Homer on the Case

March 1, 2021
Grades 2-4 Something is amiss in Keeler Park, one of Homer the homing pigeon's favorite places to hang out after a stimulating morning race. A string of petty thefts there is upsetting the humans, but it gets personal when the crime spree targets one of Homer's humans (Grandpa!). Taking cues from his favorite comic-strip detective, Dick Tracy--Homer taught himself to read Human by studying the newspapers that line his rooftop cage--Homer resolves to crack the case. Cole's gentle animal fantasies can always be depended upon, and this light mystery is just right for young readers. Delicate pencil illustrations, arranged in panels, begin each chapter, offering a glimpse of events to come. Cole mixes humor with intrigue to keep the narrative bouncing along, and readers will get a kick out of the unusual detective team that forms of Homer and his boy, Otto, and new friends Lulu (an Amazon parrot) and her girl, Charlotte. Hand this to fans of Chris Riddell's Ottoline and the Yellow Cat (2008) and A. B. Greenfield's Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective (2018).

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April 1, 2021
Homer the homing pigeon and Lulu, an Amazon parrot, collaborate to defeat a wily, sewer-dwelling alligator with a taste for bling. The engaging conceit is that Homer long ago taught himself to read. Channeling his favorite cartoon detective, Dick Tracy, he's determined to discover why rats and cats are stealing valuables from people in the park. With the help of his wild pigeon friends, he observes that the shiny stash is being taken into the storm sewers. Since he's a pigeon of some talent, he's convinced he and Lulu can explore the tunnels, solve the mystery of where the stolen items are being taken, and safely get away. They discover a huge, bejeweled alligator being served by a cast of minions. But how to relate this remarkable story to Otto, Homer's owner, and Charlotte, Lulu's human friend? Homer uses his ability to read words and Lulu, her skill in speaking them to communicate the necessary information. Each chapter begins with a panel of attractive pencil illustrations that record the highlights to follow. In them, Otto presents White, and Charlotte has darker skin. The birds' exploits are surprisingly believable and enjoyable to follow in Homer's first-person narration. The humans are appropriately less developed. Why Snaps the alligator loves jewels and how the rats and cats came to serve her are barely explored, leaving this potential adversary rather flat. Who doesn't love smart, friendly birds on a secret mission? (Fantasy. 8-11)

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April 30, 2021

Gr 3 Up-A literate pigeon fights crime. There are jewel thieves in the park and Homer, a homing pigeon, is a witness! With help from some friends, new and old, and a little assistance from his favorite comic detective, Homer is ready to crack this case! The setting of the story is generic: a nondescript city in a nonspecific time period. There are references to Dick Tracy and "Hints from Heloise" and illustrations of older cars, implying maybe the 1960s, but it is unclear. All of the human characters present as white. Carlos, a city pigeon, says a few stereotypical Spanish words. The mystery itself is underwhelming and could have used more backstory. The illustrations are appealing, and the way Homer figures out how to communicate to humans is clever, but the vocabulary is sometimes too advanced for the content. Although this could be a nice introduction to raising homing pigeons, the story lacks substance. VERDICT For larger collections.-Rebecca Fitzgerald, Harrison P.L., NY

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