Kids into books - Flying Squad

This weeks title: Flying Squad

Author: Jonathan Allen

Publisher: Random House $10.95

Age Group: 8-11 years


Of course, in case you hadn't guessed, the TV programme that provoked this strong reaction was a special report on the illegal trade in smuggled songbirds and other birds for pets.

Many rare birds are threatened by this trade. These, and many not-so-rare birds, are kept and transported in appalling conditions in extreme heat and cold which cause many of them to die before they reach their destinations.

'The thing that shocks me,' said Horace, 'is the number of people prepared to pay large amounts of money for these rare species ...

'And the thing that gets me,' Doris added, 'is that these people probably think of themselves as bird lovers!'

'Well,' said Horace, 'if we're going to beat these smugglers, what we need is a plan ...'

From the tree outside Potter's Perfect Pets, seven pairs of eyes scanned the street for any sign of activity. (Only seven because the canaries had managed to persuade Neville to stay at home. Even he had to agree that a large green parrot hanging around outside pet shops would excite the wrong sort of attention.)