This is beautifully written and illustrated, and you will want to keep looking at the illustrations. Rowan struggles to manage his emotions, and as the river changes with the seasons, so do Rowan's emotions about the grief he feels about the loss of his pet.
The River would fit well in every primary school classroom to allow children the freedom to express themselves and to read this stunner of a book time and time again.

Perfect little book to read with my son. Such vibrant colours and easy to read story makes it a great story time together.
I love the story as well, it’ll be one to read as he grows with a lovely message.
Thank You NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an early copy to review.

Fantastic book to help children to understand that emotions change to reflect different situations that we encounter. Like a river, emotions flow.

The River provides a great story that has a unique way of showing different emotions. It uses the river and the main character - Rowan to convey them. Follow Rowan along the river and through the different seasons. It shows the path and behaviours of the river, such as freezing over winter, before becoming free again in the summer. The illustrations are beautiful and carry the story along very well, in a quiet, engaging manner.
The story conveys the message that the river is always changing, it can be angry and it can be calm and humans, such as Rowan also change in their moods too. The river is a clever tool in this story to illustrate that children have many emotions and that is also shown through Rowan.

It's a bright, thought-provoking story that is short and sweet, pitched perfectly at young children from at least nursery into primary school. It would also be great for libraries and homes. It's one that I highly recommend and can be used as a great story and discussion.

I am a huge fan of Tom Percival and was delighted to find that his latest offering, The River, did not disappoint. It is a poignant tale of hope and healing, which would be an excellent catalyst for discussion on emotions and dealing with loss. The illustrations are beautiful and compliment the story perfectly. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

The River is a heartwarming, poignant story of hope and healing which uses beautiful imagery to help children deal with grief.

We're huge fans of Tom Percival's picture books and his stunning illustrations combined with a simple lyrical text will give comfort to young readers who may be coming to terms with loss. It's an emotive story about friendship, grief, healing and kindness.

Rowan is a kind, sensitive boy who loves being outdoors but his rural childhood is disrupted by the loss of his pet and his inability to deal with his grief. The river is a character in its own right and provides a metaphor for Rowan's emotions. It isn't the same each day - sometimes it's calm. Or playful. Or angry. But as Rowan comes to terms with his loss he realises that, just like the river, his own emotions are ever changing.

We love Tom's stunning illustrations which take us through each season as nature and the rescue of a wild bird help Rowan start to heal. Both the text and the images offer reassurance that just like the river, our emotions constantly change.

Emotions and letting them out.

The metaphor is strong with this one. Rowan loves the river, how it changes through the year. Calm. Playful. Angry. And then during winter, we can see Rowan "felt as cold and alone as the moon" though we aren't told why. He's sad, despite his parents' hugs.

And the river seems to respond. It remains frozen throughout the summer. Rowan remains downcast. It is only the discovery of an injured bird that starts a smile, a slow thaw, in Rowan and the river.

It's a little contrived, I thought, making the point that we have to grow up and change, that we have feelings we can't always pin down and have to accept that and keep going, that we should enjoy what's around us, that we need purpose and friends.

Lovely illustrations as always, some beautiful scenes of nature especially. It's nice to follow Rowan after the words end, and the reader can see him growing up and moving onwards, like his river does.

Not for very young readers, it's one for school-aged children really, maybe ages 6-11.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

Such a beautiful story. The picture's are beautiful. A story about Rowan who was sad as the river was frozen, after helping an bird who was injured, he's feelings changed. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this brilliant book.

I really love Tom Percival's work and this was no exception. Using the changing nature of The River, this explores the changing nature of a young boys emotions as he struggles with the death of a pet. It's both thoughtful and warm, perfect for helping young children think and talk about their own emotions in a positive way. The illustrations as ever, truly enhance this and I loved every page.

Wow.
Need I say anymore?
It's Tom Percival . His picturebooks deal with emotions perfectly.
A must buy for every primary classroom!

With thanks to the Publisher for a review copy of this book,

The river is a charming tale of nature reflecting emotions. Beautifully illustrated and a poetic nature throughout this is a wonderful read. I noticed this book come in to my bookshop and was immediately drawn to the cover and the flow of writing. Very much like a river the text and illustrations flow with the seasons and age with the child.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of The River in exchange of my honest opinion.

