February 1, 2018
Grades 4-7 The fourth installment of this popular series finds our three heroesDawn, the wise vixen leader of the Nocturnal Brigade; Tobin, the generally befuddled pangolin (spoiler alert: Tobin's in love!); and Bismark, the sugar glider who achieves ever greater heights of pretentiousness in every outingtrying to solve a dire problem: Why is the forest coming alive? It's bad enough that there's a terrible drought, but now inexplicable occurrences are hampering the three brigadiers' attempts to find life-saving water. Quicksand that floats away? Chutes that drain ponds and disappear? Tumbleweeds that attack and capture victims? As in every book, our stalwart trio interact with unusual forest denizens (lyrebirds, a platypus), discover motivations behind seemingly hostile behaviors, and resolve to become more appreciative of all creatures, especially the insects that comprise the titular Hidden Kingdom. Wacky illustrations and another plot that twists and turns and teeters with cliff-hangers will keep fans enthralled. Check out the series website for extensive activities for kids and support materials for educators.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)