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Bonesville
This stunning picture book from the bestselling team of Jean-Luc Fromental and Joëlle Jolivet cleverly introduces many of the bones that make up the human body.
A mysterious beast is terrorizing the resident skeletons of Bonesville. Under cover of darkness, it steals a different bone from each townsperson, from cranium to phalanges. It takes the washerwoman’s humerus, the butcher’s fibula, and Dr. Strongbones’s coccyx. Thanks to his patience and cleverness, Detective Sherlock Bones traps the monster, revealing that the beast is only the harmless Spot of the Baskervilles, on a mission to rebuild the lost skeleton of his master, Dr. Watsbones. Jolivet’s bold illustrations and Fromental’s witty storytelling make for a winning combination in this striking picture book, perfect for young Sherlock Holmes fans.
A mysterious beast is terrorizing the resident skeletons of Bonesville. Under cover of darkness, it steals a different bone from each townsperson, from cranium to phalanges. It takes the washerwoman’s humerus, the butcher’s fibula, and Dr. Strongbones’s coccyx. Thanks to his patience and cleverness, Detective Sherlock Bones traps the monster, revealing that the beast is only the harmless Spot of the Baskervilles, on a mission to rebuild the lost skeleton of his master, Dr. Watsbones. Jolivet’s bold illustrations and Fromental’s witty storytelling make for a winning combination in this striking picture book, perfect for young Sherlock Holmes fans.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2015
About the author
Jean-Luc Fromental
76 books14 followersAprès dix ans dans l'édition, Jean-Luc Fromental s'adonne à la presse, la publicité, la télévision et bien sûr, la bande dessinée. En 1981, il crée (avec José-Louis Bocquet) L'Année de la bande dessinée. En 1983 il lance le bimestriel Métal Aventure et prend en 1985-86 la rédaction en chef du mythique Métal hurlant. Il fait ses premières armes dans le dessin animé en 1986 comme co-scénariste de la série Bleu, l'Enfant de la Terre, réalisée par Philippe Druillet, puis travaille en 1991 sur le projet de long-métrage de Moebius, Starwatcher. En 1994, il conçoit la série animée Il était une fois pour 26 dessinateurs de BD. Il crée d’autres séries pour la télévision : Witch World en 1997, avec Colin Hawkins, Les Renés, avec Hervé Di Rosa en 2000, et Mandarine & Cow en 2007. En 2001, il participe à la série Lucky Luke, en tant que directeur d’écriture et scénariste. Il s’oriente vers le long-métrage d’animation, avec l’adaptation du roman de Roy Lewis Pourquoi j’ai (pas) mangé mon père que réalisera Djamel Debouzze en 2012, le scénario de Loulou et autres loups (2002), puis avec Solotareff, du Secret de Loulou annoncé pour 2013. Il reste en contact avec le papier, publiant régulièrement pour la jeunesse, notamment le très remarqué 365 Pingouins avec Joëlle Jolivet. En 2003, il revient vers l'édition en créant au sein de la maison Denoël le label de bande dessinée adulte Denoël Graphic qui a publié notamment Tamara Drewe de Posy Simmonds ou La Genèse de Robert Crumb. Jean-Luc Fromental s’est aussi illustré comme scénariste de bande dessinée : il a écrit pour des artistes tels que Floc’h, Loustal, Stanislas (Les Aventures d’Hergé), Chaland, Blexbolex, Miles Hyman, Jano. Il est l’auteur d’une trentaine de romans, récits de voyage, contes et bande dessinées.
Texte © Dargaud
Texte © Dargaud
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
January 13, 2017
Really funny story about a community of skeletons. It's hilarious! Great for young kids.
October 20, 2017
Check out more picture book reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
A mysterious beast is terrorizing the resident skeletons of Bonesville. Under cover of darkness, it steals a different bone from each townsperson, from cranium to phalanges. Sherlock Bones is on the case! Will he catch the beast and return all the stolen bones...? Dr. Watsbones appears and it explains everything!
Our family are RABID SHERLOCK HOLMES fans!! So we were super excited by this book.... I loved the large size format and the black, white, red orange and blue color blocking of the illustrations... In fact both of these elements were used quite well...
EXCEPT in the blue background the words were too dark... they should have been white like on the black... Also there were quite a few TOTALLY adult references that neither my nephew, nor any other child would get... I'm not talking about naming the bones... that was quite a neat idea and well executed with the dialogue and the illustrations. BUT with their difficulty we needed the bones to be the ONLY adult element...
Also it would have been quite cute if WE could have solved the case WITH Sherlock Bones... there just wasn't enough to figure it out too... Thus this isn't a book you would want to re-read often and so I would simply get it from the library when you are jonesing for a bones story...
I did appreciate that the message in the book is to control your fears by understanding that such feelings are making something much bigger of something that is relatively minor. I also really LOVED that each skeleton's "beast" was represented by different monsters. My nephew understood what was going on with the beasts and that they represented their fear!
We struggled to pick a spread because SO MANY WERE SO GOOD!! We finally settled on the T-Rex although Sherlock's room was another favorite...
