Little Island by Smriti Prasadam-Halls illustrated by Robert Starling

"There was once a farm where all the animals were friends."

Of course things are not perfect. Living on this farm there are the usual animals - cows, sheep, pigs, chickens and goats. Living on a pond at the edge of the farm are the ducks and geese. On the pond there is a little island. The end papers show the way the main farm is linked to the island by a bridge. Then the conflict begins. The geese call a meeting and tell the ducks it is time to leave the farm and live alone on their little island.

"Our island was once a green and pleasant land!' they declared to the ducks. 'The apples were much redder. The grass was much greener. The sun was much warmer. And the food tasted better!"

The ducks do not agree. They love the farm but there "were more geese than ducks" and so the decision is made. The geese remove the bridge and settle down to live on their own little island with just the ducks for company. 

Of course the balance of life is now disrupted. There is way more work to do, the grass grows and then withers in the sun and there is no one to help harvest the apples. The years go by and things become harder and harder. Then the foxes arrive.

"The foxes looked slyly at the little island. No roosters to raise the alarm. No pigs to make trouble. No cows to chase them away. DINNER TIME."

The foxes swim over the island and prepare to attack. At this point, with a group of older students, you could pause and talk about what might happen next. Should the farm animals offer to help? How can they help from over the pond - remember there is no bridge? And what about the happy ending? Have any lessons been learnt? 

Students in UK schools will see parallels here with Brexit but for our Australian children this story is a more universal fable. Make sure you take a look at the title page - the geese are reading a newspaper called "The Daily Gander".  The role of the media in our daily lives is another huge topic to discuss with older students.

A story of building bridges not barriers, respect not resentment and of finding friendship, not fear. Reading Zone

This animal fable simplifies some big political ideas, but the story isn’t complicated by heavy language or complex plots. The geese learn their lesson without too much suffering and the animals are quick to come to their rescue.There is humour and warmth, and the bright illustrations will really appeal to even the youngest readers. Book Trust

Watch this video to see Robert Starling painting a bookshop window in Kew. He also has designed an activity with finger puppets.

I love finding picture books that work on many levels. I'm thinking of books such as Click Clack Moo, Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin, Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell, and War and Peas.

Smriti Prasdam-Halls is the author of over 40 books including board books. I am keen to read these:

You could also look at Clancy the Courageous Cow by Lachie Hume and Albert and Lila after reading The Little Island.