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Moss #1
By Ash, Oak and Thorn
The breath-taking children's debut from acclaimed nature writer and Costa Award-shortlisted novelist, Melissa Harrison - a tale of the rich, wild world and all its wonder.
Three tiny, ancient beings - Moss, Burnet and Cumulus, once revered as Guardians of the Wild World - wake from winter hibernation in their beloved ash tree home. When it is destroyed, they set off on an adventure to find more of their kind, a journey that 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....
Three tiny, ancient beings - Moss, Burnet and Cumulus, once revered as Guardians of the Wild World - wake from winter hibernation in their beloved ash tree home. When it is destroyed, they set off on an adventure to find more of their kind, a journey that 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....
248 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
66 people are currently reading
4449 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
December 30, 2021
I was really astonished on reading that the book has been received so well.
With the simplistic eco-ism, babyish emotional lessons and mild peril it feels like much younger fare than the novel-length it’s stretched to here.
Simple and slow can of course be good things where there’s a nuanced philosophy or world to explore but Harrison’s feel basic.
It’s self-righteous without the authority or precision to back it up. Though it’s not necessarily fashionable I think kids actually like a bit of moral absolutism and even mean-spiritedness in their books, but you have to present it with a convincing authority behind it a la Roald Dahl or the Lemony Snicket voice.
While Harrison peppers in plenty of flora and fauna names her presentation of the worm’s-eye-view natural world never feels more than superficially informed. She never conjures a sense of deep knowledge or immersion. We’re told to care about the natural world - or rather, chided for not doing so - but the book doesn’t do much to convince of its wonder and value.
It feels smug; not inviting readers in to wonder and understand and empathise with this new knowledge.
What’s also missing is any sense of an actionable message. Humans are roundly damned in a way I can’t really see the point of for a child audience. Children already understand that it’s sad when trees are cut down and animals go extinct. What they lack is an ability to do anything about it. This book is for a readership who are inheriting the ecological consequences of generations. I don’t know what young readers are meant to take away from this.
Humanity’s baleful influence is constantly bemoaned but not really dramatised: it’s not human action that destroys the protagonists’ ash-tree home or imperils Moss at the end that, or really constitutes any of the obstacles.
So it feels like Harrison isn’t willing to put her money where her mouth is. She won’t quite commit to what bad human behaviour looks like in the immediate and thus we are unable to infer what her idea of good human behaviour might be. She gets to stand back and broadly damn humanity to an audience who hardly deserve to share the blame and who she is not empowering with any sense of how not to be the Bad Human.
It’s not a hateful book, but honestly I think it’s pretty vapid. Some sequences are well-imagined, like a flying scene late on. But there’s a lot of fiction out there executing this kind of message and/or the idea of a world of tiny people to much better effect than this.
The cover artwork by Lauren O’Hara is lovely though.
With the simplistic eco-ism, babyish emotional lessons and mild peril it feels like much younger fare than the novel-length it’s stretched to here.
Simple and slow can of course be good things where there’s a nuanced philosophy or world to explore but Harrison’s feel basic.
It’s self-righteous without the authority or precision to back it up. Though it’s not necessarily fashionable I think kids actually like a bit of moral absolutism and even mean-spiritedness in their books, but you have to present it with a convincing authority behind it a la Roald Dahl or the Lemony Snicket voice.
While Harrison peppers in plenty of flora and fauna names her presentation of the worm’s-eye-view natural world never feels more than superficially informed. She never conjures a sense of deep knowledge or immersion. We’re told to care about the natural world - or rather, chided for not doing so - but the book doesn’t do much to convince of its wonder and value.
It feels smug; not inviting readers in to wonder and understand and empathise with this new knowledge.
What’s also missing is any sense of an actionable message. Humans are roundly damned in a way I can’t really see the point of for a child audience. Children already understand that it’s sad when trees are cut down and animals go extinct. What they lack is an ability to do anything about it. This book is for a readership who are inheriting the ecological consequences of generations. I don’t know what young readers are meant to take away from this.
