Despite the fact that it's often a hard sell at first (what teenager wouldn't cringe at the thought of 400-plus pages of talking rabbits?), Richard Adams' bunny-centric epic rarely fails to win the love and respect of anyone who reads it, regardless of age. Like most great novels, Watership Down is a rich story that can be read (and reread) on many different levels. The book is often praised as an allegory, with its analogues between human and rabbit culture (a fact sometimes used to goad skeptical teens, who resent the challenge that they won't "get" it, into reading it), but it's equally praiseworthy as just a corking good adventure. The story follows a warren of Berkshire rabbits fleeing the destruction of their home by a land developer. As they search for a safe haven, skirting danger at every turn, we become acquainted with the band and its compelling culture and mythos. Adams has crafted a touching, involving world in the dirt and scrub of the English countryside, complete with its own folk history and language (the book comes with a "lapine" glossary, a guide to rabbitese). As much about freedom, ethics and human nature as it is about a bunch of bunnies looking for a warm hidey-hole and some mates, Watership Down will continue to make the transition from classroom desk to bedside table for many generations to come. --Paul Hughes

 

This book is the winner of numerous awards. It was recognised by the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize Award. This award was founded in 1967 and winners are selected by fellow writers. It is awarded annually to fiction written for children aged eight and above. It was recognised by the Carnegie Award. The CILIP Carnegie Medal is awarded by childrens librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people. It also was recognised in the Big Read Top 100 category by the Bbc Book Awards.

This book is part of a book series called Watership Down .

There are 496 pages in this book. This book was published 1993 by Penguin Books Ltd .

Sally Grindley is the author of many best-selling titles including Why is the Sky Blue? (Andersen) and I Don't Want To (Methuen). Shhh! won the Children's Book Award and was shortlisted for the Smarties Book Prize - as was Peter's Place (both Andersen). Her titles for Kingfisher include another I Am Reading title, The Giant Postman, and the highly successful picture books What Are Friends For?, What Will I Do Without You? and Will You Forgive Me? Sally is also an accomplished anthologist. She lives in Gloucestershire. David Parkins is the high-profile artist of a number of successful picture books, including Tick-Tock and Prowlpuss (both Walker). Prowlpuss was shortlisted for both the Smarties Prize and the Kurt Maschler Award, and was highly commended in the National Art Library Illustration Awards. David is the artist behind Dennis the Menace's weekly adventures in the Beano. He lives with his family in Lincoln. Richard Adams completed his first novel, WATERSHIP DOWN, in the mid-sixties; he had originally told the story to his children. The success of the novel enabled him to retire from the Civil Service and devote his time to writing. Richard Adams lives in the South of England.