Colin Dann

2023 - ‘70’s Immersion Reading Challenge

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READING LEVEL: 4-8 grade AR POINTS: 5.0
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The Animals of Farthing Wood (1979; 1993 ed.) 76 pages. [Young Readers]

This is more of a chapter book but printed on large, skinny hardcover as if it were for really young children. Had cute drawings but not every page had pictures, just a large page full of words, which can be a little intimidating for younger kids.

A sweet story worthy of any of my grandkids! Farthing Wood was being destroyed by humans, ponds were being filled in and a drought had dried up all the watering holes. The animals got together and decided to take the long and dangerous trek to an animal sanctuary, White Deer Park. They experienced mishaps along the way, and each animal was able to use their natural strength to save each other.

Now, it’s not Watership Down by Richard Adams, by any means, but cute and sweet none the less.

Gave to my Hodge grandkids.… (mehr)

"Det är en lång, het sommar i Gamla Skogen och alla djuren lider svårt av torkan.
Gamla Skogen blir bara mindre och mindre. Djuren trängs sakta men säkert undan av människornas skogsmaskiner. En kväll samlar Grävling ihop djuren till ett möte. Padda, som har varit borta en tid, har upptäckt att det långt borta, på andra sidan motorvägen, finns ett naturreservat där alla djur är skyddade. Där finns till och med människor som hjälper dem.
Tillsammans bestämmer djuren att de ska lämna Gamla Skogen. Det är en brokig skara som ger sig av på den farliga vandringen och de råkar ut för många dramatiska äventyr."… (mehr)

The animals of Farthing Wood and their descendants, now living for many generations in White Deer Park, must confront new troubles in this seventh and final novel devoted to their adventures. Plucky the fox, the grandson of Bold and the great-grandson of the Farthing Wood Fox, befriends Dash the hare, and the two become inseparable. Then Plucky disappears, along with Weasel and a number of other animals. The animals feel confused and betrayed when they discover that the Warden, whom they'd always viewed as one of the few good humans, is behind the disappearances. At the same time, a mob of rats invades the park, determined to turn it into their territory, setting off a major battle...

Published in 1992, the year before the animated television series, based upon The Animals of Farthing Wood books, aired for the first time, Battle for the Park was not the last book to be published about these characters. In fact, many others followed. But other than the prequel - The Adventure Begins - which was published in 1994, the rest of the books were abridged versions of the seven main novels, or adaptations based around the television series. This, then, is the conclusion of the story. I found it engaging, and appreciated the fact that, although the Warden's motivations are benign - he is moving some animals to another park, because of overpopulation - the animals don't necessarily understand or agree with his actions. The battle with the rats provides excitement, but although I certainly understand not wanting a horde of them to invade, sometimes I feel that they are a species of animal too easily demonized, so I was a bit surprised to see that from Dunn. All in all, a good conclusion to the series, one which I am happy to have read. I'd like to track down the prequel at some point, as well as some of Colin Dunn's other books, but sadly, most of his work doesn't appear to be available here in the states. Alas. Recommended to fans who have read previous entries of the series.… (mehr)