Humanity’s baleful influence is constantly bemoaned but not really dramatised: it’s not human action that destroys the protagonists’ ash-tree home or imperils Moss at the end that, or really constitutes any of the obstacles.
So it feels like Harrison isn’t willing to put her money where her mouth is. She won’t quite commit to what bad human behaviour looks like in the immediate and thus we are unable to infer what her idea of good human behaviour might be. She gets to stand back and broadly damn humanity to an audience who hardly deserve to share the blame and who she is not empowering with any sense of how not to be the Bad Human.
It’s not a hateful book, but honestly I think it’s pretty vapid. Some sequences are well-imagined, like a flying scene late on. But there’s a lot of fiction out there executing this kind of message and/or the idea of a world of tiny people to much better effect than this.
The cover artwork by Lauren O’Hara is lovely though.
May 13, 2022
*4.5 stars rounded up*
I dont write reviews, let alone lengthy ones. But this book requires appreciation that can only be justified by a thorough review. I cant really find the words to describe how wholesome this book is. Reading By Ash Oak and Thorn is a unique experience. It took me longer than usual to read this book because I had to be in the perfect cosy setting to read it. This book is imaginative, thought-provoking, adorable and heartwarming.
I’ve always been one to appreciate nature and all it can offer us. When I was younger, I used to go on walks and look at the trees and their green lushness, the fallen branches and their rustic elements, and listen to the harmonious concoction of sounds the winds and the insects and bugs and whatnot make. I cant help but to imagine a whole ecosystem of little mythical creatures living their lives out of our sights. It slowly struck me that there may be a possibility of the existence of ethereal beings that can only belong to the wild beauty of nature, so small and so delicate that they miss our sights. I’ve long dismissed these thoughts and simply grew up. Reading this book and meeting the Hidden Folk and Hobs and Garden People felt like a reawakening of these childhood presumptions. It was amazing to know that there are people out there who actually believe in these things. The fact that different countries have similar accounts of these creatures seem like proof that maybe my childhood imaginations weren’t crazy after all. Maybe they exist, maybe they dont. But I am grateful to have stumbled upon this book. It has taught me to slow down and appreciate nature and its fullness. By Ash, Oak and Thorn has my whole heart :)
I dont write reviews, let alone lengthy ones. But this book requires appreciation that can only be justified by a thorough review. I cant really find the words to describe how wholesome this book is. Reading By Ash Oak and Thorn is a unique experience. It took me longer than usual to read this book because I had to be in the perfect cosy setting to read it. This book is imaginative, thought-provoking, adorable and heartwarming.
I’ve always been one to appreciate nature and all it can offer us. When I was younger, I used to go on walks and look at the trees and their green lushness, the fallen branches and their rustic elements, and listen to the harmonious concoction of sounds the winds and the insects and bugs and whatnot make. I cant help but to imagine a whole ecosystem of little mythical creatures living their lives out of our sights. It slowly struck me that there may be a possibility of the existence of ethereal beings that can only belong to the wild beauty of nature, so small and so delicate that they miss our sights. I’ve long dismissed these thoughts and simply grew up. Reading this book and meeting the Hidden Folk and Hobs and Garden People felt like a reawakening of these childhood presumptions. It was amazing to know that there are people out there who actually believe in these things. The fact that different countries have similar accounts of these creatures seem like proof that maybe my childhood imaginations weren’t crazy after all. Maybe they exist, maybe they dont. But I am grateful to have stumbled upon this book. It has taught me to slow down and appreciate nature and its fullness. By Ash, Oak and Thorn has my whole heart :)
July 31, 2021
A delightful nod to B.B.'s The Little Grey Men, the story is set in our time within a far more suburban landscape. Three Hidden Folk, perhaps the last of their kind, grow concerned when they find that one of their number is slowly disappearing. To find out why they must leave the comfort of their hidden home and delve deep into the Hive (a human city-space) to track down Robin Goodfellow - the very first of their kind.
