A boy on an isolated farm observes a lovely swan as she arrives on a moonlit lake. Day by day, the boy watches as she makes her home on the lake, finds a mate, builds a nest, and hatches five fluffy cygnets. When a starving fox threatens the swan and her brood, the boy desperately tries to protect his friend, but eventually he must comes to terms with the harsh--and, ultimately, the redemptive--aspects of nature. The beautiful and touching prose of Michael Morpurgo and the richly textured, exquisite art of Christian Birmingham make this an unforgettable journey through the life cycle of a lake's wild creatures and a boy's coming of age.
