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Michael Foreman was our Guest Editor in March 2010 - click here - to see the books that inspired his writing.
Michael Foreman was born in Suffolk in 1938, and studied at Lowestoft School of Art, St Martin’s, London, and the Royal College of Art, where he won a scholarship to the USA in 1963. He has worked as an Art Director at Playboy and King magazines and still works as Art Editor of the literary journal Ambit.
He has also made animated films in Scandinavia and for the BBC. His first book, The General, (a picture book published in 1961), dealt with disarmament and received rave reviews. Since then he has illustrated more than thirty of his own books and over a hundred by authors as varied as Shakespeare, J.M. Barrie, the Brothers Grimm and former Python, Terry Jones. He has established a reputation as one of the world’s leading illustrators and has won numerous prizes including the Smarties Prize, the Kate Greenaway Medal (twice), the Francis Williams Prize (twice) and the Aigle d’Argent at the Festival International du Livre in France. Michael is married and has three sons.
He spends most of his time in London, but regularly visits St Ives, Cornwall, where he owns the painter Ben Nicholson’s old house.
Click Here to download alot more information about Micheal and his books.
From multi-award winning picture book creator Michael Foreman. From sunrise to sunset, breakfast time to playtime, time to go to the beach, bedtime, story time and - finally - sweet dreams time: Michael Foreman celebrates every wonderful moment of a day spent together as a family, creating special memories to treaure for ever.
From one of the nation's favourite storytellers comes this beautifully presented and poetic celebration of our Queen. Inspired by our longest serving monarch, Morpurgo shares how he wanted to celebrate her "constant and reassuring presence in a rapidly changing and unsettling world". Created to tie in with the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June 2022 and accompanied by Michael Foreman's beautiful watercolour illustrations, this book follows Elizabeth's story and brings her incredible reign to life for readers big and small. A perfect gift book and commemoration of the Jubilee, this will be a treasured keepsake for years to come and a great addition to any bookshelf.
September 2020 Book of the Month | This sparkling adventure melds life as a young refugee with literary lore. The warm magic of Omar’s Lilliputian sojourn will captivate young readers, while his experience as a refugee will surely inspire compassion and empathy - deeply vital for our times. Known as Tiny in his rural village, Omar’s life is overturned when war breaks out and an air strike kills his dad and many friends. When his sister goes missing, Omar and his mum move to a refugee camp. But it’s not long before Mum decides it would be safer to join a group of sea-bound refugees. They walk for a year and reach the coast, but Omar’s mum only has enough money to pay for one passage. So, armed only with the address of his Uncle Said in England, Omar boards the overcrowded boat. When it sinks, he wakes to find himself on an island populated by tiny people. The warm welcome of the Lilliputians serves as a powerful allegory. They “spoke with their hearts” and make Omar feel like he belongs as he learns their language, their history, their culture. But worried his mum might be waiting for him in England, Omar sets off again, with hope in his heart and special companions aboard his new boat. Shot-through with a powerful message about offering help and hope to those in need, this is classic Morpurgo, with wonderfully warm illustrations by Michael Foreman. Read more about Michael Morpurgo, our Guest Editor for September 2020, here.
A cheeky, free-wheeling young monkey is the star of Michael Foreman’s new picturebook, which bursts with energy and fun. Milo is determined mot to miss the cycle race as it comes through his town and has no idea of the devastation he leaves behind him as he races to the finishing line – most of it caused by the banana skin he casually chucks over his shoulder as he starts his pell-mell progress. Children will love the scenes of chaos, and the wonderful way in which Milo’s repeated ‘I didn’t do it!’ becomes a triumphant ‘I did it!’ via a surprise ending. Beautiful to look at, simple to read, and it neatly delivers a very satisfying story too. Hear, hear for Milo!
