Title: Hudson: Only the Nose Really Knows Caper
Author: Sherri C. Southers and Robert W. Spruce
Publisher: PageTurner Press and Media
ISBN: B09RM6MK6M
Pages: 35
Genre: Literature & Fiction Short Reads
Reviewed by: Christina Avina

Read Book Review

One of the hardest lessons a child can learn growing up is to embrace the truth. It is natural after all, when we are children and see the possibility for us to “get in trouble,” that our inclination would be to lie and try to find a way out of that trouble. However far more often than not, either a lie is so blatant it couldn’t be true, or the lie only serves to hurt other people or themselves in the long run. Only by telling the truth and accepting responsibility can we find a more honest, peaceful, and hopeful solution to our troubles.

That is the message to be found in authors Sherri C. Southers and Robert W. Spruce’s Hudson: Only the Nose Really Knows Caper. The short children’s story focuses on Carl and Abby, two dogs who are blamed for a broken window pane by their mother, and are forced to go live outside. Knowing the truth but afraid to reveal it, they call upon Hudson and his associate Larry Lizard to help investigate and gather the truth before it is too late.

The authors did a wonderful job of crafting a strong and succinct narrative that captured the imagination and heart of a great children’s novel while adding helpful lessons and bonding moments that parents can share with their children. The character development of Hudson and Larry Lizard allowed for elements of mystery and suspense to be slightly infused into the story, oftentimes making it feel as if the allure of a great Sherlock Holmes novel was brought to life for children with an affinity for pets and the world they inhabit.

This is the perfect read for those who enjoy children’s books, especially those that are quick paced and can be read in an hour or less, and have elements of mystery, suspense, action and adventure. The beautiful illustrations the book held were warm and brought the authors story to life amazingly, and the thoughtful way the characters interactions brought the reader’s attention to the main theme of honesty and telling the truth made the overall narrative feel engaging.

Heartfelt, engaging, and memorable, authors Sherri C. Southers and Robert W. Spruce’s Hudson: Only the Nose Really Knows Caper is a must-read children’s book that parents and children alike will fall in love with. The illustrations and story pair so naturally together, and the memorable character developments and natural story progression will keep the reader invested in the overall narrative until the very end.