Positively soaking in flora and fauna with a host of wonderful creatures to guide the Hidden Folk on their way, Harrison presents a call to arms for the young reader to embrace the natural world whatever it looks like and wherever it may be found. There were times when I thought that the narrator trod close to 'telling' rather than 'showing' but the story, characters and sense of place were more than enough to find a balance between that sense of an invitation rather than being a guide who pointed ideologies out to the young reader.
Glad to hear that there is a sequel on the way and it should be stated that it was Lauren O'Hara's cover illustration that made me pick it up.
Positively soaking in flora and fauna with a host of wonderful creatures to guide the Hidden Folk on their way, Harrison presents a call to arms for the young reader to embrace the natural world whatever it looks like and wherever it may be found. There were times when I thought that the narrator trod close to 'telling' rather than 'showing' but the story, characters and sense of place were more than enough to find a balance between that sense of an invitation rather than being a guide who pointed ideologies out to the young reader.
Glad to hear that there is a sequel on the way and it should be stated that it was Lauren O'Hara's cover illustration that made me pick it up.
February 28, 2024
Found this utterly charming, funny and full of gentle wisdom.
-Friendship
-Let yourself cry
-Don't be prejudiced
-Wonders of the natural world
-Adapt and change
-Friendship
-Let yourself cry
-Don't be prejudiced
-Wonders of the natural world
-Adapt and change
October 31, 2021
3.5⭐
This seems like a whimsical fairytale at first, but I love the underlying social commentary about men's relationship with the environment and the impact we have on it. It reminded me of all the Enid Blyton books I read as a child.
I really enjoyed following the trio's journey and adventure. The ending left me wanting more, but this is a really unique read that I would recommend.
Favourite quotes:
✨ "Most Mortals have no idea about the secret world of wild creatures - and of course the things you don't believe in are particularly hard to see."
✨ "To me, bravery is about feeling a bit scared, and doing it anyway. Which is exactly what you did."
This seems like a whimsical fairytale at first, but I love the underlying social commentary about men's relationship with the environment and the impact we have on it. It reminded me of all the Enid Blyton books I read as a child.
I really enjoyed following the trio's journey and adventure. The ending left me wanting more, but this is a really unique read that I would recommend.
Favourite quotes:
✨ "Most Mortals have no idea about the secret world of wild creatures - and of course the things you don't believe in are particularly hard to see."
✨ "To me, bravery is about feeling a bit scared, and doing it anyway. Which is exactly what you did."
June 13, 2022
The further I read, the more irritated I got. I expected wonder, enchantment, a magical world of little people and nature. Instead, it was vapid and depressing. Way too much Explaining and Talking About Feelings. Way too much inserting of Little Life Lessons. I struggled not to hurl the book across the room. Not sure who the audience is supposed to be - very young, dim children? What would have been better is a picture book with Lauren O’Hara’s art work and very minimal text. The cover art is enchanting. Too bad the rest of the book isn’t.
January 22, 2022
This book was an excellent modern addition to the ‘tiny folk’ stories which are ever-popular for a reason. Following in the tradition of The Borrowers and The Minpins, we meet three of the ‘hidden folk,’ guardians of the wild world, whose home in an ash tree has been destroyed. They set out on a journey to find a new home, as well as to try and meet more of their kind who, in the face of human environmental destruction, seem to be disappearing.
I was worried that, with the environmental subject matter, this may either read as a bit scary and unsettling for children, or just be so on the nose in its messages as to be an annoying. But it was neither! Sweet, funny and gripping, we’re quickly swept up into Moss, Burnet and Cumulus’s life and invested in their journey. Harrison details things like the phases of the moon, names many UK species and generally makes you feel connected to, and responsible for protecting, the natural world.
She isn’t overly critical of humans, rather they are portrayed as impressive inventors who are nonetheless blind to the destruction they cause. Harrison encourages ‘noticing’ children (and adults!) to act as best they can to protect the extraordinary, ordinary world around them, before it fades away completely.
