A well written educational story based on a true story about human impacts on the natural world. I read this as a bed time story over a few nights to my 7 and 5 year old children who are accustomed to the emotional charge and somewhat harsh reality which seem characteristic of Michael Morpurgo stories. The book is in two parts and there is a nesting of stories within each part another typical trait of the authors works I've read. It was good to allow time around the readings to talk about the book and the world. The ending is not a Hollywood ending, but true to reality and true to the story. ( )