Most Popular Books by Michael Morpurgo

In the deadly chaos of the First World War, one horse witnesses the reality of battle from both sides of the trenches.

Joy and heartbreak combine in this bittersweet tale of a champion greyhound''s journey through life -- and from owner to owner!

A spellbinding tale of survival and self-discovery from award-winning author Michael Morpurgo, who is poised for breakthrough U.S. success. When Michael''s parents lose their jobs, they buy a boat and decide to sail around the world with their son and their beloved dog. It''s an ideal trip - until Michael is swept overboard. He''s washed up on an island, where he struggles to survive. Then he discovers that he''s not alone. His fellow-castaway, Kensuke, keeps his distance at first. But when Michael''s life is threatened, he slowly lets the boy into his world. The two teach and learn from each other until, inevitably, they must part ways.

A powerful and inspiring tale of redemption from the author of WAR HORSE - with a personal introduction to the story from Michael Morpurgo. "I know a good sort when I see one. That''s why I''ve taken him on. That''s why I took you on." When a young lad strays into bad behaviour and thieving, he soon finds himself in Borstal prison for young men, lonely and without hope. But when Mr Alfie, who manages the stables, asks him to care for and tame a damaged horse, both are given a second chance. Could this "bad lad"''s skill with horses help him follow his dreams? Includes a fascinating "Facts Behind the Story" section.

The perfect read for all ages, Pinocchio as you’ve never seen him before: telling his own story through the master storyteller and award-winning author of WAR HORSE.

For Will and his mother, going to Indonesia isn''t just a holiday. It''s an escape, a new start, a chance to put things behind them - things like the death of Will''s father. And to begin with, it seems to be just what they both needed. But then Oona, the elephant Will is riding on the beach, begins acting strangely, shying away from the sea. And that''s when the tsunami comes crashing in, and Oona begins to run. Except that when the tsunami is gone, Oona just keeps on running. With nothing on his back but a shirt and nothing to sustain him but a bottle of water, Will must learn to survive deep in the jungle. Luckily, though, he''s not completely alone... He''s got Oona. Ages: 8+

''A beautiful, thoughtful book that brims with joy'' KATE MOSSE ''Our master storyteller'' JOANNA LUMLEY In Funny Thing, Getting Older, one of our most belove novelists shares his reflections from a lifetime of writing stories about the world. Here, collected for the first time on Michael''s 82nd birthday, are his thoughts on nature, childhood, writing, peace and war, and getting older. Some are deeply personal, some political, others in between. And woven in amongst them you will find a play, a poem or two, and even a few stories. Full of wonder, gentle humour and sharp observation, Funny Thing, Getting Older is a book to treasure. ''For me, a story is like a kite. It will swoop and soar, and it will be please my heart when it''s up there, floating on the wind. It is the same with the making of the pieces in this book, every one of them. I have to keep making and flying my kites, and to teach others, if I can, to fly theirs.'' MICHAEL MORPURGO

“Will fire imaginations and elicit the heart-pumping, wide-eyed response that has kept this tale alive and vigorous through the ages.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) Long ago a Scandinavian warrior fought three evils so powerful they threatened whole kingdoms. Standing head and shoulders above his comrades, Beowulf single-handedly saved the land of the Danes from a merciless ogre named Grendel and from his sea-hag mother. But it is his third terrible battle, with the death-dragon of the deep, in which he truly meets his match. Lovers of heroes, monsters, and the drama of battle will find this retelling as enthralling as it is tragic.

A true story of two brothers and the war that changed everything. Michael Morpurgo’s wonderful storytelling and Barroux’s stunning artwork combine to tell the true story of Michael’s uncles against the epic backdrop of World War Two.

From master storyteller MICHAEL MORPURGO, and illustrated in stunning colour by the award-winning EMMA CHICHESTER CLARK, 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. A perfect, collectible gift for all children (and children at heart).

Come my heart. And come my wings. Fly, fly before the cruel snows. Carry me. Carry me home. I must be on my way, on my way. Safe in the shadows. Safe among trees. Darting, flitting, swooping and soaring. Onwards, upwards. Long way to go. Get there I must. Get there I will. One courageous little Robin sets off on an epic journey to travel home for Christmas. In this fabulous, wintry tale from master story-teller Michael Morpurgo a little robin journeys through dense forests, sheets of rain, sonorous thunder and bright flashes of lightening; he crosses dark mountains and wild seas, all the while dreaming of home and ''of her''. Lyrical and moving, Coming Home relays the details of a relatively unknown natural phenomenon; while some robins do, of course, live in our gardens all year long, some migrate hundreds of miles just to winter in our gardens.