Overall, a lovely, well-pitched story which would be especially wonderful as a read-aloud.
I was worried that, with the environmental subject matter, this may either read as a bit scary and unsettling for children, or just be so on the nose in its messages as to be an annoying. But it was neither! Sweet, funny and gripping, we’re quickly swept up into Moss, Burnet and Cumulus’s life and invested in their journey. Harrison details things like the phases of the moon, names many UK species and generally makes you feel connected to, and responsible for protecting, the natural world.
She isn’t overly critical of humans, rather they are portrayed as impressive inventors who are nonetheless blind to the destruction they cause. Harrison encourages ‘noticing’ children (and adults!) to act as best they can to protect the extraordinary, ordinary world around them, before it fades away completely.
Overall, a lovely, well-pitched story which would be especially wonderful as a read-aloud.
March 28, 2023
I truly thought I would love this, but there were just so many things that rubbed me the wrong way. Although I completely agree with the authors stance on the human impact on nature, and loved her very apparent love for animals and wild things, I felt like the way she went about trying to encourage people to care came off very condescending. There were so many parts of this story that just seemed unnecessarily sad and bleak, and like humans were beyond the capacity to care about nature. I understand that (often very frustrating and defeating) feeling, but it often took away from the story itself and felt like the author was venting. There were also some inconsistencies with the targeted age of the reader- some parts felt very childlike with very apparent added in moral lesson or teaching sentences, then straight into higher level nature vocabulary that I would assume the average child would need supplemental resources to understand. I liked the concept, the caretaking hidden folk, the accurate and vivid descriptions of plants and animals, the spring atmosphere, the encouragement to care about wild creatures and places, and the gorgeous cover art and map.
March 8, 2024
Reminded me of books from my childhood: The Borrowers, The Faraway tree stories. Definitely the kind of story I would have relished as a child.
As well as being magical, written with great warmth and humour, there is also a strong environmental message, delivered gently but clearly.
Hopefully, this will delight, entertain and inform many young readers.
As well as being magical, written with great warmth and humour, there is also a strong environmental message, delivered gently but clearly.
Hopefully, this will delight, entertain and inform many young readers.
May 26, 2024
This was exactly what I needed after having read two very serious books! A lovely, whimsical adventure.
Children's books keep surprising me over and over again. They have a lot of depth to them. Yes, it's usually a pretty "simple" storyline filled with adventure. But there are also some very important lessons on values and ideals woven into the story. In this case, there was a lot of focus on taking care of the ones you love and helping them through difficult times, but also on keeping an open mind and trying scary things. The story is set in our world, but we follow the creatures we don't tend to notice. For example, we follow three gnomes (part of the Hidden Folk). They meet all kinds of animals along the way, and it's because of them they are taught valuable lessons. I think this is an incredibly smart move on the author's part, because the animal world is very similar to ours. And since it's a children's book at the end of the day, children will be much more invested in these animals than in humans I think.
I also loved that Pan is incorporated in this story!! Pan is such an interesting deity and for him to be incorporated into a story which is so closely connected to nature is absolutely perfect. Who knows, maybe some kids will become interested in reading mythology after this.
The author has also provided a list with other reading materials that might be of interest to the reader. And, they also made a fun guide called Watching the Wild World, in which they give the reader small exercises for each month in which they will observe specific events. For example, for the month of May they ask you to get up early and listen to all the birds who will sing their morning song. You have to figure out if you can pinpoint territories or patterns in their songs. It's very cute and a lovely activity to get children (and grown-ups) out in nature to connect.
It's not a five-star book for me, but I did have a lot of fun reading it! I will be buying the sequel, because I want to spend more time in this cute and whimsical world.
Children's books keep surprising me over and over again. They have a lot of depth to them. Yes, it's usually a pretty "simple" storyline filled with adventure. But there are also some very important lessons on values and ideals woven into the story. In this case, there was a lot of focus on taking care of the ones you love and helping them through difficult times, but also on keeping an open mind and trying scary things. The story is set in our world, but we follow the creatures we don't tend to notice. For example, we follow three gnomes (part of the Hidden Folk). They meet all kinds of animals along the way, and it's because of them they are taught valuable lessons. I think this is an incredibly smart move on the author's part, because the animal world is very similar to ours. And since it's a children's book at the end of the day, children will be much more invested in these animals than in humans I think.