I have now read a few Tom Percival books and he keeps surprising me.

In The River, Rowan is about to learn that change is the only constant. That things never stay the same but that those changes can be good and bring joy in some other ways.

As always, the illustrations were amazing! Bright and stunning

The movement of the river, the changing of the seasons and the details of the beautiful setting lay the foundations for this powerful story about friendship, grief and healing.

Rowan loves to play by the river with his fun-loving dog. The emotions of the river echo the emotions of the boy – light and joyful then wild, angry and icy. Rowan’s dog dies, leaving him alone. Nothing is able to thaw the cold (in the river or his heart). Finally, spring arrives. Rowan helps a bird and, with someone to care for, the ice finally begins to melt.

This powerful story encourages children to embrace a range of emotions and understand how natural they are. The river is always changing, just like Rowan – just like every reader who struggles with the ups and down of life.

Recently, I read Song of the River by Gill Lewis. Published by Barrington Stoke, it is a fantastic middle grade companion for The River. Exploring similar themes and metaphors, it is another wonderful story encouraging children to be honest about their emotions and find healing in nature.

Thank you to NetGalleyUK and Simon & Schuster Children’s UK for this beautiful book!

This is a beautifully illustrated and wonderfully captivating tale by Tom Percival. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to review this e-copy.
This exquisite picture book follows Rowan and his association with the river - his favourite place. Tom very cleverly links Rowan's emotions to the river making this text an excellent resource when teaching figurative language as well as being a story to enjoy. As we follow Rowan's story, the reader realises that it is a tale about life and about loss, about challenges, despair and hope. Tom Percival invites the reader to discover for themselves the true story that is formed through the illustrations. This will be an excellent book for P4C sessions as well as a wonderful addition to any class reading area.
Simply devine.

The River is another fantastic and beautifully realised picture book by Tom Percival.

The way the boy’s feelings are mirrored by the river is so powerful and will leave much to discuss with children.

I am really looking forward to sharing this with my pupils and know they will take a lot from the story and wonderful illustrations.

As a fan of Percival’s series about emotions beginning with Ruby’s Worry, it’s interesting to see his maturation in both style and substance.

This is STUNNINGLY drawn by Percival with some of the spreads worthy of framing. The story itself is interesting and bittersweet, but resonated more with me than my son. Pervical’s emotional intelligence and communication is second to none, and continues to be an auto buy author for us.

As always, Tom Percival hits his reader with the most beautiful theme, words and illustrations. I had a lump in my throat from the start of this story. Such a wonderfully written book, that I will be using with my children to help with their feelings. Gorgeous.

Oh wow. Tom Percival books always leave you just a little teary, but also hugged from the inside out. River is no exception.
This book has many depths, pun not intended, and offers both, reassurance to a child healing from emotional trauma, and insight for children whose parents may be struggling with mental health issues.

This book shows that kindness extends to helping others and nature, and that by engaging in acts of kindness, we can free up emotions that become ‘frozen’. The story also offers lots of reassurance to anyone going through a prolonged spell of uncomfortable motions, as just like the river, nothing remains static or unchanged.

The illustrations are stunning and correspond beautifully to the accompanying emotions. The river is given such detail and attention that it seamlessly exists s as one of the main characters in the story.

I have my very own nature loving Rowen, who is soothed by both the river estuary we live by and the sea that surrounds our little town. I’ll be purchasing my own copy of this book as it’s poignant and meaningful.

This review is provided in exchange for a free digital copy of the book.

A beautiful little book exploring the different emotions that rowan goes through. I love the message that it’s ok to go through the different emotions and that ok because your still you.

A lovely illustrated story about a boy struggling to mange his emotions. How he feels translates into how the river in his town behaves and the pictures and words show how he and it changes over time.

Would be a fantastic book to use to explore how our feelings change and how our behaviour can impact on those around us. Lots to explore in the pictures and lots to discuss together. Definitely one to add to the school library shelves!