Stinky Cecil in Operation Pond Rescue

Gr 1–5—The quiet and predictable pond life of five animal friends is threatened one day as Cecil, a toad, notices construction on a new highway expanding in the direction of their habitat. Stopping the work of a construction site is no small task, but the small group of amphibians, their hamster friend, and a reincarnating fly are determined to save their home. The large-paneled art and cartoonlike illustrations complement the tone of the story well, which blends weighty themes such as life deforestation and habitat destruction with the light and often hilarious dialogue. Braddock organically works in facts about the animals, but no lesson is too lofty or overstated that it takes away from the book's flow. There are even a few moments where the characters call attention to something strange or unlikely about the plot, each time feeling as though Braddock is winking at readers. The solution to saving the pond does not come directly from the characters' own ideas, and yet kids will find it satisfying and perhaps even unexpected.