Homer on the Case

by Henry Cole

Celebrated author and illustrator Henry Cole returns with a page-turning mystery adventure about a homing pigeon and a parrot who team up to convince their humans to investigate an animal crime spree.

Homing pigeon Homer and his parrot friend Lulu learn something is afoul when they witness four-legged criminals stealing valuables from both the animal and human communities. Using the sleuthing techniques he's gathered from his favorite mystery comics, Homer and Lulu track down the bandits, but need human help to stop them for good. Can they find a way to communicate with their human keepers and lead them to the culprits' hideout to stop the thieves?

Award-winning author and illustrator Henry Cole delivers a fun, action-packed middle grade novel that will keep readers turning the page to find out if the crime-solving pigeon will get his guy. A supporting cast of animal and human characters forms a community that will have every reader wishing they could join in the hunt.

Discussion guide available!

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Animals, Childrens, Adventure, Birds, Fantasy

176 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2021

About the author

Henry Cole was a celebrated science teacher for many years before turning his talents to children's books. He has worked on nearly one hundred and fifty books for children, including Nesting, Unspoken, Big Bug, A Nest for Celeste, Jack's Garden, and On Meadowview Street. Henry loves being outside where he can sketch and write.

Reviews

[Moonkiszt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homer on the Case
by Henry Cole

Homer, a racing pigeon, and his friend Otto are happy just as they are in their days and hobbies – Homer even teaches himself to read! But life gets even better when on a walk through the park they meet Lulu (a very pretty parrot) and her friend Charlotte. There is no time to relax, though, because there are thieves in town and bright shiny objects are going missing. Hair clips, silver cups, gems and jewels disappear. But when Otto’s grandpa’s beloved gold watch is stolen, Homer realizes he has to take action. Lulu joins in his detective work as they try and crack the case. What they find and where will blow your socks off!

If mysteries are your favorite, along with clever animals and smart owners, this is the book for you! This is a particularly perfect read for middle grade readers.

A Sincere Thanks to Henry Cole, Peachtree Publishing Company and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review. Pub Date 01 Apr 2021. Known in GR as “Homer in the World”

#HomerontheCase #NetGalley

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Homer in the World is an excellent, illustrated chapter book all about a Pigeon named Homer and his group of friends seeking to solve a human mystery. The mystery is awesome and the book moves as a fast pace. You own't get bored with this one! I really liked how engaging it was and the illustrations at the start of each chapter helped express the story well.

Overall, this is a great read that I would recommend to middle grade readers.

Three out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Publishing Company for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

[Susan Kite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an adorable pigeon-centric mystery/adventure book. Homer, the pigeon, solved the crime through determination, and with the help of his friends. The plot was fast moving and all the characters well written.
If I had any complaints it was with the formatting. At times the paragraphs ran together making it hard to tell who was talking. BTW I checked the pdf version and it was perfect.
Because it seemed to be an isolated issue, I am revising to give this wonderful story (and the illustrations) a five star review. I did read it on kindle, however, so publisher might want to check that out. All readers should be able to enjoy the fun story.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...

HOMER ON THE CASE is a delightful middle grade mystery, featuring unlikely detectives. Homer, a homing pigeon, and Lulu, a parrot, have witnessed some crimes taking place as shiny things are getting stolen. After seeing a bracelet and a gold pen stolen, they must convince their human keepers to help them investigate these crimes. With an old detective feel, these birds on the case are in for a great adventure.

What I loved: This was a fast-paced read with a mystery that keeps the plot moving quickly. The main characters are absolutely as fun as you would expect from two birds leading the charge, and I enjoyed the writing style that felt akin to a Sherlock Holmes/detective novel. The crimes are great for the middle grade audience, and the animals throughout add to the fun. This book is full of charm.

Each chapter also includes illustrations in black and white that help to bring the story to life and enhance the experience for young readers. This book is well suited for even young middle grade/chapter book readers with a compelling plot and delightful characters. It would also work well as a bedtime book to be read over a few nights.

