Labrador on the Lawn

                                                        

Labrador on the Lawn 

by Lucy Daniels

Labrador on the Lawn is the funniest Animal Ark book I have read. For example, the reader experiences stolen snacks blamed on another dog and an otter house destroyed in minutes by an excitable puppy.

This story does not take place in Mandy's (the main character) home in Welford but in Graythwaite, a village in the English Lake District. It is here where Mandy, her family, and James are taking a vacation.This book is called Labrador on the Lawn because when they first arrived, they find a lost and hurt labrador on the lawn of the cottage they are renting. It just so happened the owner of the dog is the owner of the cottage they are renting.

This book is very funny and exiting. It tricked me into thinking that Blackie was the one to blame when the picnic food disappeared. I also enjoyed this book because a number of events ran parallel and intersected the labrador story, such as stories about the otter sanctuary, boat race, injured otter, and more. There is nothing that I don't like in this book, unlike most of the other Animal Ark books, which have some things that I don't like.

The Animal Ark series was created Ben M. Baglio's, and he owns the copyright to most of the texts. I noticed, however, on Labrador on the Lawn's inside cover page that Lucy Daniels is credited as author, but Baglio is credited on the cover. That sent me to search who actually wrote the story. According to Amazon.com, Baglio commissioned various writers, sometimes under the pseudonym Lucy Daniels. Readers can find out who actually wrote the story by looking who is given special thanks on the copyright page. Special thanks to Labrador on the Lawn is given to Ingrid Maitland.

My seven-year old brother is just starting to read bigger chapter books and I suggested this one before all other Animal Ark books because it's fun, interesting the whole way through, and I didn't have any objections about it.

I think Labrador on the Lawn is a helpful transition to bigger chapter books for young readers and a good book to gain interest in the series. This book is most suited to children ages seven to 10.

Raccoons on the Roof

Raccoons on the Roof
by Ben M. Baglio

Raccoons on the Roof is a Animal Ark book. It doesn't take place in its usual location in Welford, Yorkshire, because the main character Mandy is visiting Blue Bayous, in Florida. It is about Mandy, Joel, a boy from New York, and Courtney, who is from Blue Bayous and daughter of a man who hates animals.

Raccoons are usually viewed as pests, but in this book the author gives a different perspective. They can be both pests and cute friends, they just have to be managed right. I like this book because even though Courtney's dad hated animals and thought raccoons are pests, he learned a lesson from them.

Some Animal Ark books are predictable, but this one isn't. In places you don't know what will happen, and that's what makes this book special. But I don't like how Mandy spoke to Joel on the beach, even if she found out that she was wrong. Mandy got angry and accused Joel of doing things she didn't know if he had done or not.

But overall, I found Raccoons on the Roof scary, cute and funny. It's most suited to those ages 7 to 10, or anyone who enjoys animal stories.

Top 10 Animal Ark Favourites

Animal Ark is a series of books written by Ben M. Baglio. You may wonder why it is called Animal Ark. It is because Mandy and her family ( Mandy Hope, Adam Hope and Emily Hope ) live in a vet clinic called Animal Ark Veterinary Clinic. Mandy is the vet's daughter. In some books Mandy does naughty things, but she gets punished. They also teach lessons. I think a good scripture from the Bible for Animal Ark would be Proverbs 12:10, "A good man regards the life of his beast". Mandy loves animals of all shapes and sizes and cares for them as if they were human. Her best friend, James, cares about animals as much as she does. As a side note, you may get confused with Walton and Welford in the books. Welford is were Mandy lives, and Walton is were Mandy's school is.

I haven't read all the Animal Ark books, but I've read a lot! These are my recommended and top ten favourites:


1) Ponies at the Point

2) Goat in the Garden

3) Cub in the Cupboard

4) Pony in the Pumpkin Patch

5) Chick Challenge (Animal Ark Pets)

6) Shetland in the Shed

7) Hamster in the Handbasket

8) Raccoons on the Roof

9) Husky in a Hut

10) Dog at the Door