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Sherlock Holmes Retold for Children: 16 Books
🎧Run Time = 11 hours & 4 minutes
A delightful compilation of 16 classic Sherlock Holmes stories, retold to be accessible for young listeners.
Join world-famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his ever-loyal sidekick Dr. Watson as they embark on a series of daring adventures. Priceless jewels disappear from a hotel suite, a monstrous hound is spotted on the moors and a woman is murdered in a locked room. Can our brilliant hero solve these mysteries and more before disaster strikes?
This thrilling collection brings 16 adventures of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous detective to life, adapted by award-winning children's fiction author Alex Woolf. Told with wit and panache, the cleverly reworked text retains many of the original turns of phrase, while simplifying and clarifying the language and plots to make stories accessible to children.
Stories
🔍A Study in Scarlet
🔍The Hound of the Baskervilles
🔍The Speckled Band
🔍A Scandal in Bohemia
🔍The Red Headed League
And many more!
Perfect for children aged 7+.
A delightful compilation of 16 classic Sherlock Holmes stories, retold to be accessible for young listeners.
Join world-famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his ever-loyal sidekick Dr. Watson as they embark on a series of daring adventures. Priceless jewels disappear from a hotel suite, a monstrous hound is spotted on the moors and a woman is murdered in a locked room. Can our brilliant hero solve these mysteries and more before disaster strikes?
This thrilling collection brings 16 adventures of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous detective to life, adapted by award-winning children's fiction author Alex Woolf. Told with wit and panache, the cleverly reworked text retains many of the original turns of phrase, while simplifying and clarifying the language and plots to make stories accessible to children.
Stories
🔍A Study in Scarlet
🔍The Hound of the Baskervilles
🔍The Speckled Band
🔍A Scandal in Bohemia
🔍The Red Headed League
And many more!
Perfect for children aged 7+.
Audible Audio
Published July 1, 2022
40 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Alex Woolf
301 books45 followersAlex Woolf is a prolific, award-winning author of books for adults and children. In his non-fiction he has written on subjects as diverse as sharks, robots, asteroids, flying reptiles and chocolate. His novels span a range of genres, including crime, mystery, science fiction, historical fiction, steampunk and horror.
Alex is a regular author for Fiction Express, online publishers of interactive stories for schools. Fiction Express is read by more than 150,000 students from 20 countries. Two of his stories have won reader awards. In 2021, he won the prestigious ASE award for his non-fiction book Think Like a Scientist. His horror novel, Soul Shadows, was shortlisted for the Falkirk Red Book Award. Bestselling crime author Peter James described his novel Aldo Moon as “a real delight, witty, ghostly and at times deliciously ghastly”.
Alex is a regular author for Fiction Express, online publishers of interactive stories for schools. Fiction Express is read by more than 150,000 students from 20 countries. Two of his stories have won reader awards. In 2021, he won the prestigious ASE award for his non-fiction book Think Like a Scientist. His horror novel, Soul Shadows, was shortlisted for the Falkirk Red Book Award. Bestselling crime author Peter James described his novel Aldo Moon as “a real delight, witty, ghostly and at times deliciously ghastly”.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 24, 2022
4.5~5★
‘Sherlock Holmes, meet Dr. John Watson,’ said Stamford.
‘Pleased to meet you,’ said Holmes, shaking my hand. ‘You’ve been in Afghanistan, I see.’
‘How on earth did you know that?’ I asked in astonishment.
‘Never mind,’ he said. ‘Come and observe this test.’”
Those of us familiar with Sherlock Holmes will recognise his rather off-hande manner and enthusiasm for his own current project. This series of sixteen Holmes stories has been retold for kids, but the telling is not childish. I like the quirky little black and white cartoon illustrations by Eve O'Brien, which break up the text, and the stories seem complete and satisfying.
I chose Book One, “A Study in Scarlet”, because this is where Dr Watson meets Holmes. Watson had indeed returned recently from Afghanistan recovering from a bullet wound.
