COCKY TOO

Imagine living in the Australian Outback in a place called Animal Haven, a refuge for sick and injured animals. This is the setting for a series about the crime-solving Aussie Angels--twins Mike and Meg, their younger brother, parents, and assorted friends. In this sixth of the series, a cockatoo with a large and colorful vocabulary inexplicably appears and disappears. In an unrelated turn of events, the children's father goes missing, and shots are heard in the distance. Reader Melissa Eccleston perfectly captures the balance between humor and danger, bringing individual voice to each character while keeping up a lively pace. Educational tidbits about the Australian wilderness are woven seamlessly into the story. E.S. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 03]