The Girl and the Swan

Clara spends her weekends at the lake with her red canvas backpack and small binoculars, watching a pair of swans that nest at the water's edge. She observes the mother swan keeping four eggs warm and the father gliding nearby, and she is present on the Saturday when four fluffy grey cygnets first emerge from under their mother's wings. To Clara, the lake is a secret, wonderful world she has been allowed to share.

That world is disturbed when visitors approach the nest with outstretched hands, causing the mother swan to hiss and the cygnets to huddle together. Clara realizes that watching is no longer enough and seeks help from Ranger Maya, who explains why swans need space. Together they paint signs asking visitors to watch from the path, and Clara adds her own drawing of a swan with a curved neck and a heart. This gentle tale by Jane MEADOW follows Clara as she learns that loving animals can mean speaking up for them. The story can be read on Kids Tale Book.