England, 1940. Barney’s home has been destroyed by bombing, and he and his mother are traveling to the countryside when German planes attack. Their train is forced to take shelter in a tunnel and there, in the darkness, a stranger— a fellow passenger—begins to tell them a story about two young soldiers who came face to face in the previous war. One British, one German. Both lived, but the British soldier was haunted by the encounter once he realized who the German was: the young Adolf Hitler. The British soldier made a moral decision. Was it the right one? Readers can ponder that difficult question for themselves with Michael Morpurgo''s latest middle-grade novel An Eagle in the Snow.

Alfie lives off the coast of England. Merry lives in New York City. Until Merry and her mother set sail on the Lusitania for England, where Merry''s father is recuperating from a war injury. People told them not to go, hearing rumors that the Lusitania might be carrying munitions. But they are desperate to be reunited with Merry''s father. Alfie and his father find a lost girl in an abandoned house on a small island. The girl doesn''t speak, except to say what sounds like "Lucy." Alfie''s mother nurses her back to health. The others in the village suspect the unthinkable: Lucy is actually German-an enemy-because she''s found with a blanket with a German tag. Told from Alfie and Merry''s points of view, this exquisite novel tells of friends, enemies, and unexpected kindnesses.

Ten stunning Shakespeare retellings from the master storyteller, with an introduction by Benedict Cumberbatch

Private Peaceful relives the life of Private Tommo Peaceful, a young First World War soldier awaiting the firing squad at dawn. During the night he looks back at his short but joyful past growing up in rural Devon: his exciting first days at school; the accident in the forest that killed his father; his adventures with Molly, the love of his life; and the battles and injustices of war that brought him to the front line. Winner of the Blue Peter Book of the Year, Private Peaceful is by the third Children''s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo, award-winning author of War Horse. His inspiration came from a visit to Ypres where he was shocked to discover how many young soldiers were court-martialled and shot for cowardice during the First World War. This edition also includes introductory essays by Michael Morpurgo, Associate Director of Private Peaceful production Mark Leipacher, as well as an essay from Simon Reade, adaptor & director of this stage adaptation of Private Peaceful.

An unforgettable tale of struggle, adventure and hope from War Horse author and former Children''s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo. ''There''s a plague, a fever, call it what you will, sweeping this country, and it''s coming closer all the time.'' Sean and Annie have one chance to escape the potato famine and plague in Ireland. They survive a shipwreck and land safely in America searching for their father. But their new land is one of hardship and they live in poverty on the streets of Boston. However, their adventure is just beginning. Sean and Annie have one chance to escape the potato famine in Ireland, but they must leave their dying mother behind. They travel in search or their father, across rough seas and shipwrecks, to a new land of hardship and poverty: America. The streets of Boston are not quite lined with gold as the stories say. It''s a long and dangerous trip, but their family''s survival depends on it. And the journey there is only the beginning ... Twist of Gold is an unforgettable tale of struggle, adventure and hope from War Horse author and former Children''s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo. Michael Morpurgo has written more than one hundred books for children and won the Whitbread Award, the Smarties Award, the Circle of Gold Award, the Children''s Book Award and has been short-listed for the Carnegie Medal four times.

An Elephant in the Garden is Simon Reade’s new adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s best-selling children’s novel. 1945. Dresden, Germany. Lizzie, her mother – and an elephant from the zoo, flee the Allied fire-bombing in the end-game of the Second World War. Escaping the Allies’ advance from the West – and also the advancing Russian armies from the East – this extraordinary trio of refugees meet: a downed RAF officer, cowering in a barn; a homeless school choir on the run and their Countess saviour, harbouring them from the Nazis; and the mechanised American cavalry, appearing over the horizon. It is Lizzie’s story – but Marlene, the elephant, is the heroine. Plodding, obdurate, opportunistic, loadbearing, indestructible, cheering – Marlene embodies the stubbornness of the human will and how it will do everything to survive.