Super Detectives! (Simon and Chester #1)

It’s no mystery—all clues point to fun! 

Atkinson revisits the banter-filled unlikely friendship between the ghostly Sir Simon Spookington and his dark-skinned human housemate, Chester, in this entertaining graphic novel for early readers, the first in a series and a witty spin-off to picture book Sir Simon: Super Scarer. Busy writing a mystery, Simon is annoyed when Chester interrupts--until Chester finds a deerstalker hat, and Simon's eyes turn to hearts: "Forget playing pretend," he says, let's "become detectives!" Styling themselves after Holmes and Watson, and transforming the attic into an office with shadowy lighting, the friends soon get their first case: that of an unknown wide-eyed pug occupying their kitchen. While Simon goes overboard imagining a complex intrigue-filled explanation for the pug's presence, empathic, levelheaded Chester focuses on the very real need to find the lost dog's owner. Just as the partners' differing approaches dissolve into disagreement, the pup leads them on a chase that brings their case to a satisfying--"elementary"--close. "Rendered in ectoplasm, pug fur, and Photoshop," Atkinson's unfussy panels abound with pop culture references for full comedic and cinematic effect, adeptly balancing humor with heart. Ages 6-9. (Feb.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 2-4--A little boy, Chester, and his ghost friend, Simon, attempt to stave off the boredom of a rainy day by digging around the attic for costumes. Simon would rather be writing his mystery novel, but when they find a deerstalker hat, the game is afoot--or it would be, if Simon had feet. A case comes to them in the form of a stray pug. Who does he belong to, and why is he in Chester's house? They search the premises for clues and take to the streets. Simon goes to extremes, even creating an elaborate bulletin board with yarn connecting the clues, while Chester takes a more straightforward approach, checking to see if the dog has a collar. Clues to the mystery are sprinkled through the story, and the resolution will test the limits of their friendship. Readers may recognize the pair from Atkinson's 2018 picture book, Sir Simon: Super Scarer, which establishes the origins of their friendship (Simon, a professional ghost, is transferred to Chester and his grandmother's house but gives up the haunting gig in favor of simply becoming Chester's pal). Simon may be a ghost, but he's not exactly haunting. His friendship with Chester is warm and inviting, even as they work through differences. Atkinson's illustrations ooze fun, relying on a cheery palette and depicting rounded characters with oversize heads. Both Chester and his grandmother are brown-skinned; Simon is a pale, floating orb-shaped creature. VERDICT Simon and Chester make a delightful detective duo; aspiring sleuths will snap this one up.--Gretchen Hardin, Bee Cave P.L., TX

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

This gem of an early grade graphic novel balances blatant goofiness with droll humor. . . . Aspiring detectives may not find a professional mentor in the two pals, but they'll find plenty of good fun. —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 

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. —CM Magazine

Just when you think that the story could not possibly surprise you with another zig, Atkinson's storytelling zags once more, bringing the reader perpetual delight until the very last page. —The Comics Journal