Michael Foreman’s dazzling watercolours bring the beauty of the natural world into readers’ hands in this outstanding picture book, reminding us all how precious our planet is, and how we need to care for it. A little girl watches the sun rise and then the moon as it follows, and thinks of all the creatures under the sky. With her brother, she explores the seashore and together they create a mini-world in a rockpool. This shows them just how fragile nature is, and the threat it faces from pollution. Together brother and sister clean the pool and determine to ask other children to help. First published thirty years ago, One World is recognised as a classic, and its message is even more important today. A beautiful, inspiring and timely book.
A moving historical story inspired by the Foundling Museum, written by acclaimed children's author Michael Morpurgo and illustrated by Michael Foreman. From award-winning master storyteller Michael Morpurgo, author of the acclaimed War Horse, comes a moving historical story inspired by the Foundling Museum.
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month October 2018 | | Based on the true American story from World War One the atmospheric illustrations and simple text of Stubby gives a moving insight into the horrors of the war as seen through the story of the exceptional contribution of a stray dog. When Stubby, a little dog with no home of his own, wanders into an army training camp he quickly becomes a much loved mascot for the young soldiers. Taken overseas to the battlefields, he shows incredible bravery and loyalty, including barking a warning to the soldiers when he can smell the deadly poisonous gas and alerting his soldiers to the presence of enemies. When peace is declared, Stubby is given his very own special coat with medals on it as a reward for his courage. On his return to the US with his soldiers friends Stubby is even taken to the White House to meet the President.
A new illustrated story celebrating the poppy's history. Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman have teamed up with the Royal British Legion to tell an original story that explains the meaning behind the poppy.In Flanders' fields, young Martens knows his family's story, for it is as precious as the faded poem hanging in their home. From a poor girl comforting a grieving soldier, to an unexpected meeting of strangers, to a father's tragic death many decades after treaties were signed, war has shaped Martens's family in profound ways - it is their history as much as any nation's. They remember. They grieve. They honour the past. This book also includes a full-colour, illustrated afterword that explains the history that inspired the story.
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month May 2018 | | Award-winning illustrator Michael Foreman’s own love of football suffuses this story which perfectly captures the thrill all footballers have of scoring the winning goal. As the new boy in a small local team a young boy dreams that one day he will be out on the pitch and will the strike the winning goal at the World Goal. Full of action and detail, Michael Foreman’s illustrations capture how his youthful dreams and reality merge to create a classic football story.
The future of the world is in our children’s hands says this beautiful and sensitive picture book. ‘Let’s be doctors’ say two little children in front of a dressing up box. In their white coats they meet their first patient, the world, and he’s really not very well: too hot and sweaty, choked up with smoke and fumes. The children encourage him to think of the future, and to consider all the wonderful things he has, and they agree to look after him. The message is gently delivered in a way that will make children aware of their responsibility, but also their power to change things. Michael Foreman’s illustrations are eloquent as always, and glow with warmth and colour.
A moving historical story inspired by the Foundling Museum, written by acclaimed children's author Michael Morpurgo and illustrated by Michael Foreman. From award-winning master storyteller Michael Morpurgo, author of the acclaimed War Horse, comes a moving historical story inspired by the Foundling Museum. A lonely boy struggles to cope with school bullies and caring for his mother, until a mysterious encounter reveals life in the Foundling Hospital in the eighteenth century and unravels a touching tale about the power of music. Beautifully illustrated by Kate Greenaway Medal-winning illustrator Michael Foreman.
