The first of Elyne Mitchell’s many books about brumbies, The Silver Brumby is a classic of Australian nature writing with beautiful depictions of the trees and animals of the Kosciuszko area.

The story is written from the perspective of Thowra, the creamy foal, and occasionally from his mother, Bel Bel, whose wisdom saves his life many times. Reading it as a child I did not truly appreciate Mitchell’s extensive knowledge of this landscape. Today, the brumbies are a controversial part of the high country, but this story will leave any reader feeling they truly belong there.

Thowra’s story begins when he is just a few days old and ends when he is king of the mountains. In between there are battles with other stallions for mares, the capture of a beautiful grey mare owned by the humans, and many chases through the mountains finding hidden valleys, jumping off rock faces and other escapades. Humans are depicted as the enemy to be feared, outwitted and avoided at all costs. The changing seasons are eloquently described, with Thowra easily hidden when it snows, but particularly vulnerable during the rest of the year due to his silver colouring.

This is an Australian classic that readers of animal or nature stories aged 10 and up will absolutely love.

Angela Crocombe is a senior buyer for Readings.