The Silver Swan

A boy on an isolated farm observes a lovely swan as she arrives on a moonlit lake. Day by day, the boy watches as she makes her home on the lake, finds a mate, builds a nest, and hatches five fluffy cygnets. When a starving fox threatens the swan and her brood, the boy desperately tries to protect his friend, but eventually he must comes to terms with the harsh—and, ultimately, the redemptive—aspects of nature.

The beautiful and touching prose of Michael Morpurgo and the richly textured, exquisite art of Christian Birmingham make this an unforgettable journey through the life cycle of a lake's wild creatures and a boy's coming of age.