Award-winning former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo gives all those who love his books a fascinating behind-the-scenes introduction to how he came to write twenty of them. While each story and the inspiration for it is very different, the simple and attractive format of the book makes a brilliant and coherent whole. Morpurgo describes the way each of the stories came to him in a brief essay he calls ‘The Dream’ he then includes an telling extract from the original story each of which has been carefully chosen by his wife Clare Morpurgo. The origins of the stories range from meeting two soldiers who had fought in World War One in his home village in Devon which gave him the idea for his bestselling War Horse to the very different setting – The Savoy Hotel, London – for his inspiration for Kaspar: Prince of Cats. Other favourite Morpurgo stories he includes are The Butterfly Lion, Kensuke’s Kingdom, The Mozart Question, Shadow and Out of the Ashes. Michael Foreman, who has illustrated so many of Michael Morpurgo’s books, has added wonderful new illustrations for his volume. An inspiring and invaluable book for all budding writers. ~ Julia Eccleshare One of our Books of the Year 2016
Award-winning author/illustrator Michael Foreman brilliantly releases everyone’s favourite characters from a story and turns them into a powerful new army which can stop the building of a new superstore and so save a very special bookshop. Led by Origami Girl, Puss in Boots, Alice and the White Rabbit, the Tin Man and Toad of Toad Hall storm the Houses of Parliament to persuade them to stop plans. When that doesn’t work, Origami Girl calls up reinforcements and soon Robin Hood, Long John Silver, Elmer the Patchwork Elephant and the Little Princess are squaring up to the bulldozers and diggers on the building site. Can the Origami army win? Michael Foreman celebrates the power of favourite characters to win over hearts and minds! ~ Julia Eccleshare
Award-winning Michael Morpurgo weaves a charming and witty story around sport and history as they have come together in the recent twin triumphs of the City of Leicester with the discovery of the remains of King Richard III in a car park and Leicester City football club winning the 2016 Premier League. The link between the two? A family of foxes! When Daddy Fox finds the ghost of the king and helps to release him from an unseemly grave he is granted one royal wish. What will it be? As a mad-keen footballing family the Foxes have one over-riding wish; that Leicester City can go top of the League. Can the King do it? You bet he can! Michael Foreman captures the spirit of this entertaining adventure perfectly.
The future of the world is in our children’s hands says this beautiful and sensitive picture book. ‘Let’s be doctors’ say two little children in front of a dressing up box. In their white coats they meet their first patient, the world, and he’s really not very well: too hot and sweaty, choked up with smoke and fumes. The children encourage him to think of the future, and to consider all the wonderful things he has, and they agree to look after him. The message is gently delivered in a way that will make children aware of their responsibility, but also their power to change things. Michael Foreman’s illustrations are eloquent as always, and glow with warmth and colour. ~ Andrea Reece
Tufty the little duck grows up in the grounds of Buckingham Palace (his parents are very fond of the Royal Duck and Duckess (sic) who give the ducks their breakfast!). When winter comes, the duck family flies south but little Tufty gets lost as they navigate the city and is found by a homeless man who looks after him in in his den in a chestnut tree until it’s spring again. Tufty goes home but, when he falls in love, takes his new partner back to live with his old friend in the woods. Michael Foreman’s delicate pencil and watercolour illustrations make the grounds of Buckingham Palace, the glass towers of the city and the rich colours of the chestnut woods glow as brightly as Tufty’s feathers, and he fills this little story with drama and heart. ~ Andrea Reece
Michael Foreman was inspired to create his new picture book on a visit to the Dubai Book Fair, and Jamal the little camel’s journey ends in the shining towers and bright colourful market places of the city. But it begins in the desert as Jamal walks, walks, walks behind his mother and father and their Bedouin owners across the golden sand. There’s drama when a sandstorm blows up and he’s separated from the party, only to be found and saved by the falcon we spotted earlier on the traveller’s fist. This is a book rich in the sights and sensations of a faraway land, beautifully depicted in Michael Foreman’s glorious watercolours. Little Jamal is an irresistible character too, inviting the reader into his world from the first page.
