By Ash, Oak and Thorn cover art

By Ash, Oak and Thorn

Moss, Book 1

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By Ash, Oak and Thorn

By: Melissa Harrison
Narrated by: Sam Crerar, Melissa Harrison
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About this listen

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....

Cover illustration by Lauren O'Hara 2021

©2021 Chicken House Books (P)2021 Audible, Ltd Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy Heartfelt Feel-Good Funny

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All stars
Most relevant
Wow!!! What a lovely book.
It’s for kids, but I read it anyway.

The narration is full of interesting voices and sound effects, including real birdsong and nature sounds to help kids of all ages to take interest, be mindful and learn about their local species.

I recommend this audiobook to everyone! I’ll be buying the paper version also for them to follow along. Brilliant, lovely and beautiful.

Fantastic and beautiful

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beautiful tale for our times. listened to it with my 9 year old who loved it.

heartwarming

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A very enjoyable tale. I especially liked the music and nature sounds that enhanced the performance.

Delightful, heartwarming story

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I loved this beautiful timeless tale, to be surely enjoyed by children and adults. There is a great message about our relationship with animals, nature and the environment, told in a gentle way.
The narrator has a live versatile voice and I was mesmerized.

Lovely narration

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Attracted by the cover illustration and title, as an adult listener I really enjoyed this. It's an important, relevant story beautifully told, and it would be lovely to share with a child. There are also some perfectly chosen natural sound effects - e.g. real bird song - and some gentle music to mark chapters. It's beautifully done and wonderful to escape into. The only thing I didn't like was one very brief comment on a character's body shape and food intake which felt wrong and out of place in an otherwise generous and thoughtful book where the characters encourage each other NOT to judge by appearances. Otherwise it seems like the perfect book for encouraging engagement with 'the wild world' and also gentle understanding of each other.

Vivid and enchanting

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