"In this very funny British adventure by debut author Julian Clary, two African hyenas steal the passports of two English tourists (who are eaten by crocodiles while on safari) and decide to begin a new life in human society. Thus, two English-speaking hyenas (they learned it at the nearby tourist camp), come to be Fred and Amelia Bold. 'Amelia' has always fancied living in England, with its cooler weather and custom of 'lining up' vs. 'fighting and diving in for scraps of meat.' So they stand up on their hind legs, put on safari clothes, tuck in their tails, laugh less and prepare to fake it. They pull it off: 'It is true to say that people in Teddington considered them to be an unusual couple. But no one jumped to the conclusion that they were a pair of hyenas.' What follows is a fabulous send-up of human society--undiggable gardens, having to pay for everything ('What a nuisance!') and 'things called 'jobs.

' ' The new Fred and Amelia do get jobs, and after what Amelia thinks is a 'moldy burger' stomachache, she gives birth to twins: 'And the Bolds laughed and laughed with joy.' It's an ongoing struggle--and a goldmine of humor--not to blow their cover in suburban England, especially under the ever-watchful eye of their suspicious neighbor Mr. McNumpty. Middle-graders will revel in the low-brow silliness, with delightful illustrations of the joyful, sharp-toothed hyena family by British artist David Roberts. The Bolds is not pure frivolity, it's also a celebration of ingenuity, tolerance, untiring good humor and big hyena hearts. "--starred, Shelf Awareness.