Homer on the Case by Henry Cole

If my kid really wanted to read this one, I wouldn’t stop them. Things I like:

• Otto and his grandpa have a great relationship (His grandpa is his primary caregiver and we don’t know why).
• The value of knowing how to read is emphasized
• Helping others is lifted up
• responsibility and pet care are raised up
• perseverance is a theme (Dick Tracy the comic character is a role model for this).
• Generally strong moral values

I have a few hesitations about recommending it whole heartedly:

• The kids opt not to tell the grownups they’re heard down into a sewer because the grown ups would never believe them. I get it; its more exciting if grown ups wen’t there, but this is just not healthy behavior.
• An illustrated picture shows the main girl in pretty short shorts (see below).
• The topic seems appropriate for early elementary but the vocabulary is higher than that, using words/concepts like reconnaissance, feeble, throngs, and obituaries page. I guess I’d place it at mid elementary but the topic might be better for younger kids if they can handle the vocabulary.
• The book took a long time for me to get into. After reading gems like Clementine and Hotel Flamingo, this felt a bit more like eating vegetables, at least at first.

That said, I’d still let this on my bookshelf if my kid was interested in it.