Changes

|title=The River Singers

|sort=River Singers, The

|publisher=Oxford University Press

|date=October 2013

|summary=Four young water voles are forced to abandon their home and set off on a dangerous and eventful journey to find a safe place to live. Along the way they encounter many challenges and difficulties as they learn the importance of bravery, loyalty and true friendship. This charming book has a classic feel to it.

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There is a rumour spreading along the length of the Great River. It warns of a new danger that will threaten them all. But for now life continues as normal for Sylvan and his brother and sisters on the riverbank. But sometimes rumours can be true and one dreadful day Sylvan and the others have no choice but to abandon their burrow and go in search of a safe, new home. Together the family of young water voles embark on an epic journey along the river during which they will encounter many dangers and challenges but discover friendship too.

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.

[[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.

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