One of his old friends, Stamford, spotted Watson in the bar of the hotel where he was staying, and Watson said he was looking for lodgings. As luck would have it, Stamford said a man in the hospital laboratory had also just mentioned he was looking for a place.
“ ‘He was complaining this morning because he couldn’t find anyone to go halves with him on some lovely rooms he’d found on Baker Street.’
‘Well, if he’s looking for a roommate, I’m the man for him,’ I said. ‘I’m fed up with living alone.’
‘I warn you, he’s a little strange’ said Stamford.
‘Strange in what way?’”
Anyone who has read about Sherlock Holmes or seen one of the countless films or television productions of the stories knows how strange he is. Watson is intrigued, so Stamford takes him to the hospital lab to introduce them.
The opening quotation is their ‘introduction’. After the hello, Watson gets his first glimpse of his soon-to-be housemate's behaviour.
“At the sound of our steps, he glanced around and uttered a cry of pleasure. ‘I’ve found it!’ he cried. ‘I’ve found the perfect test for identifying blood stains.’ ”
At the end of this story, after Watson has seen how Holmes works with his ‘clients’, he asks if Holmes really solves everything with observation and deduction. Holmes said that’s exactly how he knew Watson had been in Afghanistan.
“ ‘Well, Stamford introduced you as ‘Doctor’ and you have a military way of walking, so most likely an army doctor. Your tan wasn’t your natural skin tone because your wrists were pale, so you’d been somewhere hot. Your haggard face and the stiffness in your arm suggested you’d undergone hardship and injury. The most recent military action involving the British army in a hot country was in Afghanistan, so that had to be where you’d been.’
‘It’s quite simple when you explain it,’ I said.
Holmes sighed. ‘Everyone says that—yet no one seems able to do it but me.’”
You can say that again. You can see that this is not all simple words. “Haggard” and “undergone” might send some readers to a dictionary, but the phrasing is such that you’d follow the sense without knowing the words. It’s a subtle way of introducing more complex language.
But the covers in full colour will entice young readers, I’m sure. Who could resist this?!
“It was an enormous coal-black hound, unlike anything seen before in nature. Fire burst from its mouth, its eyes glowed red, and its whole body was outlined in flickering flames.’
“The Hound of the Baskervilles” is a famous thriller, and I don’t think this version loses anything in the retelling. The fog and the hound and the mysterious events are just as scary here as in the real thing.
Inside each cover is a table of contents, like a ‘regular’ book, and I know this is important to a lot of young readers who want to graduate to chapter books.
Table of Contents for “The Hound of the Baskervilles”
I’ve read some Holmes but possibly watched more. Not long ago, I enjoyed “The Six Thatchers”, with Benedict Cumberbatch. (No, I wasn’t with him, but Martin Freeman, aka Watson, was. But I digress.) Now I realise, of course, that it was based on “The Six Napoleons”, about someone who keeps smashing plaster busts of Napoleon. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3538760/
“The fragments of the great emperor’s head lay scattered on the grass, the product of a seemingly frenzied hatred. Holmes picked up several of the shards and examined them carefully. From the spark in his eye, I sensed he had glimpsed a clue.”
There is an illustration on most pages which can help readers remember the story and find their place when they leaf through the book. There are only 100 words or so on each of the 64 pages, enough to enjoy plenty of story and intrigue (and humour), but not enough to scare off a reader.
Something I like about these is that they don’t talk down to readers. Anyone can enjoy them, young, old, and those new to the English language. I haven’t read them all . . . yet!
These are to be published in July and there are individual books as well as sets and large print and Kindle versions.
Thanks to Arcturus Publishing for the copy for review. This is a great set to add to a school or home library, and I’d recommend it for English-learners, too. I’d have loved this when I was a kid.
‘Sherlock Holmes, meet Dr. John Watson,’ said Stamford.
‘Pleased to meet you,’ said Holmes, shaking my hand. ‘You’ve been in Afghanistan, I see.’
