Trouble in Contrary Woods

Bailey Fish Adventures #6

by Linda Salisbury, Nancy B. Miller (Editor), Carol Tornatore (Illustrator)

While Bailey, 11, is preoccupied with naming her new dog, she learns that her cousin Duck will be visiting for a few weeks. Duck is a city boy who hates bugs, minnows and country life. He’s also not interested in Bailey’s friends or activities. Troublesome mysteries come from the woods -- a bear, messages in Morse code on a stump, and stolen clothes. Duck’s talents as an inventor are put to use by the Keswick brothers as they enlist Duck’s assistance to design a trap to catch the monster. Meanwhile, Bailey learns about the inventive mind and food interests of President Thomas Jefferson.

When the trap works, everyone is surprised by what it catches, and who is responsible for the Morse code messages. And, Bailey shows courage when she rescues her dog.

Historical information includes President Thomas Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, and Monticello.

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

A graduate of Oberlin College with a degree in English, Linda is an author and journalist. Among her 16 books published to date are the award-winning Bailey Fish Adventure series (nine books so far), "Mudd Saves the Earth," a humorous environmental book for kids, and for growun-ups, "Mother's: A novel of hoarding, friending and mischief," and "But You Don't Look Funny," a collection of readers' favorites from her weekly column that spanned more than two decades.

Linda is a mother and grandmother, a former foster parent (which has shaped her children's stories), and loves to travel and boat with her husband. She reads constantly despite cats fighting for lap space. She is passionate about music and plays cello and viola at every opportunity.