Joe Sherlock, Kid Detective Audio Collection

Berman handily pulls off a difficult feat—sounding youthful and not too affected—as the voice of a fourth-grade detective. Joe Sherlock, a timid kid with a nose (but often not the stomach) for mysteries, has a fond respect for his namesake, Sherlock Holmes. With a blend of mild suspense, universal kid dynamics and a good dose of potty humor, Keane concocts a recipe likely to hook mystery lovers and the Captain Underpants crowd. His pesky but knowledgeable little sister (along with her Girl Chat sleepover backpack and walkie-talkie) assist Sherlock as he works his way through three neighborhood cases—on Baker Street, of course—in this introductory collection: Case #1: The Haunted Toolshed ; Case #2: The Neighborhood Stink and Case #3: The Missing Monkey-Eye Diamond . Listeners will likely have a good laugh trailing clues with Berman's interpretation of this affable, sometimes silly sleuth. Ages 7-10. (Jan.)