Carol's Notebook

Mr. Ginger and the Disappearing Fish by Chris Wardle (Suggested Reading Level: Grades 3-6) Yet another environmental change is affecting the animals of Daphne Wood. The ocean currents have changed, causing the fish to move farther from the colony. Also, seagulls have congregated in the area to catch fish from the river, and boy are they noisy. The animals call a meeting to discuss the problem and a few worthy ideas are formed. One expedition headed out on the boat to find fish and one heads down the shore to find a new fishing spot for all the gulls. Mr. Denzel the mole and Sidney the armadillo begin setting up a pond for the colony to farm their own fish, so the problem can be avoided in the future. Mr. Ginger has to be my favorite character this time around. He's in the group looking for a new place for gulls and is thrilled to be carried by a pelican. he loves flying....

Mrs. Cat-biscuit's Search for the Downward Land by Chris Wardle (Suggested reading level: Grades 3-6) This fourth book in the series starts with the two cats, Mr. Ginger and Mr. Choli, waking from a nap when the car they sleep in slides downhill, stopping beside Mr. Vinegar's cottage. It's an earthquake! Thankfully, the only other damage in Daphne Wood i a collapse at the entrance to the mine, which is quickly taken care of. In an interesting turn of events, though, the land has been raised much higher than sea level. In typical colony fashion, two expeditions are formed. The first, led by an excited Mrs. Cat-biscuit sets off in the boat searching for an area where the land has gone down. After all, when something goes up, like their shore, something else must go down. What they find though, is an oil spill caused by the quake. The humans are still wreaking havoc on the environment, even after they've become extinct. The second expedition...

Mr. Vinegar and the Frozen Sea by Chris Wardle (Suggested reading level: Grades 3-6) If they didn't seem to enjoy their expeditions so much, I would be feeling sorry for the animals who live in Daphne Wood. Another crisis has arisen. It's the coldest winter in memory and  the sea is freezing and the fishing team, the Tinfishes who are penguins and Daphne the dwarf polar bear have to travel farther and father to the edge of the ice. Since the trip back and forth takes so much longer, they are unable to bring as many fish back, leaving a lot of the animals hungry, especially the fish loving cats, Mr. Choli and Mr. Ginger. Of course, they all come up with a plan, which involves building an igloo at the edge of the ice, collecting lots of fish and then bringing them back. The plan works for the most part and the party meets some new friends who help them out....

Mr. Choli's River Trip by Chris Wardle (Suggested reading level: Grades 3-6) This is the second in the series, and I really do think it's a series that should be read in order. The events of the first book, The Lighthouse of Mr. Tinfish, are re-capped, but we really got to know the various animals and their personalities. The colony of animals has settled into their new home, Daphne Wood, and ridden out the winter. A new problem has arisen with the summer, though. The dry, hot winds are killing the plants and vegetables a lot of the animals eat. Looks like it's time for another expedition, this time to find new plants that will withstand the weather. Mr. Choli, the famous cat detective, leads the trip, following the shoreline and eventually heading up a river. Meanwhile, Mr. Denzel the mole, an intelligent, practical critter, stays behind and works on ways to protect the crops that are already growing. This story moves a little...

The Lighthouse of Mr. Tinfish by Chris Wardle (Suggested reading level: Grades 3-6) Amber and I read this first book in the series together over several evening. The story centers around a colony of animals who live together by the sea. Mind you it takes place after the time of humans, who caused their own extinction by bombs and diseases. The animals have inherited a planet that faces rapid climate changes and the sea level is quickly rising forcing them to find a new home further inland. The animals are very resourceful, first organizing an expedition led by Mr. Choli, a cat who considers himself the head detective. They find a safe wood and move the colony. It actually turns out to be a move for the better, since although the river dries up over winter, the animals discover an old mine with water and a tunnel to an old town that provides lots of canned fish, instruments, all kinds of goodies. They...