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | A Julia Eccleshare Book of the Month October 2016 Award-winning Michael Morpurgo weaves a charming and witty story around sport and history as they have come together in the recent twin triumphs of the City of Leicester with the discovery of the remains of King Richard III in a car park and Leicester City football club winning the 2016 Premier League. The link between the two? A family of foxes! When Daddy Fox finds the ghost of the king and helps to release him from an unseemly grave he is granted one royal wish. What will it be? As a mad-keen footballing family the Foxes have one over-riding wish; that Leicester City can go top of the League. Can the King do it? You bet he can! Michael Foreman captures the spirit of this entertaining adventure perfectly. ~ Julia Eccleshare Nick Lake at HarperCollins Children’s Books said “Michael is the master, and The Fox and the Ghost King has all the hallmarks of his inimitable storytelling: it’s a ghost story, a fairy tale, and a classic animal adventure, all rolled into one timeless magic spell” Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for October 2016 Kim by Rudyard Kipling The Fox and the Ghost King by Michael Morpurgo Coming to England by Floella Benjamin Winnie and Wilbur Meet Santa by Valerie Thomas A Piglet Called Truffle by Helen Peters Owl Bat Bat Owl by Marie Louise Fitzpatrick We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen Leafy the Pet Leaf by Philip Ardagh The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher
Michael Foreman’s gentle story of an African boy making friends in a big city is filled with love and hope, and a sense that the power to make the world a better place is in our hands. Adam loves his new home but misses the faraway place where he used to live, so draws bright pictures of African animals and pins them to the wall. When it snows, he builds snow hippos, lions and an elephant, other children coming to help, and then when he starts school he and his new friends transform the landscape again, this time by planting flowers. A final beautiful image shows every balcony, pavement and roof in the grey city bristling with plants and greenery. The words are almost superfluous, Foreman’s watercolour images tell the story so beautifully. ~ Andrea Reece
Winner of the Children's Book Award 2017 - Overall Winner and Winner in the Books for Younger Readers Category | November 2016 Book of the Month | A ‘what if’ story based on a true life events, full of descriptions of heroism and selflessness: for any good writer this would make excellent material for a book, but in Michael Morpurgo’s hands, it’s pure gold. Barney is leaving Coventry for Cornwall with his mum after their house has been destroyed in the Blitz. There’s no escape from Hitler however, and their train is attacked by a Messerschmitt forcing it to stop in a tunnel for safety. It’s pitch-black and Barney is scared of the dark. To distract him, the other passenger in the carriage tells him about his best friend, Billy Byron, famous in the First World War as the most decorated private soldier. The story is an extraordinary one, we hear how Billy inadvertently changed the course of world history. Morpurgo’s skill as a storyteller is unparalleled, and the structure of the story suits it perfectly: an adult voice – one who was there – describing remarkable events to a child. Another wonderful piece of drama and history from one of our finest writers. One of our Books of the Year 2015
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | Julia Eccleshare's Book of the Month July 2016 Award-winning former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo gives all those who love his books a fascinating behind-the-scenes introduction to how he came to write twenty of them. While each story and the inspiration for it is very different, the simple and attractive format of the book makes a brilliant and coherent whole. Morpurgo describes the way each of the stories came to him in a brief essay he calls ‘The Dream’ he then includes an telling extract from the original story each of which has been carefully chosen by his wife Clare Morpurgo. The origins of the stories range from meeting two soldiers who had fought in World War One in his home village in Devon which gave him the idea for his bestselling War Horse to the very different setting – The Savoy Hotel, London – for his inspiration for Kaspar: Prince of Cats. Other favourite Morpurgo stories he includes are The Butterfly Lion, Kensuke’s Kingdom, The Mozart Question, Shadow and Out of the Ashes. Michael Foreman, who has illustrated so many of Michael Morpurgo’s books, has added wonderful new illustrations for his volume. An inspiring and invaluable book for all budding writers. ~ Julia Eccleshare Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for July 2016 Melric and the Crown by David McKee The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Chris Riddell Up, Up and Away by Tom McLaughlin Strange Star by Emma Carroll Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell Such Stuff: A Story-Maker's Inspiration by Michael Morpurgo
April 2013 Book of the Month | The fantastically brilliant and amazingly adventurous Saga of Erik the Viking by Terry Jones returns in this 30th anniversary edition with an exclusive foreword from Terry who is of course, most famous for his membership of the Monty Python team. It is a wonderful tale, expertly spun, which won the Children’s Book Award back in the 1980s and is fully illustrated throughout in colour by Michael Foreman. As Erik and the crew of the Golden Dragon set sail in search of adventure and to find out where the sun goes at night, little do they know that their courage, skill, strength and stamina will all be tested to the extremes. They must win through against storms, against the dogfighters, against giants and enchantments, face up to spirits and to trolls. Read it to find out whether they achieve their goal...
