The River Singers

Sylvan the water vole is desperate to explore the world outside his burrow and the time has finally come. His protective mother leads her children around her territory but while Sylvan is ready to dive in head first, his brother and sisters are not so sure. Despite its lush plants and cool waters the outside world is a frightening place full of predators and enemies and learning to navigate its dangers takes time and experience. But when their mother is suddenly taken by a terrifying unfamiliar beast it is up to the children must fend for themselves, and with a hunter on the loose their only hope is to leave their home behind and set out to find the mysterious ‘wetted land’. Sylvan must trust in the great river to guide his family to safety, but even the river that once offered so much security is changing and the river singers must listen to its warning.

A traditional animal story that is honest about the heart-breaking hierarchy that organises the natural world, this adventure is more in line with Watership Down than the current trend for pitching an animal’s plight in a human world. The neat scale of the riverbank keeps this fresh and unique, with interesting information about the way the animals recognise their own territories. It could open young minds to the microcosm of activity in our own English countryside and there is plenty of danger and action to keep up the pace. For rather small animals the water voles put up quite a fight, and for a rather short book The River Singers is quite a journey.