Bird's-eye View

Homer on the Case by Henry Cole

Meet Homer, a carrier pigeon with extraordinary abilities. He always finds his way home, even when he must travel long distances. He also possesses a most unusual trait: Homer reads.

It began when he noticed the newspapers lining his cage. Homer recognized people and places in the newspaper’s photos. Eventually this smart bird connected the pictures with their printed captions. Viola! He became a reader. In addition to news reports, Homer discovered the funny pages and now follows the exploits of comic strip detective Dick Tracey.

Enter a partner: Homer meets Lulu, a parrot who perches on the shoulder of her owner Charlotte. The birds become fast friends and look forward to friendly avian conversations whenever their owners are in the park.

A series of outdoor jewelry thefts come to the attention of Homer and Lulu. They decide to investigate the robberies.

The story’s premise is ingenious. A pigeon has a bird’s-eye view to possible crimes and can fly around, gathering evidence without arousing suspicion. His accomplice has an extensive human vocabulary. These savvy spies find clues and piece together the evidence. Here's the complication: Homer and Lulu must communicate their discoveries, reveal the perpetrators, and recover the stolen jewelry. There is an element of danger, but these are brave little detectives. Homer on the Case is an engaging sleuthing adventure for young readers. Let's hope that there will be more mysteries for this detective duo.

Listen to the author read as he draws a pigeon.

Learn some surprising facts about homing pigeons.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: April 1, 2021  Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company  ISBN: 978-1682632543