April 2013 Book of the Month | The fantastically brilliant and amazingly adventurous Saga of Erik the Viking by Terry Jones returns in this new edition with an exclusive foreword from Terry who is of course, most famous for his membership of the Monty Python team. It is a wonderful tale, expertly spun, which won the Children’s Book Award back in the 1980s and is fully illustrated throughout in colour by Michael Foreman. As Erik and the crew of the Golden Dragon set sail in search of adventure and to find out where the sun goes at night, little do they know that their courage, skill, strength and stamina will all be tested to the extremes. They must win through against storms, against the dogfighters, against giants and enchantments, face up to spirits and to trolls. Read it to find out whether they achieve their goal...
Tufty the little duck grows up in the grounds of Buckingham Palace (his parents are very fond of the Royal Duck and Duckess (sic) who give the ducks their breakfast!). When winter comes, the duck family flies south but little Tufty gets lost as they navigate the city and is found by a homeless man who looks after him in in his den in a chestnut tree until it’s spring again. Tufty goes home but, when he falls in love, takes his new partner back to live with his old friend in the woods. Michael Foreman’s delicate pencil and watercolour illustrations make the grounds of Buckingham Palace, the glass towers of the city and the rich colours of the chestnut woods glow as brightly as Tufty’s feathers, and he fills this little story with drama and heart. ~ Andrea Reece
Michael's parents buy a yacht, and take him off to sail round the world. Washed overboard in a fierce storm, Michael finds himself on the shore of a remote island - and soon discovers he's not alone. Kensuke, a former Japanese soldier, survived the war and the bombing of Hiroshima, but his family perished. As an extraordinary bond forms between the two, Kensuke faces a heart-breaking choice: can he give up the secluded life he's built for himself to help reunite Michael with his parents? Knowing the pain of losing his own family, Kensuke knows which way he has to decide... Reading this book will take you through every emotion you can think of, from great joy and laughter to utter sadness and loss. At its heart is a story of friendship that will live long in your mind long after and whilst reading it you will be utterly captivated.
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.' In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Not Bad for a Bad Lad a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'He was bad, he knew he was bad but when the grandfather is telling the story he always sees something positive about what and why it was happening.' Scroll down to read more...
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. ~ Julia Eccleshare 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.' In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Not Bad for a Bad Lad a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'He was bad, he knew he was bad but when the grandfather is telling the story he always sees something positive about what and why it was happening.' Scroll down to read more...
One of our Books of the Year 2015 - October 2015 Book of the Month A ‘what if’ story based on a true life events, full of descriptions of heroism and selflessness: for any good writer this would make excellent material for a book, but in Michael Morpurgo’s hands, it’s pure gold. Barney is leaving Coventry for Cornwall with his mum after their house has been destroyed in the Blitz. There’s no escape from Hitler however, and their train is attacked by a Messerschmitt forcing it to stop in a tunnel for safety. It’s pitch-black and Barney is scared of the dark. To distract him, the other passenger in the carriage tells him about his best friend, Billy Byron, famous in the First World War as the most decorated private soldier. The story is an extraordinary one, we hear how Billy inadvertently changed the course of world history. Morpurgo’s skill as a storyteller is unparalleled, and the structure of the story suits it perfectly: an adult voice – one who was there – describing remarkable events to a child. Another wonderful piece of drama and history from one of our finest writers. ~ Andrea Reece A note from Michael Morpurgo - "This book is dedicated to Private Henry Tandey VC. And this is why. Many of my stories have come from the lives of others, from truths, written or remembered, this one perhaps more than any other. Certainly had I not discovered, through Michael Foreman, the extraordinary story of the life and death of Walter Tull, the first black officer to serve in the British Army, I should never have written A Medal for Leroy. Had I not met an old soldier from the First World War who had been to that war with horses, in the cavalry, I should not have written War Horse. Had I not come across, in a museum in Ypres, an official letter from the army to the mother of a soldier at the front in that same war, informing her that her son had been shot at dawn for cowardice, I should never