Final verdict: HOMER ON THE CASE is a charming middle grade detective read with fun characters, great illustrations, and a fast-paced plot. Recommend for mystery and animal lovers.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Gmr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a classic sleuth novel perfect for readers that love to solve those 'whodunit' cases...except the detective is a pigeon, and the crimes lead to an altogether unusual criminal mastermind! Say hello to HOMER, a homing pigeon who has yet to be set lose somewhere and NOT find his way back home in record time. Thing is...he's also smarter than the average bird, but never boastful either. He's managed to pick up the human language, though unable to speak it, and loves nothing more than time spent with his favorite human boy, and to read the latest Dick Tracy comic conveniently lining his “home”. Good thing too because he'll need the skills he's picked up along the way to help solve a local crime spree, and with the help of a few other feathered (and non) friends, he just might be the one to crack the case!

It was quit the caper, and as I said, the ending was definitely unexpected! It'll keep you on your toes as you try to guess just what will happen next, hoping against hope that people will understand what he and Lulu are trying so hard to tell them as it gets down to the wire. A great way for kiddos to be introduced to the classic mystery and detective genres, while adults will certainly get a kick out of it too!


**ARC received for review; opinions are my own

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Homer is a pigeon who has a comfortable home with great owners, and he's allowed to come and go as he likes. He also has developed a special gift: Homer can read.

On one of his flights around his city, Homer meets Lulu, a parrot who knows a little human talk. Homer witnesses a crime, and, with the help of his new friend Lulu, he sets out to solve the case.

[Christy Gould · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little mystery for the younger elementary crowd.

[Ashley Dang · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun mystery adventure between a homing pigeon and a parrot who come together to try and convince their humans to investigate an animal crime spree. The story includes fun artwork and is just an overall fun mystery read! I had a lot of fun reading this and would definitely recommend it!

*Thanks Netgalley and Peachtree Publishing Company for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[Brent · Rating 2 out of 5]

Homer on the Case is told from the perspective of the eponymous Homer, a homing pigeon and Dick Tracy fan who takes it upon himself to investigate a recent series of thefts. When I read the description for this book, I was expecting it to be a comedy or to have moments of humor, which it doesn't. I think humor would have helped immensely, since I wasn't quite sure what to do with a detective story told from a pigeon's perspective that tries to be serious (or serious at a level for kids). There's also not much in terms of character development. There are five main characters: Homer, his owner Otto, Otto's grandfather, Homer's friend Lulu, and Lulu's owner Charlotte. None of them really change much during the story, or have anything pushing them, aside from the very linear theft mystery. I gave this story two stars, since that means "it was okay." It wasn't a bad story, but there also wasn't much for a reader to chew on. Middle grade kids probably wouldn't find this story challenging enough, but younger children might like it.

[Rajiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

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A homing pigeon who solves a jewel-theft mystery? “Homer on the Case” turned out to be a delightfully fun story, and a reader of any age will surely enjoy it.

Firstly, I commend the author for writing such a creative tale. This book is quirky, unbelievable, imaginative, fun, and adventurous. You never know who is committing the crimes and why or how a flock of birds will solve the case when they cannot communicate with humans.

Homer is adorable in the lead, as he witnesses the crimes committed and tries to communicate to his owner to solve them. He has a beautiful bond with Otto, and I loved his friendship with Lulu. Lulu and Homer make an excellent detective pair, and I loved the scenes when they go into the sewers to investigate. Similarly, Otto and Charlotte also share a friendly company, and it was interesting to see how they try to communicate with their pets.

Moreover, the illustrations are breathtaking and add so well to the story! The black and white drawings are detailed and gorgeous, and I paused in between to admire them.

However, there were some characters who I wished were prominent in the storyline. For instance, I wish we had seen more of Carlos. He was an interesting character who appeared in the first half but somehow disappeared in the second half. Similarly, even the climax did not have an exciting end as I had hoped.

