The Rabbit Club ¦ Ransom for a River Dolphin

The bobtail bunny lovers should twitch excitedly when they see the first title. Mac and his earnest classmates fondle and frolick with their lopeared, old English, etc. cosy pets, whilst dubious goings-on need uncovering and exposing at the conveniently local angora farm. There's some humour and it's an accessible, harmless read.

The river dolphin tale is in fact better value, both in style and content. The Amazon and its people are somehow made less distant than in a TV documentary as Carmenza and her friend Ramiro struggle to save a butchered, belea-gured pink dolphin. Around them the forest burns for cash crops and rapid soil erosion while richly equipped animal hunters barter for endangered species and handsome returns. The message that insensitive men of all races have much to answer for is only gently underscored as the tale moves rapidly on. It might make an unusual Junior class-reader.