‘How on earth did you know that?’ I asked in astonishment.
‘Never mind,’ he said. ‘Come and observe this test.’”
Those of us familiar with Sherlock Holmes will recognise his rather off-hande manner and enthusiasm for his own current project. This series of sixteen Holmes stories has been retold for kids, but the telling is not childish. I like the quirky little black and white cartoon illustrations by Eve O'Brien, which break up the text, and the stories seem complete and satisfying.
I chose Book One, “A Study in Scarlet”, because this is where Dr Watson meets Holmes. Watson had indeed returned recently from Afghanistan recovering from a bullet wound.
One of his old friends, Stamford, spotted Watson in the bar of the hotel where he was staying, and Watson said he was looking for lodgings. As luck would have it, Stamford said a man in the hospital laboratory had also just mentioned he was looking for a place.
“ ‘He was complaining this morning because he couldn’t find anyone to go halves with him on some lovely rooms he’d found on Baker Street.’
‘Well, if he’s looking for a roommate, I’m the man for him,’ I said. ‘I’m fed up with living alone.’
‘I warn you, he’s a little strange’ said Stamford.
‘Strange in what way?’”
Anyone who has read about Sherlock Holmes or seen one of the countless films or television productions of the stories knows how strange he is. Watson is intrigued, so Stamford takes him to the hospital lab to introduce them.
The opening quotation is their ‘introduction’. After the hello, Watson gets his first glimpse of his soon-to-be housemate's behaviour.
“At the sound of our steps, he glanced around and uttered a cry of pleasure. ‘I’ve found it!’ he cried. ‘I’ve found the perfect test for identifying blood stains.’ ”
At the end of this story, after Watson has seen how Holmes works with his ‘clients’, he asks if Holmes really solves everything with observation and deduction. Holmes said that’s exactly how he knew Watson had been in Afghanistan.
“ ‘Well, Stamford introduced you as ‘Doctor’ and you have a military way of walking, so most likely an army doctor. Your tan wasn’t your natural skin tone because your wrists were pale, so you’d been somewhere hot. Your haggard face and the stiffness in your arm suggested you’d undergone hardship and injury. The most recent military action involving the British army in a hot country was in Afghanistan, so that had to be where you’d been.’
‘It’s quite simple when you explain it,’ I said.
Holmes sighed. ‘Everyone says that—yet no one seems able to do it but me.’”
You can say that again. You can see that this is not all simple words. “Haggard” and “undergone” might send some readers to a dictionary, but the phrasing is such that you’d follow the sense without knowing the words. It’s a subtle way of introducing more complex language.
But the covers in full colour will entice young readers, I’m sure. Who could resist this?!
“It was an enormous coal-black hound, unlike anything seen before in nature. Fire burst from its mouth, its eyes glowed red, and its whole body was outlined in flickering flames.’
“The Hound of the Baskervilles” is a famous thriller, and I don’t think this version loses anything in the retelling. The fog and the hound and the mysterious events are just as scary here as in the real thing.
Inside each cover is a table of contents, like a ‘regular’ book, and I know this is important to a lot of young readers who want to graduate to chapter books.
Table of Contents for “The Hound of the Baskervilles”
I’ve read some Holmes but possibly watched more. Not long ago, I enjoyed “The Six Thatchers”, with Benedict Cumberbatch. (No, I wasn’t with him, but Martin Freeman, aka Watson, was. But I digress.) Now I realise, of course, that it was based on “The Six Napoleons”, about someone who keeps smashing plaster busts of Napoleon. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3538760/
“The fragments of the great emperor’s head lay scattered on the grass, the product of a seemingly frenzied hatred. Holmes picked up several of the shards and examined them carefully. From the spark in his eye, I sensed he had glimpsed a clue.”
There is an illustration on most pages which can help readers remember the story and find their place when they leaf through the book. There are only 100 words or so on each of the 64 pages, enough to enjoy plenty of story and intrigue (and humour), but not enough to scare off a reader.
