Inter Galactic Heroes

James Maloney uses dialogue throughout to help us to understand his characters that are Joe, Daniel and Lizzie. Joe is a young boy who is crazy about space. He believes he is going to be a spaceman by always communicating. Daniel is Joe’s best friend and pretends he is Captain Kirk. Daniel is crazy about space too just like Joe.

Most of the story is set in the garden where Joe’s friends play and hang out in the hut. The Author brings in some little ants to play a trick on Joe, Daniel and Lizzie. The garden is turned into space in the characters’ minds. Daniel, Joe and Lizzie go in the garage to get some space toys and bring them to the garden. 

James Maloney has good description of the characters and setting. He describes well on the characters in a chatty way. Some readers would find parts of the book boring but younger people  might find it funny. The length of the book is short so it would be good for younger children but older children would also find it easy because it is a short book.

 
Joe, Daniel and Lizzie are playing a game in Joe’s garden and pretending it is space and using walkie –talkies to communicate with each other. They find little ants playing a trick on them. When mum comes home she runs over the little ants. Joe, Daniel and Lizzie are shocked when they see the ant’s dead.

 
Young teenagers would find it funny but not as funny as the children. Some good readers might find the style old-fashioned but most readers will enjoy this good story. 

Animal Ark 

Beagle in a basket 

This is Lucy Daniel’s 56th volume of animal ark and Robbie the beagle is really missing his devoted companion, Martha the tabby cat.

Mandy is an 11-year-old vet who loves animals and on one fine sunny day, she saves a male duck from Mr hope’s car. She is quite lazy at school, but likes working with her Mum and Dad in her house vet. The author makes Mandy seem kind and generous by making her save animals. Her friend is Mr Hope and he is helpful and generous just like Mandy, although he is a bit stubborn. Geraldine O’ Meara’s beagle, Robbie is very friendly and was raised by a female cat called Martha when his mother abandoned him. Martha is an old female tabby cat who raised Robbie when he was just a very young puppy. 

The story gives a wide range of settings: beautiful woodlands filled with wildlife, Mandy’s vet- house that saves animals to just a simple school out in the countryside. Lucy Daniels makes the settings come alive. 

Mandy saves a male duck from Mr Hope’s car. Her friend, Geraldine O’ Meara, introduces her to her home. It is teaming with wildlife and Mandy is amazed by it! Robbie the beagle is happy, but when Martha passes away, Robbie can’t cheer up! Mandy wants to help. She needs to find a way to cheer him up. 

This story appeals to mostly girls of all ages, but boys who love animals will like this too. There is no scary content, which makes it suitable for even the youngest children’s bedtime story. The author is making her 56^th volume as good as the 1^st one.