BOTTOM LINE: For ALL Sherlock Holmes fans!! Perfect for Halloween...
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my picture book reviews in a special feature called Boo's Picture Gallery...
A mysterious beast is terrorizing the resident skeletons of Bonesville. Under cover of darkness, it steals a different bone from each townsperson, from cranium to phalanges. Sherlock Bones is on the case! Will he catch the beast and return all the stolen bones...? Dr. Watsbones appears and it explains everything!
Our family are RABID SHERLOCK HOLMES fans!! So we were super excited by this book.... I loved the large size format and the black, white, red orange and blue color blocking of the illustrations... In fact both of these elements were used quite well...
EXCEPT in the blue background the words were too dark... they should have been white like on the black... Also there were quite a few TOTALLY adult references that neither my nephew, nor any other child would get... I'm not talking about naming the bones... that was quite a neat idea and well executed with the dialogue and the illustrations. BUT with their difficulty we needed the bones to be the ONLY adult element...
Also it would have been quite cute if WE could have solved the case WITH Sherlock Bones... there just wasn't enough to figure it out too... Thus this isn't a book you would want to re-read often and so I would simply get it from the library when you are jonesing for a bones story...
I did appreciate that the message in the book is to control your fears by understanding that such feelings are making something much bigger of something that is relatively minor. I also really LOVED that each skeleton's "beast" was represented by different monsters. My nephew understood what was going on with the beasts and that they represented their fear!
We struggled to pick a spread because SO MANY WERE SO GOOD!! We finally settled on the T-Rex although Sherlock's room was another favorite...
BOTTOM LINE: For ALL Sherlock Holmes fans!! Perfect for Halloween...
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my picture book reviews in a special feature called Boo's Picture Gallery...
October 12, 2018
When a terrible monster steals Mrs. Strongbones' radius, it is just the first of a series of personal depredations, as the skeletal residents of Bonesville find themselves relieved of pieces of themselves in a string of attacks. Only Sherlock Bones holds out any hope of solving the case, tracking each theft, and working to uncover the identity of the thief. The solution to the puzzle - - is hinted at by the fact that 205 bones have been stolen...
Originally published in France as Os Court!, this immensely engaging picture-book can be read in a number of ways: as a spooky tale suitable for Halloween time, as a humorous homage to Sherlock Holmes and the mystery genre, and/or as an informative introduction to the human skeleton. I was immensely impressed by Bonesville, finding everything about it well done. The story was engrossing, and featured any number of clever puns and plays on words, leading me to conclude that the translator must have been very skilled indeed (it is so much more difficult to translate the meaning of texts that play around with language), and to wonder what sort of puns the original French version contained. I enjoyed the colorful artwork immensely, appreciating Joëlle Jolivet's bold use of color, shape and silhouette, and her visual sense of humor throughout. As an added touch, the dust-jacket can be removed, for a full-length look at the human skeleton! Recommended to anyone looking for Halloween fare that is spooky and humorous by turns, as well as to fans of this talented author/artist team.
Originally published in France as Os Court!, this immensely engaging picture-book can be read in a number of ways: as a spooky tale suitable for Halloween time, as a humorous homage to Sherlock Holmes and the mystery genre, and/or as an informative introduction to the human skeleton. I was immensely impressed by Bonesville, finding everything about it well done. The story was engrossing, and featured any number of clever puns and plays on words, leading me to conclude that the translator must have been very skilled indeed (it is so much more difficult to translate the meaning of texts that play around with language), and to wonder what sort of puns the original French version contained. I enjoyed the colorful artwork immensely, appreciating Joëlle Jolivet's bold use of color, shape and silhouette, and her visual sense of humor throughout. As an added touch, the dust-jacket can be removed, for a full-length look at the human skeleton! Recommended to anyone looking for Halloween fare that is spooky and humorous by turns, as well as to fans of this talented author/artist team.
November 13, 2017
Está muy divertida la historia, y aprende uno mucho de huesos (hasta diagrama trae para no perderte nada). Los dibujos están increíbles, la historia es intrigante, ¡y todo rima! Me gustó mucho, porque a pesar de ser una historia original en francés, la traducción está muy bien hecha y ajustaron los nombres de manera que pudiera familiarizarme con ellos y encontrarles su par en el mundo real. Además, es una historia de calacas, con un Sherlock Huesos, como no amarlo.
December 10, 2021
This is one of the best Sherlock Holmes adaptations I have ever seen. I laughed so hard at some of these puns. Though I suspect this will appeal more to parents, teachers, etc. than to the kiddos.
January 10, 2024
Such puns! Loved all the nods to Sherlock. Fun incidental learning about bones! My three year old didn’t really understand the end of the story but she liked it up until then. Very silly!
September 2, 2016
Delightful picture book! Sherlock Bones is trying to find out who is stealing bones from Bonesville. Both the story (with lots of clever wordplay) and the illustrations (which are rich in amusing details while using a deceptively simple palette) are stellar.
November 25, 2025
💜Bel humour !
