Wild Journey

Starlings swoop and swirl their way through the stories of five children living in five different countries, linking their experiences as they experience their own journeys, as exciting and demanding as those of the birds soaring above.

With its beautifully composed, warm orange cover, Wild Journey is a book which will tempt readers to pick it up at first glance. A murmuration of starlings encircle five little scenes, each giving a hint as to the content of one of the five stories inside, sure to pique curiosity. More clues are given on the back of the book as well as the names of the five locations and five children the stories are about.

Each child is on their own journey. Jamal is visiting relations in Egypt, Ella is on holiday with her family in Morocco, Aaron is in Spain where his father is working, Isabelle has gone on holiday to her Grand-pere’s house and Yusef has travelled from Syria to find a new home. These physical journeys are linked by the starlings' migration, showing the wonder, power and resilience of these feathered miracles as they make their dangerous and demanding journey. But each of the children also makes a personal 'journey' as they learn more about themselves, their families and the world around them.

Perfect for sharing with a class, each, any or all of the stories would work well for a story time, offering plenty to discuss and reflect upon. Obviously, adults need to be aware of both the content and their audience, responding with sensitivity to any questions or comments. In the first story, for example, Jamal struggles with parting with the wounded starling which he has rescued both due to his loneliness and a desire to make his ill grandfather laugh and be happy, leading his grandfather to tell him, 'Sometimes you have to let those you love go'.

The final story about Yusef seeking happiness and safety in his new home brings this heart-warming collection to a perfect conclusion. A real joy!

144 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+

Wild Journey is a thoughtful collection of stories linked together by the migration of starlings across the globe. Starting in Egypt and travelling through Morocco, Spain, France and England, it follows the lives of five different children. In each story, the starlings inspire each of the children in their own way and link them in an unexpected way.

The initial story draws you in with Jamal rescuing a starling as they begin their journey. He is disappointed as he must let his new friend go, but sets him free on an epic journey across the globe. The stories have themes of adventure, friendship, loss and home, each with key messages told in a relatable way. The path of the birds provides a connection between modern life and nature, and it is a creative way of telling both tales. The illustrations aid with the storytelling and have a delicate yet expressive and considered style, again linking all the characters together in a clever way.

Wild Journey is a great book showing the emotions and cultures of children around the world and reminds us that nature takes some extraordinary journeys, too. This book is suitable for ages 7+ and is great way to learn about culture, nature and to inspire the imagination.

144 pages / Reviewed by Alice Drury

Suggested Reading Age 7+