Book Info
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Paperback92 pages
Author's Website
www.michaelmorpurgo.com/Author's Facebook Latest
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Illustrated By
Michael ForemanPublisher
Templar PublishingSuitable for Ages
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Publication date
24th February 2012ISBN
9781848773202Publisher Profile
Templar is one of the world’s most respected publishers of children’s fiction, novelty and picture books. Templar is based in Dorking in Surrey, and was founded in 1978 by Amanda Wood, the current Creative Director.
In 2008 Templar was named Independent Publisher’s Guild as UK Children’s Publisher of the Year and Independent Publisher of the Year. Later that same year Bonnier Publishing acquired Templar. Templar books are sold in over 25 languages in more than 50 countries and the company has a reputation for innovation and creativity.
The Templar Treasures - Templar creates books that will be treasured by children of all ages. Its picture book list is one of the most respected in the business, including best-sellers such as The Pirates Next Door by Jonny Duddle and award-winners like Greenaway Medal-winner FArTHER by Grahame Baker-Smith. Puppet books such as Calm Down Boris! and Snuggle Bunny have sold hundreds of thousands of copies.
In February 2010 the list was expanded to include fiction, and Templar Fiction now publish a wide range of titles for young readers and teenagers. These include the critically acclaimed VIII by H.M. Castor and the hilarious illustrated adventures of Stinky in the My Hamster is a Genius series.
In 2013, Templar celebrates the tenth anniversary of its most famous brand: Ology World. Since the release of Dragonology in 2003, over 16 million Ology books have been sold and an extensive licensing programme including toys, board games, apps and a movie has developed.
Templar also has a number of imprints including:
Amazing Baby is the award-winning imprint creating books for parents and babies to share. The series is all about having fun as parent and child read, play, explore and learn together. The Amazing Baby brand encompasses board books, cloth books and flashcards that help baby learn; toys and merchandise inspired by the books; and even books that parents can customise themselves.
Brubaker, Ford & Friends - With a wide range of best-selling authors, illustrators and exciting new talent, Brubaker, Ford & Friends offers inspiring picture books to encourage happy lifelong readers. The list includes I Spy with My Little Eye by Edward Gibbs, the lovable Olive and the Big Secret by Tor Freeman and the latest title from Sam McBratney (author of Guess How Much I Love You).
Pippbrook Books - Launched in March 2013 in the UK. This imprint will introduce some of Templar's best-loved authors and illustrators to a new audience through a range of products tailor-made for the gift and commercial market. Offering value for money, these fresh and exciting gift, novelty and picture books are designed to encourage interactive play and learning in young children.
Big Picture Press is the newest Templar imprint and will launch in September 2013. It features highly illustrated, artist-led books with an international flavour – titles that celebrate the book as an object. The list features Nina’s Book of Little Things, an activity book by the iconic artist Keith Haring, and Walk This World by Finnish designer and illustrator Lotta Niemenen.
Publisher's Website
www.templarco.co.uk/ 
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Not Bad for a Bad Lad
Written by: Michael Morpurgo
Illustrated by: Michael Foreman
This title is in stock
Lovereading4kids Price: £4.49
RRP: £5.99 Saving £1.50 (25%)
Julia Eccleshare's comment:
If you loved War Horse, you'll love this...
This wonderful story was inspired by a conversation that Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman had about a prison at Hollesley Bay in Suffolk that Michael Foreman remembered from growing up nearby. Into this Michael Morpurgo weaves his story of how the relationship between a man – who starts work in the prison stable - and a horse can change a life forever, when you show someone how to follow their dreams.
Master storyteller and former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo tells a heart-warming story of how a bad lad becomes a good lad as a result of being treated well and finding something to be good at and to love. A grandpa tells his life story evocatively capturing the changes that came over him when he was given the chance to take care of horses that he loved and cherished. Michael Foreman’s stunning illustrations capture the mood of the story perfectly.
A message from Philippa Perry who works at the publisher:
'Of the 20 or so books the two Michaels have written and illustrated together, I think this is truly one of the best and I heartily recommend it.'
Who is Julia Eccleshare ?
Synopsis
Not Bad for a Bad Lad by Michael MorpurgoThis is the wonderfully moving story of redemption from one of the greatest living children's writers Micheal Morpurgo and featuring stunning illustrations from three-time Greenaway Medal winner Michael Foreman. When a young boy gets a reputation for being naughty at school, he reacts by being the bad lad that everyone expects. Leaving school at fourteen, he becomes a thief and eventually ends up in Hollesley Prison. But Mr Alfie, the stable manager, decides to give the boy a chance, letting him look after the horses.
From the author of best-selling War Horse, comes another powerful story featuring a horse and a boy. Also includes a fact-packed historical section.
Reviews
"A classic collaboration and a tale of redemption." Fiona Noble, The Bookseller
“… the message is that youngsters need to feel good about themselves." Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times
"This is a beautiful book, from cover to cover, and a beautiful story too. …" Armadillo Magazine
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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