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Synopsis

The Birthday Book by Michael Morpurgo

An anthology of stories, poems, fiction and non-fiction extracts of children's literature that is specially chosen around the theme of birthdays. It includes such authors as Lewis Carroll, Anthony Horowitz, J K Rowling, Axel Scheffler, Nick Sharratt, Posy Simmonds, Joel Stewart, Noel Streatfeild, Eleanor Updale and Charlotte Voake.

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Reviews

This is an expectional collection, with especially fine contributions ... Superbly presented, with the quirky genius of Blake everywhere -- Amanda Craig
The Times
Many well-loved artists and writers have created all sorts of birthdays - magical, adventurous, mysterious, poetic, joyful and inspiring - just like real life. All royalties from this book go straight to support children who need it most - so buy a copy, enjoy reading and rereading it and feel good to have helped others less fortunate Carousel 20081101 A beautifully put together collection -- Charlie Higson
Mail on Sunday
A timeless treasure Irish Examiner 20090103 A great way to introduce children to some of the classics
Junior

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About The Author

Michael Morpurgo was our Guest Editor in June 2010. Click here to see the books that inspired his writing, or scroll down to see books written by Michael.

You can also read about his life in a new biography, War Child to War Horse, to which he has contributed seven stories - click here. 

Michael Morpurgo has written over one hundred books and won many awards. In 1976 Michael and his wife Clare started the charity Farms For City Children, which aims to relieve the poverty of experience of young children from inner city and urban areas. In 1999 they were awarded the MBE for their work in creating these farms and in 2006 Michael received an OBE.

His novel War Horse has been adapted into a hugely successful and critically acclaimed West End play and a film directed by Steven Spielberg. Michael is a tireless champion for children’s books and was formerly the Children’s Laureate. Loved by children, teachers and parents alike, Michael Morpurgo has 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. 

Anthony Horowitz on Michael Morpurgo:

'Michael Morpurgo is the most solid, classical of children's authors. He sits outside the series-driven blockbusters so beloved of publishers nowadays: he hasn't created a Harry Potter or an Alex Rider – and I admire him for resisting that. We are opposite sides of the same coin and, although his work has never influenced mine, I admire the eloquent, considered voice of his best books. He has an unerring moral compass – his schoolteacher past has never quite left him – and books such as War Horse and The Butterfly Lion have a strong social concience and an honesty that makes them universal.' (The Guardian)

Why not CLICK HERE to take a peek at Michael’s 10 Rules for Writing.

or Click here to read a Q&A with the author from top children's publisher Egmont.

Michael is the inaugural President of the Historical Writers Association starting from Autumn 2011. The Historical Writers' Association (www.thehwa.co.uk) will celebrate its first anniversary in October.  It was founded to bring social and professional support to writers of historical fiction and non-fiction, publishers, agents and booksellers, all bound both by their common interest in historical books and by the sense of community that comes from a shared obsession.

Since its creation, the Historical Writers' Association has launched the first Festival of Historical Writing in association with English Heritage as part of their Festival of History at Kelmarsh in Northamptonshire. In September 2012, a partnership was announced with Goldsboro Books to launch a new literary prize, the HWA/Goldsboro Crown for Debut Historical Fiction. Click here  to download the 2012 Shortlist.

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