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Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo lives in Devon with his wife Clare. He writes
his books from home and helps Clare to run Farms for City Children,
a project that takes children from inner-city schools to the
countryside where they are given hands-on experience of what
happens on a farm.
Michael has written over 50 books - all different, all
exciting - and he draws on a lot of his own experiences. He was
sent away to boarding school, which he hated because he was
homesick and because there was no privacy, and these are
experiences that he draws on in The Butterfly Lion and The War of
Jenkin's Ear. He didn't work especially hard at school but he was
very good at games, and this helped him to keep out of
trouble!
When Michael left school he went into the army, which
he also hated. He left as soon as he could and trained to be a
teacher. Michael loved teaching, especially poetry, which he
discovered through the poems of Ted Hughes.
He stopped teaching to become a full-time writer when
he started the farm. He writes sitting propped up on the bed, with
a thin pen on lined paper which he fills as much as possible as he
hates turning over and starting a new page! He hates rewriting
stories and he hates making corrections.
Out of the Ashes
This is the breath-takingly dramatic diary of 13-year-old Becky, who records the true horrors of the Foot and Mouth nightmare, and its devastating effect on a whole farming community. This is no fiction but the reality for thousands of farmers in Britain in the year 2001. (10+)
Published by Macmillan Children's Books
The Butterfly Lion
Bertie and the white lion cub he rescues from the African Veld are inseparable. But then Bertie is sent away to boarding school in England and the lion is sold to a circus. Despite the distance between them, the lion makes sure their friendship will never be forgotten. (9+)
Published by Collins Children's Books
The War of Jenkins Ear
Making the best of his tough boarding school, Toby forges a friendship with a new boy, Simon Christopher. Everything about Simon is different. He doesn't accept the hypocrisy of school and he makes claims that are hard to believe. His strange powers include healing. Is he really who he says he is and should Toby trust him? (11+)
Published by Egmont Books Limited
The Wreck of the Zanzibar
Laura's diary from 1907 recalls the harsh conditions of life on the Scilly isles. The winter storms wreak havoc and many families seek refuge on the mainland. Laura's family are about to admit defeat when a violent storm brings a strange and magical harvest. Laura's trust in the sea and its creatures is repaid. (9+)
Published by Egmont Books Limited
Kensuke's Kingdom
Swept overboard with his dog, Stella Artois, Michael lands on a Pacific island. He can't find food or water. There seems to be no hope, until he finds that food and water have been laid by his head as he sleeps. Someone else is on the island. Michael survives, but who is his mysterious saviour and is he a friend or foe? (10+)
Published by Egmont Books Limited
Waiting for Anya
In the remote village in the Pyrenees friendship and trust are the keys to survival. Jo honours a promise he makes to a stranger and is drawn into the dangerous network that helps Jews escape over the nearby frontier into Spain. (10+)
Published by Egmont Books Limited
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[ Windows Media Clip 1- Kensuke's Kingdom ]
[ Windows Media Clip 2- Often I write about being alone ]
[ Windows Media Clip 3- The connection between us and animals fascinates me ]
[ Windows Media Clip 4- I didn't like reading ]
