Super Detectives!

Super Detectives is the first book in the new “Simon and Chester” graphic novel series by Cale Atkinson. The main characters are a young boy named Chester and his ghost pal, Simon, who, together, are faced with a very boring day. After finding a trunk of dress-up clothes containing a Sherlock Holmes-style deerstalker hat, they become Simon and Chester: Super Detectives.

Shortly after the creation of their new detective agency, Simon and Chester get their first case. A mysterious noise in the kitchen turns out to be an unexpected visitor—a pug whose collar identifies him as Roy, although Simon is partial to calling him by the much fancier moniker, “Von Curly Tail”. Simon and Chester then search the house for clues and the neighbourhood for potential owners before managing to close the case (which was never really open to begin with).

The first time I sat down to read this book, I couldn’t find it. My 10- year-old had taken it off my desk. “I’ll give it to you when I’m done!” The second time I tried, it was missing again, this time with my eight- year-old. Then the older kid had it again and was explaining to her brother just why the illustrations were so funny. “Look at his jeans! They are so skinny because he is a ghost and HE HAS NO LEGS INSIDE HIS PANTS!” Both kids were giggling uncontrollably. I finally had to sneak the book out of a bedroom at night. Really, there is no higher compliment than that.

Our household is anxiously waiting for the next Simon and Chester adventure. With cute illustrations (who can resist an apple-cheeked ghost and a big-eyed pug?) and funny banter, Super Detectives! is sure to be a hit with fans of other graphic-novel style books like Narwhal and Jelly.