I've been talking every morning to a blackbird, telling him why we are so sad. He sits on his branch and listens.
In 2020 the world changed. Michael Morpurgo describes it is a year of sorrows. One morning he heard a blackbird singing in his garden.
"Sensing his welcome, I sang back, echoing his song. We had a conversation. It sounds fanciful. At first I thought it was fanciful. But when he was there waiting for me, singing for me, every morning. I knew he was trying to get to know me, to tell me something, something important - urgent even."
That is the message you will find in this book. Our planet depends on us. We are all part of our planet and we have to care because our earth is precious and fragile.
The music for the blackbird's song is presented on the end papers.
Travel the globe in this inspiring journey through the animal kingdom. A Song of Gladness is a timely reminder of the beauty and importance of the natural world from two of today's most celebrated children's book creators. From a blackbird in a Devon garden to leopards in the African savanna, hibernating bears and chimpanzees high in the forest canopy, A Song of Gladness reminds us all of our connection with nature, and with each other, and the urgent need for us to join together in caring for the planet and every creature in it.
With beautiful illustrations by Emily Gravett this is a book that you should add to your Primary school or Preschool library.
This story originally appeared in The Book of Hopes edited by Katherine Rundell - which is a book I have had on my to read pile for way too long.
Students from The Kings school have made a video of the text using their own illustrations.
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