Farming, animals, rural habitats, food chain, harvest
Finding Hope
by Nicola Baker
Key information
Author: Nicola Baker
Illustrator: Rachael Dean
Release Date: 13th March 2025
Book type: Illustrated chapter
Star rating: ★★★★★
Reader level: Growing
Age: Year 2+
Overview
When ten-year-old Ava moves to Whistledown Farm while her parents are working abroad, she must swap city life for mud, wellies and animals.
When Ava first arrives, she is reluctant to get stuck in around the farm, believing that animals and hard work aren't her thing. But soon, she finds that the animals respond well to her and begins to wonder whether the farm life is what she was destined to do all along.
As Ava helps to settle the farm for the night, she discovers an abandoned lamb in the bushes. Reluctant to leave it alone through the night, she brings it back to the farmhouse where she helps to hand-rear it back to strength.
However, the more Ava helps around the farm, the more her cousin struggles to accept her presence. Tensions continue to rise and Ava begins to make critical mistakes which lead to disaster on Whistledown Farm.
With her time on the farm drawing to an end, Ava must do what she can to make things right, and must protect the farm animals from the sheep rustlers who are waiting to strike.
Key concepts/themes
- friendship
- bravery
- finding yourself
- family
- resilience
- learning new skills
- being open minded
- hard work
- appreciation
Considerations
- some upsetting realities of farm life (livestock being killed by foxes)
Curriculum links
Science - animals, animals and their habitats, rural habitats, food chain, food production
Additional teaching opportunities
1. Writing
- Setting description (Whistledown Farm)
- Character description
- Letter (To Ava's parents)
- Non-chronological report (farm animal)
- Diary entry (as Ava)
- Instructions (how to incubate chicks etc)
2. PSHE
- Absent parents (work)
- Adjusting to changes in life
- Communicating feelings
- Finding what you are good at
- Welcoming new people
- Being a good friend
3. Art
- Countryside landscape painting
- Animal portraits
- Sketching farm animals
- Sketching farm vehicles
- Mixing colour palettes (Spring
Vocabulary
| Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
|---|---|
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