Dodos Are Forever

An audience of 8-year-olds enjoyed this story which begins with a description of Dodo island before the humans arrived - a haven of limitless leisure and plenty. where the Dodos had all the food and security they needed and no enemies. The author invents a charmingly anthropomorphised group of Dodos who are just beginning to relish the joys of family life when the existence of their entire race is threatened by a plague of humans and rats. However, these creatures defy their historical destiny by fleeing to an uninvaded island under the guidance of an escaped ship's parrot. As an adventure story, the tale lacks tension since we know well before the end what the outcome will be, As a wish-fulfilment fantasy, it's both poignant and amusing, leaving the reader with a childlike longing that the story should be true.