Dans la ville d'Ostendre, la blanchisseuse a été attaquée.
Le détective Sherlos mène l'enquête...
--------------------------
Dans de beaux coloris choisis, uniques, qui sautent aux yeux, les petits squelettes poursuivent leur aventure trépidante sur fond d'enquête policière...
Une belle surprise attend le lecteur au dos de la couverture du livre !
A l'âge où l'on aime bien, entre autres choses, squelettes et zombies, mon fils a trouvé ce livre tout simplement "génial" !
Il a eu la joie d'avoir une dédicace personnalisée par les auteurs, à un salon du livre : que du bonheur !
A découvrir !
Dans la ville d'Ostendre, la blanchisseuse a été attaquée.
Le détective Sherlos mène l'enquête...
--------------------------
Dans de beaux coloris choisis, uniques, qui sautent aux yeux, les petits squelettes poursuivent leur aventure trépidante sur fond d'enquête policière...
Une belle surprise attend le lecteur au dos de la couverture du livre !
A l'âge où l'on aime bien, entre autres choses, squelettes et zombies, mon fils a trouvé ce livre tout simplement "génial" !
Il a eu la joie d'avoir une dédicace personnalisée par les auteurs, à un salon du livre : que du bonheur !
A découvrir !
November 22, 2017
Todo el misterio empieza cuando una peluda criatura se roba el húmero de una lavandera, entonces aparece el detective Shelock Huesos, quien tratará de descubrir quien se está robando los huesos de los ciudadanos de Huesópolis.
Los dibujos son muy simples, pero son acompañados por una paleta de colores muy estridentes y llamativos.
A la historia le pongo 3 estrellas, pero a los dibujos 5
Los dibujos son muy simples, pero son acompañados por una paleta de colores muy estridentes y llamativos.
A la historia le pongo 3 estrellas, pero a los dibujos 5
December 25, 2020
Un hermoso libro gigante e ilustrado donde a través de un un poema largo y divertido (calaverita literaria) aprendemos el nombre de los huesos que componen nuestro esqueleto.
1. Imágenes fascinantes y hermosas
2. Un final chusco y encantador.
3. Versos coherentes y delirantes que te harán sonreír. El misterio de Huesopolis es un texto que recomiendo para divertirte y aprender algo de anatomía
1. Imágenes fascinantes y hermosas
2. Un final chusco y encantador.
3. Versos coherentes y delirantes que te harán sonreír. El misterio de Huesopolis es un texto que recomiendo para divertirte y aprender algo de anatomía
September 21, 2017
I don't... get it?? I gave it an extra star because the illustrations and atmosphere of the book are good, but the conclusion doesn't make any sense to me. At all. Like I've been thinking about it for a couple of minutes and no dice.
November 3, 2020
Do you have a six or seven year old? Then this book will be a hit. Filled with pins about bones to make adults groan and unique illustrations, this story is a short mystery sure to capture the imagination. So far this book has been read six times in two weeks.
March 26, 2023
Un libro muy "palomero". Con una historia grafica entretenida pero muy predecible. Tiene puntos ingeniosos como el nombre del detective, Sherlock Huesos (Sherlock Bones) pero definitivamente no será muy trascendente en la memoria.
October 19, 2026
Me encantaaaaaa, lo amo!!!!
May 8, 2017
A cute book with some skeletal education! I enjoyed it!
December 29, 2017
un libro muy creativo.
January 6, 2018
Grappig boek met mooie prenten. Erg geestig vertaald door Barbara van Kooten.
May 4, 2018
Para leer solo a para léerselo a tu sobrino. Me encantó más la edición y las ilustraciones que el texto, pero eso no es mucho decir.
September 4, 2018
La edición es simplemente hermosa, cubierta/póster y pasta en color rojo. La historia increíblemente divertida. Muy recomendable para los niños y los que son niños de corazón. Me alegró el día.
November 6, 2018
3 a la historia, 5 a los dibujos.
September 11, 2019
This is about different bones being taking by something. It's a cute way to learn different bones.
January 20, 2020
Es un divertido misterio
January 10, 2021
On the one hand this was great because my kids love skeletons and the artwork and color scheme were cool. On the other hand it was a bit long and the end didn’t make sense to me 🤷🏼♀️
February 11, 2021
Algo está atacando a los habitantes de Huesopolis, está escrito en verso y casi que se lee cantando, se aprende de los huesos además.
September 28, 2021
Such a fun read!
March 11, 2024
prachtig getekend, maar het verhaal rammelt een beetje (ha)
November 29, 2024
Bone puns, hell yeah.
July 14, 2025
2,5. Debe funcionar mil mejor en inglés. Igual a Omar le ha gustado y hecho risa.
October 30, 2025
una historia breve, divertida y con un plot twist de lo mas tierno
March 13, 2017
Something is afoot in Bonesville. and a mysterious monster is stealing bones from the residents, but Sherlock Bones is on the case. I enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes spoof and that the correct anatomical names for the stolen bones were given, but I think these went over my kindergartner's head.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews