Eddie Albert and the Amazing Animal Gang: The Curse of the Smugglers’ Treasure

Eddie Albert and the Amazing Animal Gang: The Curse of the Smugglers’ Treasure by Paul O’Grady, illustrated by Sue Hellard
 
Eddie Albert can talk to animals—and that unusual gift is about to turn an Easter holiday on the Romney Marshes into a gloriously unruly treasure hunt.
 
Eddie and his best friend Flo have arrived to stay with the wonderfully eccentric Aunt Budge, accompanied by Butch the dog, Bunty the hamster and Dan and Jake, two goldfish who insist they used to be pirates. When the dreadful Rancid Twins begin searching for the secret of a legendary smugglers’ treasure, Eddie and Flo are swept into a mystery that calls for every friend they can find.
 
Soon two elegant alpacas, a friendly sheep named Doris and a famous film-star rabbit have joined the animal gang. Together, the children and animals must outwit the twins, follow the clues and discover a treasure whose scale nobody expects.
 
Warm, funny and full of movement, this is a proper holiday adventure with talking animals, friendship, villains, mystery and Paul O’Grady’s unmistakably mischievous humour. It is an inviting choice for readers who like their chapter books illustrated, fast-moving and just a little bit ridiculous.