Sherlock Bones and the Sea-Creature Feature: A Graphic Novel

Sherlock Bones #2

by Renee Treml

In this second book in the humorous, mystery-solving graphic novel series that’s perfect for fans of Bad Guys, Sherlock Bones and his ragtag team hunt down a swamp monster!Sherlock Bones’s home, the Natural History Museum, has added an exciting new exhibit, Reef to Shore, that includes a mangrove forest and shallow coral reef habitat, with touch tanks in between. When Sherlock overhears a that a swamp monster has been sighted, he gathers his team to investigate. At first Sherlock Bones suspects Nivlac, a quirky octopus with a talent for camouflage—and tank pranks.   But then, loud bellowing leads Bones and team to the mangroves, where they find a horrifying long-haired green beast! Can they escape the creature—or is it too late for our beloved frogmouth bird skeleton and his ragtag mystery-solving team?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Childrens, Mystery, Animals, Science

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 23, 2021

About the author

American-born Renée Treml moved to Australia in 2007, where she was immediately captivated by the unique wildlife in this country. Drawing on her background in ecology, Renee’s began writing stories and creating illustrations that focused on animals and the environment.

Renee works in her Surf Coast studio and is available for school, festival and library visits both in person and virtually. She has written and illustrated several picture books including award-winning Once I Heard a Little Wombat, and Wombat Big, Puggle Small, which was recently read on ABC’s Play School. She is also the creator of the hilarious graphic novels featuring Sherlock Bones.

In addition to books, Renée’s illustrations are featured on a range of stationery, ceramics and homewares available from Kim Wallace Ceramics, Urban Products, Rodriquez Tea Towels, and La La Land.

Reviews

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Sherlock Bones and the Natural History Mystery, we met Bones, a skeletal tawny frogmouth, and Watts, a stuffed blue Indian ringneck parrot. This unconventional team are both exhibits in the state Natural History Museum. In the first book we also met Grace, a chocolate loving raccoon.

There’s talk of a swamp monster who may have “squid-napped” the octopus. Our new mystery takes place in a brand new exhibit, Reef to Shore. There’s definitely something fishy going on in there.

I know, I know … But I couldn’t help myself. In my defence, the author started it!

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Naturally Bones, Watts and Grace take it upon themselves to investigate. Along the way they meet a new friend, Nivlac the octopus. Our intrepid trio navigate their way around touch pools and the mangroves searching for clues. It will take teamwork, keen observation skills and some cardio.

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Nevertheless, our team is keen to solve any mystery that comes their way, even the mystery of how to solve a Rubik’s Cube. Granted, Grace is slightly more interested in her search for chocolate than she is in solving the bigger mysteries but you can’t blame her for that.

If you keep an eye out for visual clues you’ll probably be able to solve the mystery for yourself. Observant readers will learn the identity of the thief from the first book early in this sequel so you may want to read them in order to avoid spoilers.

Like the first book, you’ll accidentally learn as you make your way through this one, with some interesting facts about cryptozoology and some of the animals you meet along the way.

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Thank you so much to NetGalley and Etch, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, for the opportunity to read this book.

Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Sherlock Bones and the sea-creature feature is the second book in this adorable and fun series by Renee Treml.
Unfortunately I haven't had the pleasure of reading book 1 but book 2 is utterly adorable and very humorous for children and adults. This book series reads as a graphic novel type book so would be a great early introduction into graphic novels and would benefit children with dyslexia.
Sherlock Bones and his companions (a wooden bird and an adorable Raccoon) start out solving a mystery at the museum they reside in, but end up actually solving three mysteries.
This series seems so much fun and I can't wait to read more of these books!
I would aim this series at ages 8-12.

[Lisa D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Love this series! Great way for young kids & graphic novel fans to learn about ocean animals! Can’t wait for the next book!

[Deirdre Collins]

read at the library after a math lesson that wasn’t clicking. good pick me up

[Stephanie Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this was a super cute chapter book about a mystery solving skeleton called Sherlock Bones and his trusty sidekicks silent Watts and Grace who is a raccoon. They all live in the State Natural History museum and solve mysteries involving the exhibits in the museum. They just opened a brand new wing with all new exhibits including the Reef to Shore Exhibit featuring a mangrove trees, fish and other cool live animals with a touch pool. This mystery to solve today is the case of a green hairy monster that growls and creeps around the mangroves as well as a missing octopus. This was a super cute and easy to read chapter book. Great for 1st to 2nd graders and the pictures were really engaging and should keep a kid’s attention. It also is a great way to introduce museums and all the fun information and exhibits you could go to. Just a really fun read and won’t hesitate to recommend for young readers.

Thanks to HMH Childrens Book Group and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Sierra Dertinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just ADORE Sherlock Bones and his snooty sidekick Grace! Yet another hilarious, mysterious, and informative adventure in this second book in the series. This time they are tasked (including Watts) with finding out who and where this swamp monster is. Rumor has it that something is lurking around the new exhibit, Reef to Shore, and no one knows what it is. When Sherlock Bones meets the new octopus named Nivlac (really he was named Calvin), he thinks he's a bit too suspicious. After what seems like a century, Sherlock and Grace get a HUGE clue... This clue takes them to a completely different exhibit, and they are kind of scared of what lurks ahead. Young readers will again laugh hysterically throughout the graphic novel, and want to read more from Sherlock Bones!