I also loved that Pan is incorporated in this story!! Pan is such an interesting deity and for him to be incorporated into a story which is so closely connected to nature is absolutely perfect. Who knows, maybe some kids will become interested in reading mythology after this.
The author has also provided a list with other reading materials that might be of interest to the reader. And, they also made a fun guide called Watching the Wild World, in which they give the reader small exercises for each month in which they will observe specific events. For example, for the month of May they ask you to get up early and listen to all the birds who will sing their morning song. You have to figure out if you can pinpoint territories or patterns in their songs. It's very cute and a lovely activity to get children (and grown-ups) out in nature to connect.
It's not a five-star book for me, but I did have a lot of fun reading it! I will be buying the sequel, because I want to spend more time in this cute and whimsical world.
May 18, 2021
This is a delightful book. In it we are introduced to the Hidden Folk - little people in nature, and the adventure and journey that they go on. There are some great characters, an engaging plot, loads of interesting incidental learning about the natural world and relationships. Although, a children's book, I think anyone of any age would enjoy this wonderful book if they have an interest in nature or observing the world around a little more closely. This would be a wonderful read aloud book (and I almost wished I had a small person to read it too). Whatever your age through - it encourages us all to notice the small things, watch and listen more - and forage in hedgerows!
I am looking forward to the next book out in the Autumn.
I am looking forward to the next book out in the Autumn.
April 29, 2023
“i’m scared, if i’m honest, and part of me wants to stay here for ever. but most of me knows we have to carry on. “
this book is such a heartwarming, beautiful and inspiring story to read. i loved the characters, the world building, the plot itself and just the whole concept of the story. this book makes you wonder about human kind and what we could do to improve. i will definitely read it again one day.
this book is such a heartwarming, beautiful and inspiring story to read. i loved the characters, the world building, the plot itself and just the whole concept of the story. this book makes you wonder about human kind and what we could do to improve. i will definitely read it again one day.
May 12, 2024
3.5/5 🌟
This reminded me a lot of the Warrior Cats books by Erin Hunter, but with little guardians of nature instead of wild cats. I adored these tiny characters! They are so cute that you want to give them a hug immediately. The animals that they meet throughout the book were also very interesting. The writing style in the dialogue sections accentuated the distinct voices and personalities, which I really appreciated. The book is also the perfect read for spring time as it takes place in this season and it describes its many facets in great detail! Other than that, the plot was quite simple, very character-driven, but also with an interesting reveal at the end. The education-related bits about how we humans treat our surroundings, and nature and wildlife in particular, sometimes threw me out of the story. I get that it is an important message to convey, but it was a bit much at times. Here are some quotes on that topic which I actually enjoyed:
"The only creature that's forgotten how to communicate with the Wild World is we humans. But I suspect that, in fact, most of us just have stopped listening - which perhaps comes to the same thing."
"[Humans] come into a wild place, and it empties. They can never, ever meet and talk to other creatures, as we do. They don't have any friends, except themselves. [...] Always being run from - that is a terrible burden to bear."
This reminded me a lot of the Warrior Cats books by Erin Hunter, but with little guardians of nature instead of wild cats. I adored these tiny characters! They are so cute that you want to give them a hug immediately. The animals that they meet throughout the book were also very interesting. The writing style in the dialogue sections accentuated the distinct voices and personalities, which I really appreciated. The book is also the perfect read for spring time as it takes place in this season and it describes its many facets in great detail! Other than that, the plot was quite simple, very character-driven, but also with an interesting reveal at the end. The education-related bits about how we humans treat our surroundings, and nature and wildlife in particular, sometimes threw me out of the story. I get that it is an important message to convey, but it was a bit much at times. Here are some quotes on that topic which I actually enjoyed:
"The only creature that's forgotten how to communicate with the Wild World is we humans. But I suspect that, in fact, most of us just have stopped listening - which perhaps comes to the same thing."