Nevertheless, that didn’t stop me from enjoying this novel. Overall, “Homer on the Case” is a fun, adventurous, middle-grade novel, and hopefully the start of a series! I hope the author writes more tales about Homer and other cases he might solve.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a 3.5 for me. It's a fast read with some unusual but loveable sleuths. As a racing pigeon, Homer lives a good life. His owner Otto takes good care of him and provides delicious treats and shelter. Otto and his grandfather enjoy training Homer and timing him on his flights. They use a gold watch that has special meaning for the old man. But Homer isn't like most pigeons. He has taught himself to read by examining the newspaper sheets that Otto places in his cage for his food and droppings. On several flights to a nearby park, Homer notices some strange doings. Stray cats and rats are stealing valuables from its visitors. In fact, the thefts even come close to home as that gold watch disappears. Drawing inspiration from the strategies of Dick Tracy, a detective featured in the comic pages of the newspaper, Homer keeps watch and teams up with Lulu, a talking parrot who visits the park with her human companion, Charlotte. The two birds eventually follow the thieves into the sewer under the city and solve the mystery of where the stolen items are being taken. But their efforts to enlist the help of their human friends, Otto and Charlotte, are frustrating initially, to say the least. Since the story is told from Homer's perspective, readers will feel as though they are inside the pigeon's head. The budding friendship between the two birds and their two owners is nicely described, and the behavior of the humans as they move through the sewer and are endangered because of a storm seems realistic. The ending is satisfying, and the detailed graphite illustrations offer glimpses of Homer's world that will please readers. Perhaps the messages here are that problems are best solved when tackled by several individuals and that friends come in unexpected ways.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book! I've always enjoyed Henry Cole's picture books so I was happy to stumble upon this beginning chapter book. The story is told from Homer's point of view - Homer is a homing pigeon. He lives with his young owner, Otto, and Otto's grandfather. Homer has developed a very special talent - he can read! So he scans the newspapers that Otto puts on the bottom of his cage every day. His favorite is the comics - especially Dick Tracy! Otto likes for Homer to have his freedom so he keeps Homer's cage unlocked most of the time. The story opens with Homer racing back to his coop on the roof of the apartment building where Otto and his grandfather live. Otto is hoping to enter Homer into a race so they have been practicing. But in the meantime, Homer becomes involved in a local robbery scheme. While in the park, he notices a rat stealing a bracelet out of a woman's purse! And not too long after, grandfather's gold watch is stolen also! Can Homer emulate his hero, Dick Tracy, and crack the case? Not without some help.
He has befriended a park pigeon named Marcos and meets an Amazon parrot named Lulu who becomes instrumental in communicating with Otto. The perpetrators of the crimes and the reason for the thefts is quite amusing! Cole helps out by providing sketches at the beginning of chapters that give the reader some clues about what will happen in the following pages. All in all, a fun and quick read that would make a great read-aloud for a classroom or at home. You might want to dig up an example of comics in newspapers - specifically Dick Tracy. It would be good to have on hand so the kids could see it. I'm not sure there are many families that subscribe to newspapers any more.
Ingenuity, perseverance, and courage are all highlighted.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Peachtree Publishing Company through Edelweiss+.
Homer is a homing pigeon with some unusual talents - he has taught himself to read and reads the newspaper daily. His owner, Otto, adores him and doesn't lock him in a cage. Homer is free to explore the area. He yearns for adventure and the local park provides quite the opportunity for exploration. He sees a rat steal a gold bracelet and tries to let Otto know. This is just the first of the thefts Otto witnesses. When he encounters a parrot named Lulu, he finds a new friend and a way to communicate with humans. The two birds work with other pigeons to solve this jewel theft case. Together with their humans, Otto and Charlotte, they solve the case and are hailed as heroes.
Readers will love the twists as they struggle to communicate and when they discover who is leading the ring of thieves. Plenty of humor to go along with the adventure and mystery. Cole writes in an easy to follow manner for middle grade readers.

[Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has created a delightful cozy mystery starring Homer (a homing pigeon) and Lulu (an Amazon Parrot). Together these two birds solve a series of burglaries that are haunting the city's parks.

