Toro! Toro!
by
Michael Morpurgo
Illustrator: Michael Foreman
Antonio tells his grandson how, as a small boy in 1936, he saved the life of his favourite bull, which was destined for the bullring, by taking him out into the hills. By doing so, he also saves his own life when Nazi planes strafe his village, killing all his family.
As he flees to shelter, he gives a graphic account of the hardships of the Spanish Civil War. Readers will empathise with Antonio, while acquiring an understanding of an important European conflict, which has rarely been made the subject of children's literature.
Publisher: Collins Children's Books
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Michael Morpurgo
Children's Laureate 2003-2005
Award-winning children's writer Michael Morpurgo was born in 1943 in St Albans, Hertfordshire. He is the author of many award-winning books for children, including Kensuke's Kingdom, My Friend Walter and Private Peaceful. Many of his books have been successfully adapted for the stage or for film and television including War Horse and Private Peaceful (due to be released in 2012)
As well as writing, Michael runs the charity Farms for City Children with his wife Claire. In 2003 he became the third Children's Laureate (2003-2005), taking on a role he helped to establish together with the late Poet Laureate Ted Hughes. During his time as laureate he toured extensively, concentrating on sharing the power of stories.
(Credit Richard Cannon)
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Reading Age: 8+
Interest level: 9-11
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