Reviews

I'm reminded of "Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin by His Good Mouse Amos" (written far before this book) in which it is revealed that Franklin was actually heavily inspired by a mouse friend. "Basil of Baker Street" works the other way around - it tells the story of a mouse who lives with Sherlock Holmes, though presumably unbeknownst to Holmes himself, and idolizes him to the point of actually going out and solving crimes and mysteries in the mouse world. So what you get here, in a nutshell, is a Sherlock Holmes style book tailored for small children with a shorter and simpler story and cute little animals. So yes, it would be a suitable enough way to introduce very young ones to the mystery genre, before they're ready for harder-hitting works like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, but I feel Eve Titus missed the mark with what seems like a charming concept - a mouse-sized Sherlock Holmes story - and, well, mostly ignoring the "mouse" part of the idea. Often with stories about mice or animals of similar size you get to experience how a mouse would manage to cope in a human world - avoiding cats and traps, using everyday people objects for reinvented mouse purposes, etc. But here, the mice had somehow built an entire city within an unused part of a human house and, apart from Basil's recounts of what he's heard from Holmes, you don't really get the impression that the human world has any affect on the mice's. And apart from one small plot point that I won't spoil - which I would call a plot hole anyway - the characters don't really do anything particularly mousey. What I'm saying is the same story could've just been told with human characters instead (perhaps about Sherlock's next door neighbor, who worships him similarly). But then I guess the illustrations wouldn't be as adorable, would they?

jellogirl2010's review against another edition

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4.0

This book was perfectly delightful. I am a long time devotee of all things Sherlock Holmes, including the movie that is based off of these books and this is certainly a worthy edition to the Holmes universe. And a wonderful little children’s story.

My only regret is that my local library doesn’t have the rest of these books.

teganbeesebooks's review

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4.0

This is so cute!! I loved the movie growing up so I was very excited to start reading these. It was a great mystery & very nostalgic. I am looking forward to the next one. Excited to recommend these to kids at work!

newobhannah's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

kailey_luminouslibro's review

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Basil is the Sherlock Holmes of the mouse world. He listens in on the cases of the great Sherlock Holmes at 221B Baker Street, to learn at the feet of the master. Then Basil can use that knowledge to solve mysteries among the mice of the world. When two little mice children are mouse-napped, Basil is on the case with his trusty friend, Dr. Dawson, at his side. They must go up against a gang of criminals who are threatening to destroy everything Basil holds dear.

I love this story so much! I have always been a fan of the Great Mouse Detective cartoon, so I was delighted to discover that the movie was based on a book series. The writing is charming, the story is exciting, and the mystery is full of wild clues that only Basil can figure out. I also loved the adorable illustrations that bring the characters to life.

This chapter book would be perfect for young readers ages 6-10 who are starting to read on their own, but it is also enjoyable for older children to read. I loved reading it even as an adult!

madcat29's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

panics70's review against another edition

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4.0

This audiobook is a bit more than an hour and perfect for Elementary aged students.

Dare I say the movie is better?

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