Trundle's Quest

Gr 3—5—Hedgehog Trundle Boldoak's quiet, routine life as town lamplighter on the cabbage-growing island of Shiverstones is drastically disrupted when Esmeralda Lightfoot, princess of the mysterious Roamany clan, bursts through the door. Esmeralda is convinced that Trundle is the only one who can follow the prophecy of the Badger Blocks to find the legendary Six Crowns of the Badgers of Power, which long ago were scattered throughout the Sundered Lands. With bloodthirsty animal pirates nipping at her heels, led by evil hog Captain Grizzletusk, Trundle begrudgingly joins Esmeralda on a windship for an epic journey to locate each crown. Jones has woven a tale with protagonists that readers will root for. Chalk's detailed illustrations look almost lifelike and add character to each animal, the airships, and the pirates. With a sprinkling of magic from Esmeralda, this story is a good stepping-stone to Brian Jacques's "Redwall" books (Philomel).—Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA