It would be a mistake to dismiss this enjoyable book as a ''story about water voles'' as it works on so many levels. Children frequently love stories about animals having adventures and find it easy to recognise characters and situations in them and a search for home is something that we can all identify with. The writing style would stretch young readers without deterring them and I think that this book would work beautifully read aloud too.
Many important themes such as trust, facing challenges and finding friendship in unlikely places are covered in this charming story but first and foremost it is a wonderful, exciting adventure with appealing characters that you grow to care about. An utterly lovely book and highly recommended. We also have a review of [[The Rising by Tom Moorhouse]].
[[The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo and Bagram Ibatoulline]] is another wonderful story about a journey although this time involving a china toy rabbit rather than an animal. Slightly older children may like to try the much loved classic Watership Down by Richard Adams.