The Last Song of the Mistle Thrush by Ruth Mary Flanagan
“For parents, carers, teachers, and of course, children, who love books like The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris and The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, this stunningly poetic picture book is a timeless ode to nature, hope, and protecting our planet for future generations.”
The Last Song of the Mistle Thrush by Ruth Mary Flanagan is a heartfelt and beautifully
illustrated children’s picture book that weaves poetry and nature into an unforgettable tale.
Through the eyes of a singing mistle thrush, young readers are taken on a poignant journey of loss, resilience, and environmental awareness.
Genres: Children, Picture Book, Poetry, Nature, Illustrated
Publisher: Brown Dog Books
Publication date: May 2025
Reading age: 3 – 8
Instagram: @ruthmaryflanaganauthor
When the trees are cut down and the bird’s home is destroyed, its new song becomes a call to action—one that inspires change and hope for the future of the planet.
Perfect for sparking important conversations about nature, conservation, and shared responsibility, this book will resonate with children and adults alike.
My Review
It’s not often a children’s picture book makes me cry but The Last Song of the Mistle Thrush had me in tears at the end. Because this isn’t just a fictional story. It tells us what will happen if we plunder and destroy our beautiful planet, with no thought for the future. It can still be saved hopefully – though I’m not so sure – but we need to act now.
One day we’ll listen and there will be no bird song, or buzzing of bees, or the rustle of small animals in the undergrowth. We will have cut down the forests, and polluted the air until nothing will thrive.
The book is written in beautifully constructed rhyme, with stunning illustrations by Sarah Lovell. It makes us realise that we all have a ‘shared responsibility to the natural world.’ If you read this to your children, or they read it themselves, I hope you will be able to impress on them how important this message is.
Many thanks to @LiterallyPR for inviting me to be part of #TheLastSongoftheMistleThrush #blogtour.
PS “While the mistle thrush is not currently considered a rare species in the UK, its population has declined since the 1970s, and it is now classified as a red (high concern) species. Some factors believed to contribute to the decline include decreased annual survival rates, farmland degradation, and changes in agricultural practices.”
About the Author
Ruth Mary Flanagan is an award-winning poet, who writes about the wonder and fragility of nature.
Ruth Mary Flanagan
Instagram – @ruthmaryflanaganauthor
#TheLastSongOfTheMistleThrush #newbook #booknews #bookrecs #bookstagram #booktwitter #booksforreview #poetrybook #picturebook #blogtour
Sarah Lovell
Instagram – @sarahlovellart
Literally PR
Instagram – @literallypr
Twitter/X – @literallypr
