The Wild Before - A Review


The Wild Before

Written by Piers Torday
Illustrated by Thomas Flintham
Published by Quercus Children's Books, 2021

The second book to be reviewed in my series of recommended environmental reads for children is Piers Torday’s The Wild Before. If like me you were enthralled by his Last Wild series, this latest addition to the saga is essential reading. A prequel to the initial trilogy, the book narrates the arrival of the pandemic that’s set to ravage the world.

The arrival of the legendary Mooncalf has been foretold, and according to a prophecy that's been passed down in a dream from animal to animal, if the calf dies, the Terribleness will come in the form of rising seas, a plague, skies raining down fire, and ultimately the end of everything. It falls on the slight, furry shoulders of Little-Hare to persuade the animals to protect Mooncalf at all costs.

 

It’s a story that weaves folklore, suspense and fine descriptions of nature into a narrative that has at its heart some of the key environmental concerns of today, such as species loss, habitat destruction and climate change. Great books for children about big issues such as these always seem to find that delicate balance of dealing with ‘darker’ themes in a simple and honest way, but also employing a lighter touch when needed. There are some lovely moments of humour in the text. One of my favourites was on page 76, when two dormice who are living in the same bit of scrub as a nightingale find themselves being serenaded by the bird. When one of them asks her mate what he thinks about the bird’s latest song, Torday writes: 


‘I preferred her old stuff to be honest,’ he said, scraping at a nut clamped between his paws.

 

In my piece on the importance of wild books for children that I posted in March of last year, I wrote about the need to stimulate children’s imaginations as much as their intellects when it comes to engaging them with nature and environmental concerns, because that’s how true connections between young people and the environment are created and nurtured. In the words of George Monbiot, ‘the reality is that we care because we love.’ What’s for sure is that both children and adults alike are going to fall head over tail for the central character, Little-Hare, whose prevailing message throughout the story is one of hope.

 

Beautifully and simply written, with complimentary, integrated wild illustrations through out by Thomas Flintham, I would recommend this book for children in Year 4 upwards. It would make a good text for any adventure or quest story teaching in English. The broader themes of environmental issues, friendship and hope will make it relevant to both Geography and PSHCE learning also.

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