"[Humans] come into a wild place, and it empties. They can never, ever meet and talk to other creatures, as we do. They don't have any friends, except themselves. [...] Always being run from - that is a terrible burden to bear."
February 13, 2023
I thought this book was a really lovely tale, highlighting how important taking care of the environment is, from the perspective of the wild life being most effected by our actions.
It has inspired me anew to do as much as I can to help to care for the creation we are surrounded by and which I often take for granted, and I am now constantly looking out into the garden and imagining what the Hidden Folk could be doing :)
It has inspired me anew to do as much as I can to help to care for the creation we are surrounded by and which I often take for granted, and I am now constantly looking out into the garden and imagining what the Hidden Folk could be doing :)
August 23, 2024
Cute and whimsical children's story teaching invaluable lessons of importance of nature.
Quick and easy read, but maybe just a tad too simplified in places.
Quick and easy read, but maybe just a tad too simplified in places.
October 1, 2024
a cute, fun read with nice moral lessons!
May 16, 2024
3.5 stars. A really charming look at little Folk, the way they live and how they interact with the general ecosystem. I did find environmental message quite unsubtle and maybe a bit tiresome, but also I'm not the target demographic.
September 24, 2022
This was such a cute read!! Very imaginative and heart-warming :)
May 3, 2022
I enjoyed it as a whimsical tale about nature. The social and ecological discourse is simple, but it is a book for children so I just didn’t take too much notice of it, as I’m not the target audience, and I appreciated the sentiment. I enjoyed the characters and the world-building, and I’d like to read more.
March 24, 2022
A charming book, sort of thing I’d have loved as a child. Recommend for under 10s/ primary school aged children
August 20, 2022
This was a little bit different than what I expected. It was less „cute fantastical creatures on a quest” and more of an environmentalist manifesto.
August 24, 2023
I wanted to like this more than I really did. It was nice enough but too strong of communicating morals and not enough connecting to the wild world.
February 1, 2024
' And Mortals are the guardians of the Wild World now?' asked Moss.
Cumulus frowned. 'That must be how Pan has decreed it...though they might not have realized it yet.'
By Ash, Oak and Thorn is a superb, funny and cozy read. It is beautifully written and has an interesting story that is filled with lots of nature-related mentionings of animals and plant life.
I love that Mrs Harrison made up an ancient language - the Wild Argot - which mostly animals and the Hidden Folk use but not humans. I like that she talks about environmental issues and the disappearance of wild things.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and ordered the second book already By Rowan and Yew as I can't wait to read more nature descriptions and see what is happening to the Hidden Folk.
I enjoyed most of the characters especially the birds mentioned like Spangle and Zip.
For some reason while reading this about the Hidden Folk, I thought about Hilda (the Comics). They both sort of have a similar vibe of light fantasy mixed with adventure and a lot of nature. I love reading these types of books.
I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Cumulus frowned. 'That must be how Pan has decreed it...though they might not have realized it yet.'
By Ash, Oak and Thorn is a superb, funny and cozy read. It is beautifully written and has an interesting story that is filled with lots of nature-related mentionings of animals and plant life.
I love that Mrs Harrison made up an ancient language - the Wild Argot - which mostly animals and the Hidden Folk use but not humans. I like that she talks about environmental issues and the disappearance of wild things.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and ordered the second book already By Rowan and Yew as I can't wait to read more nature descriptions and see what is happening to the Hidden Folk.
I enjoyed most of the characters especially the birds mentioned like Spangle and Zip.
For some reason while reading this about the Hidden Folk, I thought about Hilda (the Comics). They both sort of have a similar vibe of light fantasy mixed with adventure and a lot of nature. I love reading these types of books.
I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author.
