Showing results by author "Michael Morpurgo" in Animals & Nature

Michael Morpurgo’s classic tale, capturing the power of the human spirit. First published back in 1982, ‘War Horse’ has taken the world by storm. The book was adapted to the stage and was performed at the National Theatre and on Broadway. This full and unabridged edition is beautifully performed here by the National Theatre’s first Albert, OIivier-award-winner Luke Treadaway. At the outbreak of World War 1, Joey, young Albert's beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France.

Robbie McLeod has the misfortune to be orphaned at a very young age and is brought up for a while by his heartless uncle. He is also born into a difficult age, being young and idealistic, in Scotland, at the time of the Jacobite Uprising in 1745. That's when Bonnie Prince Charlie came back to Scotland out of exile in France, to claim the throne which was rightfully his. The charismatic Prince swept through Scotland calling men to arms as he went, and Robbie joined them.

In a cosy den under a garden shed lives a family of foxes. They love to watch football - all foxes do. But their favourite team keeps losing and losing, and it seems like things will never look up. That is until Daddy Fox finds the ghost of a king buried underneath a car park. A king who wishes only to be free. 'Release me,' says the Ghost King, 'and I can do anything. Just tell me your greatest wish.' For these football-loving foxes, might everything be about to change?

Eloise has always loved Joan of Arc. Noble, honest and brave, she was everything Eloise wishes to be. And on a bright sunny day in Orleans, Eloise has a very special daydream…. A young girl faces an impossible task - to save her beloved France from tyrants. To free her country, Joan will lose everyone she has ever loved. But she listens to her heart and believes in her calling. Through patience, perseverance, and unbreakable spirit, Joan of Arc leads armies to victory and finds the strength to face the cruellest of destinies.

From master storyteller Michael Morpurgo comes a surprising, charming and uplifting twist on The Wizard of Oz, told by a very special and unforgettable character: Dorothy's pet dog, Toto.

Take part in the heroic rescue of a fishing boat in trouble, meet a boy who makes an extraordinary discovery in the vegetable patch, and find out how a farm cat forms a very special connection with a young Ukrainian girl. These three uplifting stories capture the wonder, muck and magic of a city child’s week on the farm.

A wonderful story written by the children's laureate Michael Morpurgo.One morning, while chopping wood in the forest, Tod notices a small white fawn fleeing the King’s hunt. Swiftly, Tod gathers the fawn into his arms and runs back to his father’s cottage. As the years go by, the fawn grows into a magnificent white stag, and the bonds between boy and deer grow strong. But Tod has yet to face a great test of his devotion to the The King in the Forest.

Best-selling author Michael Morpurgo turns his storytelling skills to the drama and tragedy of the Spanish Civil War, illustrated by Michael Foreman. Toro, Toro is the story of a young boy growing up in Andalucia, Spain, on a farm rearing bulls for the bull ring. Antonito hand rears a little black calf, and they become firm friends, but the boy doesn't yet understand the fate of the black bulls: the corrida and death.

Jlm lives in a fishing village - but no-one goes fishing anymore as all the fish have gone. One day, Jim spots a dolphin beached on the sand. He runs to get help, and everyone works together to return the dolphin to the water. Afterwards, the dolphin stays in the harbour, playing with the swimmers - and he even carries Jim on his back!

A cat's nine lives are full of adventure and excitement and none more so than Montezuma the farmyard cat.From a young kitten to a grand old cat, he is cunning and proud while establishing his kingdom, but to Matthew, he's always loving and adorable.

The polar bear is bored of his white environment and his hard life. He dreams of soaking himself in all the luminous colours of the rainbow. But when his wish is granted, he realises to his cost that his arctic camouflage no longer works and he needs the advice of others to escape his prism… A moving tale of hopes and dreams from an award-winning picture book team.

A boy living by a Scottish loch sees a beautiful silver swan land on the water. She remains at the loch, mates and there are soon five cygnets too. The boy watches them in awe and pride. When snowy winter sets in, all the birds and animals around the loch must scavenge desperately for food. The fox also has cubs to feed…

A wonderful story written by the master story teller Michael Morpurgo. READ BY CASSANDRA HARWOOD. Cool as a cucumber is a delightful story about a boy called Peter who at first seems a little reluctant to help dig up a garden patch for his school project to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee. He then starts to dig up some interesting things-a hug worm, a big beetle, bits of china, an old coin and what looks like a giant cucumber, but turns out to be something a lot more exciting!

Wombat loves digging deep holes and thinking deep thoughts, but nobody thinks much of that until danger threatens the bush and the small wombat comes up with a great big idea! One day Wombat digs the deepest hole he's ever dug and crawls into the cool darkness to think. But when he climbs out again, he can't see his mother anywhere. He is all alone.

Full of friendship and adventure, this charming story collection from Michael Morpurgo celebrates the way the countryside and its animals can leave an impression on a child’s heart forever. Full of friendship and adventure, these three uplifting stories capture the wonder, muck and magic of a city child’s week on the farm. Join in the daring rescue of a lost lamb, meet a boy who saves a family of swallows and discover how Barney the horse forever changes the life of the girl who looks after him.

Antonito n'a pas de plus grand ami que Paco, le petit taureau qu'il a vu naître. Paco est destiné à la corrida et le petit garçon ne peut se résoudre à voir son taureau mourir dans l'arène. À l'aube, les deux amis prendront la fuite. Nous sommes en 1936. Ils ne savent pas que la guerre civile gronde derrière les collines.

When a clever little rooster finds a diamond, he thinks it only just that he shares his good fortune with his poor and loving mistress. But a greedy sultan is determined to claim the diamond for his own - and devises a series of traps to outwit the plucky bird. A hilarious chase ensues, and we are shown that greed and avarice lead to nothing but sorrow, whilst true happiness lies in a generous spirit.

When Nick's grandmother decides to help him become Conker Champion of Jubilee Park, she sends him off to find some special conkers from Cotter's Yard. There, he discovers a half-starved dog. Will Nick be able to rescue him?

Find out how Elvis the donkey helps a trapped sea turtle, meet all the extraordinary animals of Wick Court through J's letters and watch as a special friendship turns Lucky into the very best sheepdog. Full of friendship and adventure, these three uplifting stories capture the wonder, muck and magic of a city child’s week on the farm.

Blodin the beast stalks the land, breathing fire and reducing villages to ruins. Who or what can end his tyranny? Only wise old Shanga, weaving his strange carpet, knows how to destroy the monster, but he is too old to cross the mountains that never end.