By Ash, Oak and Thorn by Melissa Harrison

Ash, oak and thorn were at the world's dawn. 

Rowan and Yew will make it anew ...

Ash is where Burnet, Moss and Cumulus have made their home. They are Hidden Folk - tiny human-like beings who live in harmony with their natural environment and the wild animals that inhabit their tiny corner of England. Then one stormy night Ash (their tree) is hit by lightning and the trunk splits apart. They three friends have lost their home but there is an even more pressing danger. Cumulus, the oldest of the group, is starting to disappear. Burnet and Moss desperately want to help their friend so all three decide it is time to seek help. They hope to find others of their kind - other Hidden Folk - older Hidden Folk - who may have an answer and a solution to this terrible situation. 

The trio journey to Oak where they find Sorrel. The oak tree is in a beautiful place called Folly Brook. Meeting Sorrel is wonderful because now the three friends know they are not alone in the world but this issue of disappearing is spreading. Burnet's feet are invisible. It is now even more urgent to continue their journey to the Mortal's Hive. 

Travelling by converted rollerskate and later on the backs of three friendly pigeons they read their destination. Thorn is a space in a park in a city where mortals live. It is a dangerous place as you might expect but it is also the place where the group of four find more of their kind. These little people are slightly different from Burnet, Moss and Cumulus. They call themselves Hobs. 

"Hobs are simply another kind of Hidden Folk who prefer to live indoors. Mortals generally call them borrowers or hobgobblins, or bwbach in Wales and bauchan in Scotland."

There is a strong environmental message in this book which at first I found a little overly didactic but I now think this was necessary as a way to create the contrast between the idyllic world previously inhabited by Hidden Folk who have existed for thousands of cuckoo summers and the destruction wrought by humans. A cuckoo summer is the way the Hidden Folk measure time. One cuckoo summer is one human year. 

It is interesting to reflect on the way we select books to read or buy. I was visited Beachside Bookshop a few weeks ago and I spied this book - By Rowan and Yew. The appealing cover caught my eye.  Reading the blurb on the fly leaf I discovered this book is "an enchanting sequel to By Ash, Oak and Thorn " so I asked the bookseller, Libby, to order the first volume for me. 

You can read an extract from By Ash, Oak and Thorn here. And an extract from By Rowan and Yew here. Here is a video review of By Ash, Oak and Thorn. 

When I bought the two books home I made another discovery. These two books (the correct term is duology) are based on or inspired by or a modern re-retelling (sorry I am not sure which of these applies) of an old book called The Little Grey Men by BB.  BB is actually Denys Watkins-Pitchford and The Little Grey Men won the 1942 Carnegie Medal. I have now added The Little Grey Men to my enormous 'to read' list. 

Here is the Penguin Random House blurb for The Little Grey Men: On the banks of the Folly Brook, inside an old oak tree, live the last three gnomes in Britain: Sneezewort, Baldmoney, and Dodder. Before their fourth brother, Cloudberry, disappeared upstream seeking adventure, they lived happily and peacefully among their woodland friends. But now spring has come and the brothers start thinking about spending the summer traveling upstream to find Cloudberry. Before long they’ve built a boat and set off for unknown lands, where they find themselves involved in all kinds of adventures with new friends (wood mice, water voles, badgers) as well as with enemies (two-legged giants).

And here is the Chicken House blurb for By Ash, Oak and Thorn: Three tiny, ancient beings – Moss, Burnet and Cumulus, once revered as Guardians and caretakers of the Wild World – wake from winter hibernation in their beloved ash tree home. But when it is destroyed, they set off on an adventure to find more of their kind, a journey which takes them first into the deep countryside and then the heart of a city. Helped along the way by birds and animals, the trio search for a way to survive and thrive in a precious yet disappearing world ...

Now onto the environmental conservation messages in this book. They make sense to me after even more research because the author Melissa Harrison and, not by coincidence the original author Denys,  are both naturalists. Melissa Harrison's previous adult titles include these:

Here are a few text samples showing the environmental focus by Melissa Harrison. 