April 6, 2024
Oh how I loved this book. It got recommended to me in the bookstore when I asked for a book that would be perfect for spring. This truly is. It takes place in March and it is just a STUNNING start to the spring season. The way it describes nature and animals, never really read anything like it. It was simple but in the most spot on and beautiful way. I loved it. The cute charachters, such a whimsical childrens book that felt like a mix of The Hobbit, Studio Ghibli and Disney. It was filled with sweet wisdom and deeper topics but made in a short and easy way. I love when books do that. I am very excited to continue reading the next book that takes place in Autumn. Its going to be lovely. <3
The endpages btw, the little tips of things you can do during spring and summer. So cute! Love it. <3
The endpages btw, the little tips of things you can do during spring and summer. So cute! Love it. <3
April 10, 2024
2.5 stars. Inspired by The Little Grey Men, this is a more modern take on the story, forming a sequel of sorts.
Like the original The Little Grey Men, the prose has an approachable, chatty writing style that reaches out to connect with the reader. It appears to be aimed at younger readers, being a shorter story (it is around the same number of pages, but in a much larger font), with a more simplistic plot. It still manages to pack in a fair amount of plot, even if parts could have been fleshed out more. At times the dialogue feels rather contrived.
The book seem undecided on whether it was a sweet and magical sort of book - to the point of being rather rather twee with characters such as Zip the blue tit and Cluck the moorhen - or whether a darker, more realistic tale, with a heavier message to the story - cars are called death-chariots and a motorway is described to have 'all along it, pressed into its black surface, were the remains of their fellow creatures' and rather heavy-handed messages such as one on being prejudiced: '"...please don't let my ignorant comments colour what you think of our kind." "What, be prejudiced, you mean?" he replied, wryly. "Course I won't. I was brought up better'n that, unlike some."'. The motorway perhaps is the equivalent to the gamekeeper's dead animals in The Little Grey Men, but it just doesn't work here in the same way. Being a shorter book and therefore choppier, these swings in tone are rather jarring, and it also felt strange to come across in a book that otherwise seemed to be aimed at younger readers than The Little Grey Men.
The author clearly has a love of nature, and namedrops various flora and fauna throughout the book. While she is obviously trying to promote a love of nature in children, which is great, there's a bit of an 'Average Familiarity' problem. Names only connect to people who have an understanding of the creature or plant already. While there are little of descriptions and details which help to connect the reader who has little knowledge of such things, it could have done with a bit more. Much as I am for books that push readers a little out of their comfort zone, when children struggle to identify more than half of common wildlife types, most of the names will go straight over a child's head, and description to incite and interest them becomes very important. Maybe I'm being a little harsh, because there are examples of this in the book, but it just didn't feel enough, especially given the age it seemed to be aimed at. It lacked the more poetic nature of the original The Little Grey Men, that made nature seem more interesting and engaging and more than just lists of names.
Like the original The Little Grey Men, the prose has an approachable, chatty writing style that reaches out to connect with the reader. It appears to be aimed at younger readers, being a shorter story (it is around the same number of pages, but in a much larger font), with a more simplistic plot. It still manages to pack in a fair amount of plot, even if parts could have been fleshed out more. At times the dialogue feels rather contrived.
The book seem undecided on whether it was a sweet and magical sort of book - to the point of being rather rather twee with characters such as Zip the blue tit and Cluck the moorhen - or whether a darker, more realistic tale, with a heavier message to the story - cars are called death-chariots and a motorway is described to have 'all along it, pressed into its black surface, were the remains of their fellow creatures' and rather heavy-handed messages such as one on being prejudiced: '"...please don't let my ignorant comments colour what you think of our kind." "What, be prejudiced, you mean?" he replied, wryly. "Course I won't. I was brought up better'n that, unlike some."'. The motorway perhaps is the equivalent to the gamekeeper's dead animals in The Little Grey Men, but it just doesn't work here in the same way. Being a shorter book and therefore choppier, these swings in tone are rather jarring, and it also felt strange to come across in a book that otherwise seemed to be aimed at younger readers than The Little Grey Men.
