Basil of Baker Street

For a fan of Sherlock Holmes, the idea of a brace of mice emulating that great man and Dr Watson is not instantly appealing. However Eva Titus -- of 'Anatole' fame -- has managed to capture the flavour of Victorian Baker Street, and translate it into a fantasy land where mice have problems like their human counterparts. Basil, the great mouse detective, and Dr Dawson succeed by employing all of Holmes' skill and the adventures are very plausible. Paul Galdone's black and white illustrations add to the period atmosphere and they reflect his genius for exactly capturing a subject. The cover however depicts a Disney cartoon Basil and Dr Dawson, because Basil is now starring as Basil, the Great Mouse Detective in a new Disney film, and this is a 'tie-in'. I can't tell you if the film is any good but at least it has led to the re-issue and paperback of this book which appeared first in 1974. the text requires a fairly able reader; I recommend it for top Juniors. An excellent aperitif to Conan Doyle!