This new series documents the exploits of the Nocturnals, an unlikely trio who protect their fellow jungle denizens from all sorts of calamities in this adventure, kidnappers. Tobin is a shy pangolin; Bismark is a vainglorious sugar glider; and Dawn is a mysterious, elegant fox. The three eventually locate the captives in a subterranean cave under the control of Boris, a terrifying crocodile. Boris means to enslave the animals and create a winning team for a hockeylike sport that will lure back the humans (coachers) who took his family. A Nocs-versus-Crocs game will decide everyone's fate, until a nerve-wracking shoot-out ends in chaos: Boris is actually talking about poachers, and it becomes clear that his family will never come back. An offer of sympathy and friendship resolves the crisis. The characters are humorous and well developed, and the fast-moving plot features intrigue, unexpected twists, and the innovative hybrid hockey game. Accessible to upper elementary while sufficiently sophisticated for middle school, this new animal fantasy series should prove popular.--McBroom, Kathleen Copyright 2016 Booklist

Gr 4-6-Strange occurrences are happening in the Valley. Each night, a different animal vanishes. First it was kiwis and jerboas; now wombats and even coyotes are disappearing. Three unlikely animals form the Nocturnals, a brigade determined to track down the source of the "nappings." Dawn the fox, Tobin the pangolin, and Bismark the sugar glider use their evolutionary advantages and natural pluck to muster their fellow nocturnal animals together and confront the threat. The discovery of hieroglyphics depicting all the missing animals reveals that the abductions are more widespread than originally thought. Specific animals are being targeted, but why and to what end? When one of the Nocturnals gets snatched, the team must descend into a cave to free their friend. In this anthropomorphized animal mystery, readers are taken on a journey with Australia's mammals. Each chapter opens with a color illustration. These delightful pictures help to ground a North American audience in a foreign environment. The banter of the pompous and loquacious sugar glider provides laughs; unfortunately, the other characters are underdeveloped. Instead of establishing traditional mystery elements like discovering clues or encountering red herrings, the story focuses on displaying the natural defenses of each animal. Since there is no opportunity to speculate or make predictions, the suspense never builds. VERDICT A pass for all but the most dedicated lovers of Australian animals.-Jocelyn Charpentier, Brooklyn Public Library © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.