80's childrens book

[brucemercury]

Hi,i'm trying to find the name of a childrens or young adults book from the 70's or 80's.My details of it are vague so any help is much appreciated
I think it was about a young boy who didnt have a great home life and spent time in the woods.While there the animals began to talk to him and from them he learned that something was going to happen.Now wether this was going to be a nuclear holocaust or what i cant remember,but i do remember the animals asked the boy to leave his family and live with them and as far as i can recall at the end of the book this is what he does.
I cant remember if it was set in the U.S. or Europe but i remember it had a profound effect on me when i got it from the library in the early 80's.
Sorry i've been so vague but if anyone out there knows the name of this book i would be really grateful.
Thanks
Brucemercury..