Speaking Volumes

I'm always amazed at the little things that will catch my eye and get me thinking about how they relate to books. This past Sunday I was reading the FAQ Man column in the Money & Life section, Hartford Courant.. A reader's lawn was being destroyed by burrowing creatures, either moles or voles and wanted to know how to tell which was the culprit. The answer given by Angie Hicks, Angieslist.com, got to the "root" of the problem. Moles tunnel below ground and push up the roots of grass, while voles tend to tunnel through the grass and above ground. Moles eat grubs and earthworms, voles eat grass seed and destroy the lawn's root system.

I'm certain you'll find books that would help you rid your lawn of moles and voles in our collection (try 635 section) or by using the excellent resources at www.iconn.org. More fun though would be to read a story featuring one or the other of these animals. You'll be delighted by their antics and they won't hurt your lawn.

 The moles have it when it comes to the written word...

         

Mouse and Mole, fine feathered friends / by Wong Herbert Yee

Upstairs Mouse, downstairs Mole / by Wong Herbert Yee

Mole and the baby bird / by Marjorie Newman ; illustrated by Patrick Benson

One dark nightt / Lisa Wheeler ; illustrated by Ivan Bates.

 

 

The adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse / Thornton W. Burgess ; original illustrations by Harrison Cady adapted by Thea Kliros.

The tale of Jeremy Vole / Stephen R. Lawhead.