have told my story of Private Peaceful. It was a medal commemorating the sinking of the Lusitania by torpedo in 1915 with terrible loss of life, over a thousand souls, that compelled me to think of writing the story of a survivor, which I did in Listen to the Moon. I write fiction, but f iction with roots in history, in the people who made our history, who fought and often died in our wars. They were real people who lived and had their being in another time, often living and suffering through great and terrible dangers, facing these with unimaginable courage. My challenge as a story maker has been to imagine that courage, to live out in my mind’s eye, so far as I can, how it must have been for them. So when I was told by Dominic Crossley-Holland, history producer at the BBC, about the extraordinary life and times of Eagle Henry Tandey, the most decorated Private soldier of the First World War, I wanted to explore why he did what he did. This I have done, not by writing his biography. That had been done a lready. Rather I wanted to make his life the basis of a fictional story that takes his story beyond his story, and tries to explore the nature of courage, and the dilemma we might face when we discover that doing the right thing turns out to be the worst thing we have ever done. Because the life of Henry Tandey is so closely associated with this story, I thought it right to include the history so far as it is known, of his actual life. This you will find in the postscript at the end of the book." A Piece of Passion from the publisher Ann-Janine Murtagh: "An Eagle in the Snow is quintessentially Morpurgo in capturing a small moment in history and weaving it into a breathtaking, dramatic and moving story that will have readers gripped till the last page. Following on from the bestselling success of Listen to the Moon it speaks of an author who is writing at the very peak of his powers. Michael Morpurgo remains our nation's favourite storyteller - and his stories now reach out to children across the globe.
Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the Month, June 2015 Award-winning author/illustrator Michael Foreman brilliantly releases everyone’s favourite characters from a story and turns them into a powerful new army which can stop the building of a new superstore and so save a very special bookshop. Led by Origami Girl, Puss in Boots, Alice and the White Rabbit, the Tin Man and Toad of Toad Hall storm the Houses of Parliament to persuade them to stop plans. When that doesn’t work, Origami Girl calls up reinforcements and soon Robin Hood, Long John Silver, Elmer the Patchwork Elephant and the Little Princess are squaring up to the bulldozers and diggers on the building site. Can the Origami army win? Michael Foreman celebrates the power of favourite characters to win over hearts and minds! ~ Julia Eccleshare ......................................................... Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for June 2015 It's a Groovy World, Alfredo by Sean Taylor The Little Bookshop and the Origami Army by Michael Foreman Whistling in the Dark by Shirley Hughes The King's Shadow by Philip Womack
This is one of the most moving and eloquently written novels I've read in while. For any musically inclined child from 8 or so upwards then they, and indeed you, can't fail to be incredibly moved and gripped all at the same time as the story unfolds. In addition, any child who has a love of writing and yearns one day to be a journalist then this novel will give them that further boost of determination to get there. The Mozart Question will undoubtedly bring tears to your eyes and Michael Foreman's illustrations are a delight to behold. A note from the author It is difficult for us to imagine how dreadful was the suffering that went on in the Nazi concentration camps during the second World War. The enormity of the crime that the Nazis committed is just too overwhelming for us to comprehend. In their attempt to wipe out an entire race they caused the deaths of six million people, most of them Jews. It is when you hear the stories of the individuals who lived through it - Anne Frank, Primo Levi - that you begin to understand the horror just a little better, and to understand the evil that caused it. For me, the most haunting image does not come from literature or film, but from music. I learned some time ago that in many of the camps the Nazis selected Jwish prisoners and forced them to play in orchestras; for the musician it was simply a way to survive. In order to calm the new arrivals at the camps they were asked to serenade them as they were lined up and marched off, many to the gas chambers. Often they played Mozart. I wondered how it must have been for a musician who played in such hellish circumstances, who adored Mozart as I do - what thoughts came when playing Mozart later in life. This was the genesis of my story, this and the sight of a small boy in a square by the Accademia Bridge in Venice, sitting one night, in his pyjamas on his tricycle, listening to a busker. He sat totally enthralled by the music that semed to him, and to me, to be heavenly.
