In their first appearance (The Mysterious Abductions), three very different animals - Tobin the pangolin, Bismarck the sugar glider, and Dawn the fox- work together to save themselves from a hungry snake on the very first night they meet. That success leads to the formation of the Nocturnal Brigade, with the three new friends ready to help others. Now in their fourth adventure, they are up against a challenge that seems insurmountable. How can a few animals find a way to help all the creatures they know survive a drought? Bismarck's beloved pomelos are scrawny and withered, the watering holes are all drying up, and everyone feels weak and ill. The Brigade barely has the strength to investigate the odd things that are occurring in their valley. There are strange high-pitched noises, sometimes there are faint voices but no one is there, Cora (the wombat) has her den caved in by something. Weirdest of all, it seems the very sticks and plants have come alive to carry off what little water there is and keep the friends from finding it. How can that be possible?
The Nocturnals features a wide variety of nocturnal animals - foxes, sugar gliders, pangolins, wombats, chameleons, wallabies, bilbies, and bandicoots. Bismarck, the sugar glider, continues with his antics such as flirting with Dawn, bossing everyone else around when there is work involved, and bragging about his brave exploits (which are greatly exaggerated). Tobin gets blamed for any odd odors or squeaky noises due to the pangolin's habit of releasing gas when agitated or frightened. And Dawn is still the leader of the group with her wisdom and courage. Together they face everything from quicksand to tumbleweed attacks in their efforts to find water and save the valley's inhabitants.
Readers who enjoy animal adventures should try The Nocturnals, if they haven't already done so. The mixture of mystery, humor, and friendship is a wonderful combination. There is a website for readers and educators with plenty of resources at https://www.nocturnalsworld.com/.
I read an advanced reading copy provided by the publisher for review purposes.
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