Oliver's Lucky Day ¦ Oliver and the Lucky Duck

Two slight volumes featuring the tribulations of animal lover Oliver as he struggles to establish a pet-minding business, assisted by his schoolfriends and hampered by the archetypal bully. The plots are pedestrian and predictable; we know from the start that Rusty the bully will be worsted in both books, and that Oliver will eventually accept the superior wisdom of his strong female pal concerning his desire to keep a wild duck as a pet. The characters, both human and animal, are stereotypical. However, the style is very accessible, and pet-enthusiasts in search of an easy read might find these books amusing.