The author clearly has a love of nature, and namedrops various flora and fauna throughout the book. While she is obviously trying to promote a love of nature in children, which is great, there's a bit of an 'Average Familiarity' problem. Names only connect to people who have an understanding of the creature or plant already. While there are little of descriptions and details which help to connect the reader who has little knowledge of such things, it could have done with a bit more. Much as I am for books that push readers a little out of their comfort zone, when children struggle to identify more than half of common wildlife types, most of the names will go straight over a child's head, and description to incite and interest them becomes very important. Maybe I'm being a little harsh, because there are examples of this in the book, but it just didn't feel enough, especially given the age it seemed to be aimed at. It lacked the more poetic nature of the original The Little Grey Men, that made nature seem more interesting and engaging and more than just lists of names.
March 1, 2025
When a friend begins to disappear, a band of Hidden Folk set off on an adventure bigger than any of them could have ever imagined...
This is a saccharine tale filled with didactic lessons every few pages. It's charming, but it became a little too on the nose for me. I enjoyed the story itself, but moral messages about friendship, selfishness, bullying, prejudice, etc started to overwhelm the actual plot. I love that the book tackles important themes like these, but it doesn't do it very organically.
I could see this working very well for story time for very young children, but independent readers (and most definitely older/adult readers like myself) may be drawn out of the magic and whimsy of the world with the nonstop explanations of why something is or isn't good.
This is a saccharine tale filled with didactic lessons every few pages. It's charming, but it became a little too on the nose for me. I enjoyed the story itself, but moral messages about friendship, selfishness, bullying, prejudice, etc started to overwhelm the actual plot. I love that the book tackles important themes like these, but it doesn't do it very organically.
I could see this working very well for story time for very young children, but independent readers (and most definitely older/adult readers like myself) may be drawn out of the magic and whimsy of the world with the nonstop explanations of why something is or isn't good.
February 4, 2026
És una història sobre com enfrontar-se a dificultats i a realitats que no mos agraden, a accepar-les i fer lo possible per continuar vivint. Sobre sa importància des amics i de s'ajuda de sa gent del voltant. Tot molt cuqui però molt sèrio a la vegada. Es quatre personatges principals són absolutament adorables i es món que són forçats a explorar és encantador i perillós. És una novel·la infantil molt esperançadora i amb molts bons missatges (a vegades un poc massa evidents, però no alliçonadors així que ok😊)
May 20, 2021
Adventure into the wild world of the Hidden Folk - Their job is to look after the natural environment, and if you pay attention you may even catch a glimpse of one!
A trio of Hidden Folk go on a quest to find more of their kind, and meet lots of amazing animal friends along the way. A lovely story to inspire children to observe and preserve the wonders of the natural world around them.
A trio of Hidden Folk go on a quest to find more of their kind, and meet lots of amazing animal friends along the way. A lovely story to inspire children to observe and preserve the wonders of the natural world around them.
March 28, 2023
A nice and enjoyable read.
I really liked the concept and characters. It makes the world seem a bit more magical, which the cover art reflects beautifully. The book does hit you with the life lessons quite a bit, which can be annoying to some readers, but I think this would make a good book to read aloud to your kids/students.
I really liked the concept and characters. It makes the world seem a bit more magical, which the cover art reflects beautifully. The book does hit you with the life lessons quite a bit, which can be annoying to some readers, but I think this would make a good book to read aloud to your kids/students.
March 27, 2024
I mean… i love the Hidden Folk and i love Moss.. because i can see my self in his characters.
Love the idea protecting the world, eco-ism, be kind to the world, etc. however it feels a bit bland 🙈 I want something more to grip me more…
Yes it has adventures, yes it has a good message and yes it so cottage core and cute.. but, I just wanting something more :)
Love the idea protecting the world, eco-ism, be kind to the world, etc. however it feels a bit bland 🙈 I want something more to grip me more…
Yes it has adventures, yes it has a good message and yes it so cottage core and cute.. but, I just wanting something more :)
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