Smelly Kelly and His Super Senses: How James Kelly's Nose Saved the New York City Subway

Mild-mannered James Kelly had a keen sense of smell, but what good was an 'extraordinary nose'--a superpower, really--when what he needed was to sniff out a new job in New York City? Anderson's lively telling of a little-known story (who ever knew there was a heroic leak-smelling detective in the 1930s who saved the city with his nose?) employs strong, active verbs, as any superhero tale does, and is effectively complemented by digital illustrations that bring to life Kelly's subterranean realm--the blue-black subway, the greenish miasmic smells drifting along, and Smelly Kelly's red hair, a beacon in the darkness. 

This picture book biography highlights a little-known figure: James "Smelly" Kelly, an Irish immigrant whose excellent sense of smell helped ensure the safety of the New York City subway system in the mid-20th century. In compelling prose, Anderson relays Kelly's heroic exploits, including locating leak sources, inventing detection implements, and saving a man from beneath a train ("Inches from the underside of the car. Inches from the electrified third rail"). Harney's digital illustrations evoke stylized pen and ink; coils of pea green bring noxious scents to life. Kelly's brightly spotlighted escapades--as well as his distinctive red hair, rendered in a vibrant shade--serve as welcome contrast. Though some details are hazy, this is an interesting profile of an underappreciated figure. Back matter includes an author's note, a bibliography, and additional resources. Ages 7-10. (Oct.)

Gr 2-5--This picture book biography centers on James Kelly, a white Irish immigrant and Transit Authority worker born in 1898, who used his incredible sense of smell to solve problems. Kelly could recognize scents that most people ignored. His impressive ability helped him identify leaks that could damage the New York City subway system. Eventually, he implemented tools that supplemented his skills, such as a yellow powder called uranine. This chemical was used to stain water yellow and helped Kelly locate leaks. The engaging text features dramatic incidents and rescues. For example, near the end of the narrative, one scene depicts Kelly saving the life of a man who fell from the platform and onto the tracks. Kelly jumped down, crawled under the subway car, and pinned the man down. The car was able to pass over both men without hurting them. Harney's cartoon-style artwork is perfect for the narrative because it reinforces the idea that Kelly was a little-known superhero. The illustrations feature a predominately white cast of characters. The author's note, bibliography, and further resources section could inspire readers to conduct more research. This would be an excellent book for talking about problem-solving and engineering. VERDICT Recommended for elementary collections, particularly those that emphasize makerspaces, problem-solving, or STEAM activities.--Debbie Tanner, S D Spady Montessori Elem., FL