Shortlisted for The English Association Picture Book Awards 2020! Noko the porcupine is very hungry. On arriving at a village, he asks the other animals for some food and shelter. But, despite their full bellies, all the animals say they have nothing to spare. Never mind: he'll just have to make do and cook a pot of soup from the quills off his back - a soup so tasty even the king likes it. Once the villagers hear of his plan they offer just enough ingredients to make a soup worthy of them all... This African version of Stone Soup celebrates generosity and kindness - and the message that we can all benefit if we share our resources.
Alan Durant is the author of books for a wide age-range, from picture books such as Burger Boy to top-end teenage thrillers. He also writes prize-winning poetry.
He was born in Surrey, went to Trinity School in Croydon and then to Keble College, Oxford to read English. Having worked as a copywriter at Walker Books, he is now a full-time author. He’s married, with three children and lives just outside London. He does a lot of school visits throughout the UK and abroad and also runs writing workshops.
In 2007 he won the Portsmouth Children's Picture Book Award for Burger Boy and the Stockport Children's Book Award for Football Fever. He has won the Kingston Borough/Waterstone's Poetry Prize on two occasions. In 2008 he won The Royal Mail Award for Scottish Children's Books for Billy Monster's Daymare which also won the 2009 Portsmouth Children's Book Award.
