War Horse (Tom Clohosy Cole)

by Sir Michael Morpurgo, illustrated by Tom Clohosy Cole

Interest age: 6 to 11
Reading age: 7+

Published by Farshore, 2020

Historical
Picture books

About this book

When World War I begins, Albert is bereft when his father sells his horse Joey to the army. Joey is like a brother to Albert, so he decides that he too will sign up and find his horse so they can be together again.

Yet the war takes Joey and Albert to far ends of France where the war is being fought, and though Albert sees the horror of the trenches, he never gives up hope that he will find Joey again

A new picture book version of Michael Morpurgo’s classic children’s novel War Horse, this shortened, illustrated version is full of emotion and drama. We follow Albert and Joey’s journeys in World War I and see them finally reunited in an incredibly moving scene.

Tom Clohosy Cole’s artwork fills the book with the wide French fields – and, on some pages, the harrowing reality of the trenches and no man’s land. For these reasons and the subject matter, it’s a picture book very much suited to older primary readers who will have lots of questions about World War I and particularly the role that animals played in it.

About the author

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 (2003–2005), Michael is also the co-founder, with his wife Clare, of the charity Farms for City Children.

About the illustrator

Tom gew up in Brighton, where his interest in drawing took hold. He originally thought he’d be an architect but wasn’t very good at maths, so went to study illustration instead. After graduating, he made Space Race, a concertina book, which helped kick start things off. Tom has a number of picture books published, including WALL and The Red Prince, as well as Destination: Space with Wide Eyed Editions. He’s also illustrated many book covers and completed successful commercial projects for London advertising agencies. Tom finds inspiration in painting, photography, travel and space.

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