"Bright spring sunshine sparkled on the Folly Brook, which flowed merrily amid water crowfoot and flag irises and made a wonderfully soothing sound. A drake mallard swam part, the sun flashing off his beautiful green head, followed by a swan and her fluffy grey cygnets, webbed feet paddling fast underwater ... On the banks cow parsley and water forget-me-not were just coming into bloom, while a willow branch overhanging the water made a perfect perch for a pair of azure kingfishers ... "

"Every day, more butterflies tumbled and fluttered among the wild flowers, and more summer birds - chiffchaffs, whitethroats, blackcaps and willow warblers."

Her descriptions of the English countryside, birds and other animals reminded me of The Keeper of Wild Words. And the relationship between Moss, Burnet and Cumulus reminded me of the Isobel Carmody series which begins with The Red Wind. I also thought of the Poppy series by Avi. If you like books which feature small human-like creatures you could also look for the four book series by Annie O'Dowd which begins with Left Shoe and the Foundling. 

I also need to make special mention of the food in this story which is as delightful as the delicious food in the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. Foods such as elderflower cordial, beechnut flapjacks, conker bread and honey cake.  And this book contains the most delicious hugs between the three friends who have such a beautiful relationship. 

"Burnet shuffled over a bit in the magpies nest and the two friends gave each other a long hug. It was one of those hugs that has so many warm feelings in it that it actually heals both the huggers a little bit. Both of them were smiling, and had their eyes closed."

I was interested to read the wide range of reviews on Goodreads ranging from one star to five! 

Here are a few of the books I mentioned in this post:

If you come to Earth by Sophie Blackall

"We humans define ourselves by where we were born, where we live, what we believe, by the clothes we wear and the languages we speak. But there is no 'typical' person. We are all different. Yet there is something we all share - the planet on which we live."

If you come to earth begins with a view of the universe. Quinn, the author of the letter, takes reader and the visitor from outer space down through the stars flying high above the planet and gradually getting closer and closer so we can see houses, people enjoying a picnic, facial expressions, brightly coloured and varied clothing, the seasons, methods of transport (road, air and water), school life, famous people, leisure time, a diverse meal time and then we see the wonders of our planet. Our precious water, sea life, land animals, and birds. This is my favourite page. Then Sophie explores music, art and communication. We have natural things and man made; big things and tiny things but it is the next page that may make you gasp:

"Some things are invisible. wind; invisible cloak; gravity; electricity; the smell of roast chicken, old socks, frangipani, wet wool; sound waves; germs."

There are times when people are hurt or sadly hurt one another but things are much better when we help each other - thank you Sophie this scene is a library!! Over time all humans grow and learn to tell stories. Finally Quinn says:

"If you come to Earth, you can stay in my room. Love Quinn."

In this generous video Sophie talks about her book and the five years of work that went into the creation of a book that everyone should treasure. I think this book should be added to EVERY library and also go out right now and buy this book as a Christmas present for someone precious in your family. In this interview Sophie talks about her book.

Two-time Caldecott Medalist Blackall balances eye-catching double-page spreads with white space, even focusing on a single powerful image—for instance, one giant bird formed from dozens of small birds fit together. ... Each rich illustration invites return visits to investigate all the small, and big, details it contains. Kirkus

Sweet, funny, moving, timely, and beautiful. Horn Book

The visual detail is awesome and the importance of seeing each person as a unique, valued human being worthy of our respect and care, and of the vital necessity too caring for the Earth, shine through the entire book. Red Reading Hub

Some things to notice in this book (there are sure to be more):  

Quinn looks just like the Ezra Jack Keats boy in Snowy Day and he appears on nearly every page.

