The Story of Greenriver by Holly Webb - blog tour

The Story of Greenriver by Holly Webb is a book to savour. Stories about animals can touch readers' hearts in ways that few others can and this is one of the most powerful I've read in a long time. It combines an emotionally engrossing adventure with valuable messages about the environment, the importance of acceptance and the complexity of family relationships. It's a book that deserves its place in homes, schools and libraries as readers of all ages will be captivated by the adventures of Silken, a beaver who feels like she is no longer a valued member of her community, and Sedge, an otter forced to live in the shadow of his absent sister.

I was thrilled when Holly invited me to be the final stop on her blog tour promoting the book. She wanted to write about the importance of animal stories and the magic that they can deliver. I hope you enjoy reading her blog as much as I did; it brought back fond memories of childhood favourites such as Redwall and Watership Down.

The importance of animal stories in children’s books by Holly Webb

I grew up with a house full of pets, and loving books about animals. I know that I’m supposed to be able to describe The Story of Greenriver in a couple of succinct sentences, but when anyone asks me what the book’s about, I find myself explaining that it’s an otter book because I love otters – but it’s also a loving homage to Redwall, The Animals of Farthing Wood, The Wind in the Willows, Watership Down, and hundreds of others. With a whole lot of time spent poring over the illustrations to the Brambly Hedge books thrown in. And a lot of pony books.

I think I loved books about animals so much because I wanted as many animals in our house as we could fit in. (I feel slightly deprived at the moment, with only three cats.) But stories about animals aren’t only for children who dream about fitting a pony in their back garden. It can often be easier to identify with an animal character than a human one – it’s difficult, sometimes, to realise, Oh, I’m quite like that person! The separation between the reader and the animal makes it easier, more acceptable even, to admit, Yes, I’m lonely, I need a challenge, I’m struggling. And of course it’s a lot easier to write adventure for animal characters, since that same separation means that you don’t need to worry as much about encouraging dangerous behaviour!

After so much stressful pandemic time – with two years being a fifth of a ten year old’s lifetime, just as an example – time outdoors is vital for all of us. But it’s very easy to feel that natural landscapes aren’t for you. That they’re scary, or dangerous (which obviously they can be, even more so when you’re unfamiliar with them!) boring, or just strange. Fabulous books like The Diary of a Young Naturalist, by Dara McAnulty, and The Lost Words, by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris – whose otters are incredibly beautiful! – have raised the importance of familiarising children with the natural world again, with letting us all see the beauty and fascination waiting for us. There are huge benefits for everyone’s mental health, but also for the natural world. People who love animals and the natural landscape will want to protect them – and they’ve never needed that protection more.

I started writing The Story of Greenriver because I loved otters, and I wanted to create an exciting adventure story. As I was writing, my love for the river and the woods around it grew into a deep wish to inspire children to explore the natural world and feel comfortable in it. Everyone should be able to spend time outdoors, to find a place that’s home and adventure, with its own deep magic.z

Holly Webb