, and think critically to be able to solve their own cases/find their missing items.

The graphic novel format is a lot of fun, with plenty of color and expressive characters. Each page has no more than a few panels, making them easy to follow and flow through. The text is relatively large and clear as well as brief on each panel, with clear relationships to the individuals speaking. This is really helpful for independent readers and well-executed throughout the book.

The book has a great touch of silliness that works perfectly for the intended age range. Young elementary schoolers will get the jokes and enjoy being a part of their telling. Backmatter includes a how-to-draw Watson and a hint at the next book for some extra fun!

Final verdict: SQUIRREL LOCK HOLMES: THE PET ROCK MYSTERY is a delightfully fun graphic novel that will work well for independent readers! Highly recommend for curious children who love figuring out mysteries, plenty of laughs, and bright, colorful images.