We're happy to report that Andrews McMeel Publishing has acquired the Sherlock Sam series by A.J. Low, originally published by Epigram Books in Singapore, as part of its AMP! Comics for Kids line.
Illustrated by Andrew Tan, the series stars Sherlock Sam, a smart, amusing, observant 10-year-old whose formal name is Samuel Tan Cher Lock, and Watson, his reluctant, droll robot sidekick. The series is, as AMP described it, "a fresh, cross-cultural twist on the classic Sherlock Holmes series tailored for middle-grade readers." The books are a delightful read, we can attest, and besides the thrill and fun of the mystery, they provide a fascinating look at Singapore, its history and the many cultures and traditions of its diverse population. The first two books in the series, Sherlock Sam and the Missing Heirloom in Katong and Sherlock Sam and the Ghostly Moans in Fort Canning, will be published simultaneously in June 2016, and more editions will follow in 2017. Nine books in the series have been published since 2013 by Epigram.
A.J. Low is the pen name of husband-and-wife team Adan Jimenez and Felicia Low-Jimenez, who commented: "We are very excited to be published by Andrews McMeel and are proud to share the things we love about Singapore with new readers. We can't wait for kids to join Sherlock Sam, Watson, and rest of the Supper Club on their sleuthing adventures!"
Andrews McMeel president and publisher Kirsty Melville said, "We are thrilled to add this distinctive series to our AMP! Comics for Kids line and to introduce Sherlock Sam, a character already beloved in Singapore, to young readers in North America. His plucky smarts and spirited curiosity entertain in words and pictures to intrigue and delight readers."
We at Shelf Awareness are delighted for the authors, who are friends and colleagues. Adan Jimenez is a regular contributor to Shelf Awareness, writing the monthly "Stand Up Comics" column, and Felicia Low-Jimenez's day job is division manager, merchandising, at Books Kinokuniya in Singapore.