Sir Michael Morpurgo
Sir Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain's best-loved writers for children. He has written over 100 books and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize, Blue Peter Book Award and the Whitbread Award. His recent bestselling novels include Listen to the Moon, A Medal for Leroy and Shadow. His novel War Horse has been successfully adapted as a West End and Broadway theatre play and a major film by Steven Spielberg. A former Children's Laureate, Michael is also the co-founder, with his wife Clare, of the charity Farms for City Children.
Children's Laureate 2003-2005
Books
Alone on a Wide Wide Sea
Author: Sir Michael Morpurgo
Publisher: HarperCollins
Interest age: 10+
Reading age: 10+
Filled with vividly beautiful descriptions of land and seascapes, this roller-coaster novel quietly maps the changing nature of childhood through time.
Black Queen
Author: Michael Morpurgo Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: Random House
Interest age: 6+
Reading age: 7+
Billy is frightened of his neighbour, nicknamed the 'Black Queen', but when she goes away for a few days, he warily agrees to look after her cat.
Hansel and Gretel
Author: Michael Morpurgo Illustrator: Emma Chichester Clark
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 6+
Reading age: 8+
This version is richer for the addition of the themes of manipulation, hope and love. The illustrations, both the bright and the brooding, reflect the disturbing plot.
Mister Skip
Author: Michael Morpurgo Illustrator: Griff
Publisher: HarperCollins
Interest age: 7+
Reading age: 8+
Although Jackie looks after Gran's tatty old donkey, Barnaby, she longs to have her own horse like the local boys. And when she finds an old broken gnome in a skip her fortunes start to change.
Muck and Magic
Author: Michael Morpurgo Illustrator: Olivia Lomenech Gill
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 7+
Bonny sees three magnificent horses in the Dales. Mesmerised by their beauty, she is delighted when she gets a Saturday job in the stables. This touching tale about an intergenerational friendship unfolds at a gentle pace, with exquisite drawings.
Of Lions and Unicorns
Author: Sir Michael Morpurgo
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 10+
A variety of short stories and extracts from Michael Morpurgo, 'The Nation’s Favourite Storyteller’ are collected in this lovely gift edition.
Private Peaceful
Author: Sir Michael Morpurgo
Publisher: HarperCollins
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 10+
Set during World War I, Private Peaceful charts eight hours in the life of Tommo, a young soldier at the Front.
Singing for Mrs Pettigrew: A Storymaker's Journey
Author: Michael Morpurgo Illustrator: Peter Bailey
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 9+
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.
The Best of Times
Author: Michael Morpurgo Illustrator: Emma Chichester Clark
Publisher: Egmont
Interest age: 7+
Reading age: 8+
The Prince invites entertainers to the palace to cheer up the Princess. The puppeteers come too and perform the greatest story – the Christmas Nativity story.
The Last Wolf
Author: Michael Morpurgo Illustrator: Michael Foreman
Publisher: Random House
Interest age: 7-11
Reading age: 7+
Powerful illustrations underline this captivating tale of loyalty and bravery.