Even small children like to discuss deep subjects like compassion and death, and if we listen to them openly, we are often surprised by their wisdom. Written for children aged about 6-9, The Silver Swan is an ideal story for helping children to approach these deeper subjects. It is a compassionate tale of a boy's friendship with a swan, exquisitely complemented by dramatic, luminous artwork. All through a long, cold Scottish spring, the boy watches as the swan and her partner, the cob, guard their clutch of eggs. He watches as the cygnets hatch and learn to swim with their parents. But nearby, another parent has children to care for - a fox. And her children are starving, for food is scarce in such cold weather. In her desperation, she attacks the swans and, in an effort to save her cygnets from harm, the mother swan is fatally injured. Though sorely moved by the fate of the swans, the boy remains compassionate towards the fox, knowing that she was only doing what a mother fox has to do. He keeps a vigil near the swans' nest, hoping the mother will recover, but she does not, and as she dies, she sings. Eventually, when the cygnets are fully grown, the cob and his offspring fly away. Then one day, another pair of swans fly to the loch.....
31pp, 290mm x 240mm, illus. in colour, softback, 2001
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Children & home, 