Together they will track the villains down and then communicate to their humans their results. I found myself both intrigued by these characters. I was laughing as they communicated together, with their humans, and, eventually, officials from around the town. They put on quite the performance.

I could not tell if the book was aimed at an adult audience (I am an adult and did enjoy the book) or a pre-adolescent audience (I expect that pre-teens would enjoy the book as well). For the adult reader the book is a fun, quick read. I give it 5-stars.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Jacob Schmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a unique story from the perspective of the often neglected and scorned bird, a pigeon. But, this is not just any pigeon, it is a homing pigeon that can read! What happens when this pigeon, named Homer, collaborates with a talking parrot -you get a pair of communicating pets that just might be able to solve the crimes that are happening in the local parks. And you definitely won’t believe who the culprit is! Students will learn what a homing pigeon is, the persistent it takes to solve a case, and the important of working as a team.

The pacing was moderate and engaging. It was interesting how the antagonist wasn’t developed fully, or given a significant backstory. The story did end up somewhat abruptly, as if the writer was getting fatigued. All that to say, the story is endearing and fun enough, and will grip young readers.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for a very imaginative mystery story about a homing pigeon, named Homer, his boy, Otto, a young girl named Charlotte, and her Amazon Parrot named Lulu, and how the mystery is solved. Illustrator Henry Cole's descriptive black-and-white pencil drawings help children visualize the story. It has humor, some historical aspects, and two great life lessons. No matter how small you are, you are capable of doing big things, and everyone needs friends, both human and animal!

[Tina Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m giving this two stars because kids might enjoy it, but I found the plot silly, the writing juvenile, and the conclusion moralistic in a completely dissatisfying way.

Henry Cole’s style was his audience’s style; I understand that, but C.S. Lewis is totally relevant here:
“No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.”

I won’t be recommending this to the kids in my life.

[Eileen Winfrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming little mystery. Why are rats and cats stealing shiny things and taking them to the sewers? How can a pigeon get his human to understand what's happening? Perfect for my third grade mystery readers.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little chapter book - perfect for those younger readers who want to read "big kid" books, but need something a little less challenging to start with. Homer and Lulu are great characters and the story is so much fun! Highly recommended!

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun chapter book with a unique narrator: a homing pigeon who can read. The actual solution to the mystery was pleasantly unexpected and resolved itself well. I would love to read more about Homer and his friends.

[Sandra]

Need to think on it. Vaguely old fashioned. It's charming, not sure if it'd be a hard sell for the target audience... (Reminds me of the rescuers movie!)

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
I am a fan of this author's animal stories, and this didn't disappoint. This is a great choice for young advanced readers.

[James Romanchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!! I loved it.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable pigeon and an adorable mystery to solve, too!!!

[Emily Masters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one- I think the short sentences, while young-reader-friendly, come off a little more elegantly if the narrator in your mind is a film noir narrator

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! A cute illustrated book for elementary age kids! Loved it!

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a middle grade fiction story. It was much more interesting then I thought it would be based on the first few chapters.

[Zoe Huff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids’ read aloud book that was actually enjoyed by ages 5-13, surprisingly.

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Thank you Goodreads for sending me this as part of a giveaway**

Homer the homing pigeon (get it?) has a remarkable talent: he can read! And this summer he beats witness to a slew of thefts in town. Together with friends, his owner Otto, Lulu the parrot, her owner Charlotte and Carlos the pigeon, he'll sleuth and deduce who the criminal is and why they're doing it. Solving mysteries isn't all glitz and glam, readers will see how Homer struggles through the case and how he helps his human friends figure out the problem.

Honestly, I'm not sure what to make of this novel. It was cute and there was nothing wrong with it at all; I just didn't adore it as much as I expected. Perhaps it was the slow place, despite it's low page count, and the awkward dialogue between characters; but it was a bit of a chore to get through.

I *might* recommend this to one of my reluctant readers, but there were parts I could tell that would easily be confusing for a low comprehension student. It's difficult you see who I would assign this to.

I absolutely loved the pictures though!