Something I like about these is that they don’t talk down to readers. Anyone can enjoy them, young, old, and those new to the English language. I haven’t read them all . . . yet!
These are to be published in July and there are individual books as well as sets and large print and Kindle versions.
Thanks to Arcturus Publishing for the copy for review. This is a great set to add to a school or home library, and I’d recommend it for English-learners, too. I’d have loved this when I was a kid.
November 7, 2022
This is a fantastic 16-book anthology of Sherlock Holmes classic cases, retold so young readers can discover and appreciate the stories.
Sherlock Holmes and his faithful associate, Dr. Watson are known world-wide and their adventures will have kids engaged in the tales from beginning to end. The reader works along with the genius hero to try and solve mysteries before more disaster strikes.
This special collection brings Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most infamous detective to life. Award-winning children's fiction author Alex Woolf has done a brilliant job of retelling these stories with wit, many of the original turns of phrase, while simplifying and clarifying the language and plots to make the stories accessible to children.
Contents
A Study in Scarlet
The Speckled Band
The Reigate Squires
The Red-Headed League
The Blue Carbuncle
The Valley of Fear
The Musgrave Ritual
A Scandal in Bohemia
The Sign of Four
The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Naval Treaty
Silver Blaze
The Final Problem
The Empty House
The Dancing Men
The Six Napoleons
There is an illustration on most pages which visually enriches the text. Eve O'Brien's illustrations further animate the narrative and enhance the action and intrigue surrounding Holmes and Watson. The books will be enjoyed by both young and old and those new to the English language. Individual books are also available as well as the set plus large print and Kindle versions.
With Christmas around the corner this will be a prefect gift to give. I also recommend to add the set to a classroom and a school or home library. I love the books and highly recommend the set. They are quality through and through.
Sherlock Holmes and his faithful associate, Dr. Watson are known world-wide and their adventures will have kids engaged in the tales from beginning to end. The reader works along with the genius hero to try and solve mysteries before more disaster strikes.
This special collection brings Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most infamous detective to life. Award-winning children's fiction author Alex Woolf has done a brilliant job of retelling these stories with wit, many of the original turns of phrase, while simplifying and clarifying the language and plots to make the stories accessible to children.
Contents
A Study in Scarlet
The Speckled Band
The Reigate Squires
The Red-Headed League
The Blue Carbuncle
The Valley of Fear
The Musgrave Ritual
A Scandal in Bohemia
The Sign of Four
The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Naval Treaty
Silver Blaze
The Final Problem
The Empty House
The Dancing Men
The Six Napoleons
There is an illustration on most pages which visually enriches the text. Eve O'Brien's illustrations further animate the narrative and enhance the action and intrigue surrounding Holmes and Watson. The books will be enjoyed by both young and old and those new to the English language. Individual books are also available as well as the set plus large print and Kindle versions.
With Christmas around the corner this will be a prefect gift to give. I also recommend to add the set to a classroom and a school or home library. I love the books and highly recommend the set. They are quality through and through.
June 11, 2024
old post reposted
If you know me, you know I looooove Sherlock Holmes. I stumbled across Alex Woolf's Sherlock Holmes retelling ("Sherlock Holmes Retold for Children") (illustrated by Eve O'Brien) the other day. I've been slowly reading through them, taking my time, relearning some of those classic cases.
["Join world-famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his ever-loyal sidekick Dr. Watson as they embark on a series of daring adventures. Priceless jewels disappear from a hotel suite, a monstrous hound is spotted on the moors and a woman is murdered in a locked room. Can our brilliant hero solve these mysteries and more before disaster strikes?"]
There are sixteen short stories in total, all with cute illustrations of Sherlock, Holmes, and all their shenanigans. Some of the stories included are: A Study in Scarlet, The Hounds of Baskervilles, The Speckled Band, A Scandal in Bohemia, and many more.
