Singing for Mrs Pettigrew: A Storymaker's Journey
by
Michael Morpurgo
Illustrator: Peter Bailey
The former Children's Laureate collects here a 'sponge-sandwich-cake book' - short stories, essays and commentaries to illustrate his approach to storytelling. He reveals that his inspiration is diverse and from many sources, including his own life, history, his own reading and from negative as well as positive experiences.
Morpurgo encourages writers of all ages to nurture the seeds of creativity we all hold within us, and strives to reassure those who find school an unfulfilling and unpleasant place, as he did.
He stresses that his approach is not the only one, but that within his recollections, and the stories which have been inspired by them, readers may understand how and why he writes, and be empowered to try for themselves.
Publisher: Walker 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)
Reading Age: 9+
Interest level: 12+
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