• Houses page - look for the caravan with the clothes line and the line of people who have lost their homes
• Picnic page - look for the book with a map of Australia (Sophie is from Australia but lives in NYC)
• Transport page - look for the Christmas tree; stretch limo; and snowboarder
• School page - the kids are drawing the aliens we will later see on under the dust jacket

You might also hunt for several lighthouses; a puffin; Quinn playing a triangle; and a boomerang. You will also want to linger over the page of fifty paint tubes with their creative and funny names: slug belly, proud, baby tooth, vacuum bag dirt and dreams do come true.  Sophie should ask Dulux if she can name their next range of paints. She has invented some really nifty labels.

I do need to say one thing to Sophie (if she happens to read this post) - I was utterly devastated when Hello Lighthouse was not awarded a prize by our Children's Book Council of Australia. I am associated with several school libraries and we were all so certain Hello Lighthouse would WIN. At least the short listing for 2020 means hundreds indeed thousands of children in Australian schools have seen this glorious book.

Sophie has written over 45 books. Here are a few I adore:

Vanishing by Mike Lucas and Jennifer Harrison

When I picked up this book I will confess I didn't think about why the illustrator placed origami paper cranes on the cover. It was the image on the first page that made me stop and gasp and ask the important question - what's going on here?

Image source Booktopia

Take a look at the elephant. Some thing mechanical or clockwork seems to be part of his ear.

The text says: "There were once great beasts that roamed this empty land."  The key word here is once and notide the use of past tense.

This book is an imaginative photo essay with powerful juxtaposed images that show endangered animals and the possible future of these glorious creatures. Will we only see these creatures in a museum? The book serves as a warning to humans that we need to change our behaviour and urgently implement animal conservation

In the future will we only see:

• Mechanical/Clockwork elephants
• Origami cranes
• Dragonflies as jeweled brooches
• Lions as statues
• Penguins in a snow globe

The page near the end that shows a beautiful wild cat standing on a pile of rubbish is especially chilling.  "But each day the ugliness of the changing world crept closer and closer to their vanishing footsteps." The end papers are also very important showing a lush forest scene at the beginning of the book and tree stumps and destruction at the end.

Here is a set of teaching notes from Mike Lucas.

With beautiful and detailed illustrations and stunning text, Vanishing will spark much thought and discussion about issues that are both topical and important. Kids’ Book Review

I would use this book with a senior primary group and pair it with these:

Cat on the island by Gary Crew illustrated by Gillian Warden

"The island rose out of the ocean like a blue-green jewel. Covered in forest, it was.  And there were all sorts of birds - 

I never saw so many birds."

This will seem odd but I have been searching for a Public Library.  I need one with up to date stock and a good selection of old favourites especially picture books.  After trying three in my area I have found one.  While I was browsing I spied this book and I recognised the title and author.  I had seen it mentioned on a book list as a text to support the study of Geography in our Primary curriculum.

I had thought this book was out of print but I now discover there is a paperback edition.  This is very significant book and it should be part of every school library collection.

The setting for this book is Stephens Island New Zealand.  Prior to 1894 this tiny island of just 150 hectares was home to many bird species especially the Traversia lyalli - the only flightless wren in the world.  By 1896 it was extinct.  Here is a painting by John Keulemans on Wikipedia.

Building the lighthouse meant cutting down the trees.  The arrival of the builders and lighthouse keeper with his family meant the arrival of a cat.

"Yes, my mother bought a cat to the island. ... Tibbles, the cat's name was. Had kittens as soon as we landed. And once they were off her milk, they shot through. Had plenty of birds to eat, they did. ... And 'cause the wrens couldn't fly, they were easy targets."

The illustrations in this book are so important.  They have the softness of water colour but show the violence of the cats.  Gillian Warden has included all of the pages on her web site.

Related texts include :

• The Tin forest by Helen Ward
• The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
• Window by Jeannie Baker
• Joseph's Yard by Charles Keeping

Here is a set of excellent teaching notes and this title (as I mentioned) is recommended as a support text for the NSW Geography syllabus.  We have an extensive collection of book by Gary Crew in our school library but somehow we missed this important book.