The series is advertised as ages 6+. And for that few people on Amazon that had negative reviews: of fucking course there's murder and dead bodies and sensitive topics involved in this series!!! It's Sherlock Holmes! Did you think he'd be solving the mystery of where he put his pipe!?! He solves murders and thefts and affairs. Alex wasn't going to change EVERYTHING about Sherlock that makes him Sherlock. (end rant).
I highly recommend this series if you love children's lit, mysteries, Sherlock (but don't want to read the heavy Doyle originals), or just need something to pass an hour of your time.
#sherlockholmesretoldforchildren #sherlockholmes#retoldforchildren #alexwoolf #eveobrien #sherlockholmesretelling #authorconandoyle $thriller #yathriller #murdermystery #yamurdermystery #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
If you know me, you know I looooove Sherlock Holmes. I stumbled across Alex Woolf's Sherlock Holmes retelling ("Sherlock Holmes Retold for Children") (illustrated by Eve O'Brien) the other day. I've been slowly reading through them, taking my time, relearning some of those classic cases.
["Join world-famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his ever-loyal sidekick Dr. Watson as they embark on a series of daring adventures. Priceless jewels disappear from a hotel suite, a monstrous hound is spotted on the moors and a woman is murdered in a locked room. Can our brilliant hero solve these mysteries and more before disaster strikes?"]
There are sixteen short stories in total, all with cute illustrations of Sherlock, Holmes, and all their shenanigans. Some of the stories included are: A Study in Scarlet, The Hounds of Baskervilles, The Speckled Band, A Scandal in Bohemia, and many more.
The series is advertised as ages 6+. And for that few people on Amazon that had negative reviews: of fucking course there's murder and dead bodies and sensitive topics involved in this series!!! It's Sherlock Holmes! Did you think he'd be solving the mystery of where he put his pipe!?! He solves murders and thefts and affairs. Alex wasn't going to change EVERYTHING about Sherlock that makes him Sherlock. (end rant).
I highly recommend this series if you love children's lit, mysteries, Sherlock (but don't want to read the heavy Doyle originals), or just need something to pass an hour of your time.
#sherlockholmesretoldforchildren #sherlockholmes#retoldforchildren #alexwoolf #eveobrien #sherlockholmesretelling #authorconandoyle $thriller #yathriller #murdermystery #yamurdermystery #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
November 24, 2022
This collection of Sherlock Holmes Mysteries are incredible, each mystery is so unique and fun. The stories are shortened down and told in a much easier and simpler way so that children can escape into them and enjoy them. They are filled with illustrations that go perfectly with each story.
I really enjoyed reading all of these book and couldn’t stop reading, wanting to solve literally every mystery that Holmes and Watson face together. From a missing gem, to an evil dog in the moors, a bell that chimes at night, an attack on a statue and so much more.
I highly recommend these they are incredible books, so easy to escape into and tell the old classic mystery series in a much more condensed and easy way. They are written brilliantly and you’ll be whisked into this historical place with the most odd and interesting detective.
I really enjoyed reading all of these book and couldn’t stop reading, wanting to solve literally every mystery that Holmes and Watson face together. From a missing gem, to an evil dog in the moors, a bell that chimes at night, an attack on a statue and so much more.
I highly recommend these they are incredible books, so easy to escape into and tell the old classic mystery series in a much more condensed and easy way. They are written brilliantly and you’ll be whisked into this historical place with the most odd and interesting detective.
July 27, 2025
A fun time through the classic stories. the narrator, as always, makes all the difference, and this was splendid!
August 30, 2025
Maybe it deserves 4 stars. The writing is good and it's a good primer to get kids interested in Holmes. I gave it a low rating because now my son wants to read more Holmes, but doesn't want to read any of the ones here bc he knows how they end. Probably not the book's fault though. As we were reading it I found myself wishing for all the details that had been cut out. It's what makes the writing so good! There's nothing wrong with these books. The death scenes are not risque at all and there's no profanity or agenda and the characters are true to the original. I guess I just didn't like the concept.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews