£5.00
188 in stock
By David Stocks
ISBN: 978-1-84747-624-1
Published: 2008
Pages: 176
Key Themes: children’s fiction, fantasy, magic, friendship, bullying, strength
Description
A children’s fantasy adventure; in an exciting quest to restore the vitality of the legendary Major Oak of Sherwood Forest and with it England’s Heart and that of the planet.
In a riddle as old as time, they follow a trail of clues and unravel secrets long lost to mankind.
Hannah and Laura encounter a mysterious white hart (white stag) who charges them with their mission to restore the Great Oak. They meet up with new friends Megan and Haroun and together they set forth on an epic quest in search of the elusive Moon Rabbit and the elixir of life. They are also joined later on in this quest by their old friends Holy and Grace who travel in the world of dreams.
It is a breathtaking tale of friendship and overcoming the odds. The story of how Haroun, a victim of bullying, found confidence in himself once more and selflessly helped his friends achieve their goal.
A journey through mysterious worlds, where myths and legends become reality and reality is a whole new world.
About the Author
David’s childhood days were spent immersed in books and in imaginary worlds of his own creation. He would secrete himself away and read for hours on end, unable to escape the fantastical world of the written word. He would write stories of his own, based on childhood adventures in Lowdham, Nottinghamshire. Trips down the stream that ran by his house became journeys of adventure into lost worlds, following it through darkened woodlands and haunted churchyards. He never shared these writings with anyone but his boyhood friends who went on these treks with him.
After leaving school he continued to write stories, but kept them to himself as his career in computing progressed. He made one exception, however, in that every Christmas in the spirit of M.R. James, he wrote a ghost story and recited it by the fireside.
At the peak of his profession as a computer consultant, then working at major international London banks, David had a breakdown. It was during the next six years of his life, now plagued by mental illness that David took to writing again. The result of this is David’s first groundbreaking book, ‘The Celtic Holy Grail Quest,’ which he completed while in hospital.
The financial hardships caused by his time away from work, directly resulted in his latest book ‘Moon Rabbit.’ The book only came into existence, because David could not afford to buy his Nieces Christmas presents, so he wrote them a book instead ‘Moon Rabbit.’
The joy that his nieces have had from this unique Christmas present and of their friends, who have since read it, is the best testimonial a book could have.
Book Extract
A rolling carpet of silken mist tumbled out of the woods and into the campsite. The morning sun shimmered on its surface as the girls danced across it like angels on heavenly clouds. Their parents were busy making breakfast on the camping stove and delicious smells of home cooking drifted on the autumn breeze.
Suddenly into the clearing galloped a mighty white stag, with antlers like forked white lightning, a creature of the gods. The majestic creature moved with fluid grace through the sparkling dewy carpet, making not a sound as it entered the campground. It stopped and looked towards the girls, then shook its mighty head sending dew drops scattering from its antlers, spraying like diamonds caught in the morning’s sunlight. With that it turned tail and strode into the forest. The sisters looked at one another and then back at their parents who had not noticed the stag. They shouted over that they were going to the toilet block and would be back soon. Their parents nodded their consent and continued with the breakfast preparations.
With a quick glance at each other the sisters, Hannah and Laura, made their way in pursuit of this mystical stag.
The stag was easy to follow; keeping just a short distance in front of them, it appeared to want to lead them somewhere and would keep looking back to make sure they were still there. It was not long before they came to a big open glade, one that many people will be familiar with, for in it stood the world famous Major Oak of Sherwood Forest.
The white stag then approached the old oak and turned to the sisters and spoke in a deep timbered voice.
“Behold Old man Oak, England’s heart, forever the guardian of our land. He has been known by many names throughout his life and has watched kingdoms rise and fall, as of the passing of seasons to man. He has stood upon England’s shores, before the arrival of man, but now he fades in neglect and decay and will soon be no more. When the great oak no longer stands, with it so will England fade and a cold winter will descend on this once noble land.”
Hannah and Laura looked at each other in astonishment, for there before them stood a mystical stag that spoke to them. With the uttering of those words they had stepped into a storybook world and were now caught up in the pages of a fairytale. They looked at the Major Oak in sorrow, gazing at its fading grandeur. It stood bent like an old man, its mighty arms supported on stilts, its bark all gnarled and broken, deeply lined like wrinkled old skin.
Hannah, being the eldest sister, took it upon her as her duty to speak to this lordly creature. Summoning up all her courage she asked the white stag a question.
“Please may I ask you your name, for I have never seen such a fine creature as yourself and have never heard any creature other than mankind speak? I have only heard of such marvels in story books.”
“Some stories are true, some are echoes of the past, myths and legends are easily forgotten in this modern world. Modern man has lost the wisdom of his forebears, but now has come the time of reckoning, where man must regain the wisdom of the ancients. I am known throughout the ages by many different names and have appeared in many guises. It has always been my place to be on hand at England’s hour of need. To you I am the White Hart, a messenger from the otherworld and a herald of the gods. I fly swiftly between the realms of man and gods on the mists issuing from the otherworld’s cauldron. These mists will soon be gone and with them so must I. Before I return to my otherworldly home, I beg upon you a favour. Follow the path of the moon rabbit and find the elixir of immortality, to restore the Oak and with it England’s vitality.”
Before the girls had a chance to answer, the White Hart turned and strode swiftly into the deep woodland surrounding the Major oak, the mist folding in and vanishing behind it as it disappeared from sight.
Laura, the younger sister, took it upon herself to curtsey. Hannah looked at her sister and smiled, for she knew her sister had done the right thing, for they had surely witnessed the king of beasts and Laura had paid him due respect.
With a last look to where the white Hart had disappeared and once again at the mighty oak, they turned and ran back to the campsite to their parents and breakfast, before they were missed.
Their breakfast was ready when they returned, but Hannah and Laura were too excited to be hungry and were dying to get away and talk about the strange events of the morning. They left their plates half empty, much to their parent’s surprise, for although they were petite girls they had voracious appetites. They told their parents, John and Juggy, that they were going to play tennis and ran off into the clearing, rackets in hand. John and Juggy looked at each other in astonishment, for they had not even bothered to take a tennis ball with them.
“They’re up to something,” John said in a knowing way.
“I know,” Juggy replied, “Another one of their games! We will find out in due course”.
But will they?
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
amanda peck (verified owner) –
i loved this book, it is multi layered and i think needs rereading to appreciate and discover all the strands. i would love to see this as a bbc childrens drama!!