BOOK REVIEW - "BASIL OF BAKER STREET" (THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE BOOK 1) BY EVE TITUS

 

When I saw the release of Disney's movie "The Great Mouse Detective" in '85, I saw a story that interested me. I didn't realize that this book was of the series "The Great Mouse Detective", and that the first story was written by Eve Titus the year before I was born. 

So, I finally watched the movie 40 years after it came out, and read "Basil of Baker Street," which had been around for 68 years. I enjoyed both. Several of the plot points of this story appeared in the movie, such as the main characters masquerading as a boat captain and his mate.

I would recommend this to children, regardless of whether the childhood is the first one or not. By the way, the first five books were written by Eve Titus between 1958 and 1982, and Cathy Hapka revived it with three new stories from 2018-2020.

MOVIE REVIEW - DISNEY'S "THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE"

 

It was 1986, and the summer saw not one Disney cartoon, but two. The latter was the famous (or infamous, depending on your view of it) "The Black Cauldron," the first animated non-musical with a tone quite different than what comes out of the house of the Mouse. 

Squeaking... or speaking of mice, the first of the pair was "The Great Mouse Detective," based on the Basil of Baker Street series written by Eve Titus (books 1-5, published from l58-'82). A little over three decades after the movie came out, Catherine Hapka revived the series with new stories between 2018 and 2020. No, I haven't read any of them... yet.

However, I finally watched one of the Disney movies that fascinated me the most. Two reasons. First was the mystery angle. The other was to hear Vincent Price's voice bring life to Professor Ratigan.

Does this movie reach the ranks of Disney classics like "Snow White," "Bambi, "Peter Pan," or "The Jungle Book?" No. However, I found it enjoyable. I enjoyed seeing the character development in Basil. And Price definitely sounded like he was enjoying that role. (By the way, for side trivia,  the actor associated with Holmes and Vincent Price played in at least two movies together: 1940's "The Tower of London" where Basil Rathbone had the lead, and "Comedy of Terrors" in which Price starred with Peter Lorre as his henchman - Boris Karloff also was in both movies.)

I would recommend this movie.

BOOK REVIEW - "FRITZ AND THE MIDNIGHT MEETUP" BY MEGAN HILL, ILLUSTRATED BY CHIARA FEDELE

 

Why are the children at the orphanage sneaking downstairs after bed-time? And should they worry about the resident bully?

"Fritz and the Midnight Meetup: A True Story About Kids Who Prayed" is a delightful children's book written by Megan Hill (who also wrote the children's book "Meg is Not Alone" as well as non-fiction books dealing with the same themes in her children's books) and illustrated by Chiara Fedele.

I know there was a revival taking place here in the United States right before the Civil War started. That revival was also taking place in Germany. This true story accounts for children who had a heart for prayer and wanted to have prayer meetings like the adults.

There also was a bully in real life, as there was in the story. And the results were also the same.

I highly recommend this book.

BOOK REVIEW - "MEG IS NOT ALONE" BY MEGAN HILL (ILLUSTRATED BY SAMARA HARDY)

No, I don't read a lot of children's books. I found this one by accident. I heard the author speak on a podcast about the role of the church and fellowship. So I looked up the book she had written and found this book on the same subject but to a different audience. I read it and loved it.

The plot is Meg is accidentally left at church by her parents. It was a scary experience, but several of the church members helped get a hold of Meg's mother and helped her feel comfortable and occupied until her father came to pick her up.

There's a note at the end of the book, pointing out that Megan Hill had that experience as a child... and as an adult. 

I also enjoyed illustrator Samara Hardy's artwork. That aided in the tone of the book.

I highly recommend this for children... and their parents as well.