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so excited to be reading book two of the series, as I just finished the first book last week. EEK!
This is a wonderful series that readers of the Bad Guys series will also enjoy. Perfect for newer chapter book readers or graphic novel introduction. Come solve a mystery with Sherlock Bones as he saves the museum and the ocean reef exhibit. He is a cheeky little skeleton with a frisky sidekicks named Watts (a dead bird) and Grace (a raccoon). Grace is absolutely a hoot! There are lots of great things like the jokes, inclusion of a map, and being in a museum within the pages. Facts about protecting species is mentioned and there are lots of "new" words defined. The illustrations are really well done in black and white, though I wish they were color. There are several that I just want to save and hang in my office because they made me smile, like the one of Grace laughing or exclaiming about needing chocolate or when Sherlock says, SHH Here they come (and these are just from chapter 1). I am giggling just thinking about it hanging waiting for people to see. While you don't have to read the books in order, this one does touch back to first book and the bower birds looking for blue. Recommend for all libraries!

[Mabearbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

You've heard of Sherlock Holmes,well meet Sherlock Bones and his mystery solving sidekicks Grace and Watts. This quirky trio seek to solve the mystery of the monster that's on the loose in the Natural History Museum. Will they solve the mystery, save the museum and stop the monster from scaring the children? This adorably cute graphic novel, with equally adorable characters is sure to delight young readers as well as adults.You can't help but fall in love with three sleuths, although Grace is a racoon after my own heart, I mean if you've got a choice between monsters and chocolate.... I loved that there was a mixture of jokes as well as the educational elements about marine life and natural habitats. This graphic novel is perfect for engaging reluctant readers and is also dyslexic friendly. I am thoroughly looking forward to engaging more with this series, it's a must for home or school libraries. I'm also pleased to say that no chocolates were harmed while reading this novel.

[Jaymie · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

4 stars = Great! Might re-read.

This is the first book I have read in this series. At first I thought it was for a younger audience - more transitional/early chapter book than middle grade. It's a fun, quirky detective story. Since I haven't read the first book, I don't know how the author has set up this particular team, but I was able to follow the story without knowing that. (It does make me want to go back to the first book and find out, though.)

There are some fun animal facts here that I think kids will enjoy. The illustrations are terrific. I like that readers can follow the clues with Sherlock and friends to try to solve the mystery. I would happily buy and share this with elementary school readers in my life!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Sherlock Bones graphic novel series. Sherlock bones lives in the National History Museum and is looking forward to exploring the museum’s new exhibit. Shortly thereafter, Sherlock discovers that a swamp monster has been spotted. He starts investigating with the help of his friend, Grace, the raccoon.
I found this late elementary, early middle grade novel humorous and easy to read. As the characters solve the mystery of the swamp monster, the author mixes in pieces of science, history and puns. This makes the book a goofy, yet somewhat educational, read. Thank you to NetGalley for the digital arc of this book.

[Bexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book two in the Sherlock Bones series, includes the same fun characters from book one and introduces us to a new friend. Still includes a lot of the same humor, and I enjoyed all the bad puns and jokes. It has more delightful facts about various creatures and environments. I think this would be very good for middle schoolers who are interested in natural sciences. I still find the lack of cameras and proper security in this MASSIVE museum a problem, but I'm an adult and I don't think a kid will mind.

[Brittany Dorrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute read! Not only is it funny but I also think that it's quite engaging and educational. Not only does it have a hungry, food-driven raccoon and a bird skeleton solving mysteries in a museum but it is also getting kids to get engaged with the museum and educational facts about different creatures and time periods. While this book is not for my age, I just found it to be super funny and a great way to get kids who might not be into reading or museums to get interested into it. I mean who doesn't love chocolate, raccoons, talking skeletons and mystery?!?!

[Jacque Stengel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun adventure through the natural history museum again! Finding the sea creatures and the clues and the excitement that is brought out with the pictures and the words. A great beginning graphic novel for the young reader. (also good for those that may just not like reading yet)

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 6 year old has spent most of this year asking when this book was coming out. He was not disappointed and sat and read the whole thing. We have now read it together too.
Bones, Watts and Grace are back for another adventure. Full of fun, facts and humour.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sherlock Bones and his team must solve the mystery revolving around a monster that is causing mayhem in the museum's new ocean reef exhibit. Funny and filled with puns throughout, and informative facts about sea-creatures.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Treml Tremors #2
Sherlock Bones #2
Second book in the series and more of the same with the exception of some weird octopus creature, anyway an average yarn which is an easy read, even for young people and should be popular in that age bracket.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Appreciate the science info included in this graphic novel series, and the adventures are cute.

[Jojobooks Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this! Perfect for kids who look forward to field trips and special museum outings! Super entertaining!

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute second book in the series.

[Claude · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a fun, cute sequel to book one. i enjoyed the mysteries, the puns, and the fun facts sprinkled throughout!

[Aryanna Tunstall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really cute detective story. I loved the characters and the subtle facts that you get about animals while reading.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to read with your kids. Full of humor, puns, science and mystery.

[Erica Flory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series!

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story for kids

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.