The Secret Brownies ¦ The Brownie Venturers

Despite a rather dated ring to some of the dialogue, the first of these - about a group of Brownies who carry on in secrecy after Brown Owl has left - appealed to the nines and tens (girls) who read it for me. The writer conveys a strong atmosphere of children's private society and she deals well with the magic element in the story.

The second has a more realistic theme: the Brownies help in looking after some old folks. Skillfully drawn relationships here between young and old. Try some in the bookshop: the stories are more promising than their outside packaging suggests.