Award-winning picture book creator, Michael Foreman celebrates the love between a father and child in this endearing bedtime story from this twice Kate Greenaway Medal Winner. Little Bear takes dad on a journey around all his favourite things and adventures and tells his dad that he loves him more than all the toys in his toy box, more than all the flowers of summer and the snowflakes in winter as well as all the grains of sand on the beach. A wonderfully heart-warming tale that little bears will go back to time and time again with or without their dad!
Master storyteller Michael Morpurgo brings alive this famous story about Sir Gawain one of the bravest knights to sit at King Arthur’s Round Table. When the fearsome Green Knight arrives unbidden in the Hall of the great King Arthur, he puts out a challenge. He dares a knight to strike a blow at him with an axe and, in return, a year and a day later, the Green Knight will strike a return blow. King Arthur’s nephew Sir Gawain takes up the challenge. Striking the Green Knight a massive blow he severs his head from his shoulders. Nothing daunted, and holding his head in his hand, the terrifying Green Knight gallops away but not before he has reminded Gawain not to forget the second half of the bargain. How Sir Gawain pursues his quest is an adventure packed with action and romance. In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Came a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'It is very well written and the language used is also excellent. It has lots of wonderful magical bits to it.' Scroll down to read more reviews...
Artfully retold and magnificently illustrated, this companion volume to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is made instantly accessible to children by a formidable children's book partnership.
As relevant as when it was first published, Michael Foreman’s very first book is beautifully reissued in this edition. General Jodpur loves to train his soldiers making them the best fighting force in the world. But, one day, he discovers the beauty of the countryside and realises that saving the flowers and trees and creatures who live in them is more important than fighting. An important message delivered in striking pictures.
The fantastically brilliant and amazingly adventurous Saga of Erik the Viking by Terry Jones returns in this 30th anniversary edition with an exclusive foreword from Terry who is of course, most famous for his membership of the Monty Python team. It is a wonderful tale, expertly spun, which won the Children’s Book Award back in the 1980s and is fully illustrated throughout in colour by Michael Foreman. As Erik and the crew of the Golden Dragon set sail in search of adventure and to find out where the sun goes at night, little do they know that their courage, skill, strength and stamina will all be tested to the extremes. They must win through against storms, against the dogfighters, against giants and enchantments, face up to spirits and to trolls. Read it to find out whether they achieve their goal...
The fantastically brilliant and amazingly adventurous Saga of Erik the Viking by Terry Jones returns in this new edition with an exclusive foreword from Terry who is of course, most famous for his membership of the Monty Python team. It is a wonderful tale, expertly spun, which won the Children’s Book Award back in the 1980s and is fully illustrated throughout in colour by Michael Foreman. As Erik and the crew of the Golden Dragon set sail in search of adventure and to find out where the sun goes at night, little do they know that their courage, skill, strength and stamina will all be tested to the extremes. They must win through against storms, against the dogfighters, against giants and enchantments, face up to spirits and to trolls. Read it to find out whether they achieve their goal...
Michael Morpurgo brings alive the precarious way of life for creatures living in the very coldest reaches of the world. The first of two stories in this volume is a lyrical, dreamy tale of The Rainbow Bear capturing the power of the great polar bear and its vulnerability both in the wild and in captivity.....while Little Albatross tells of the dangers faced by a baby Albatross when it's parents go foraging for food. Michael Foreman’s illustrations bring the icy wastes of the landscapes into sharp focus whilst giving substance to the strong animal characters.
How a younger brother finds the skills he needs to match all the clever things his older brother does is magically resolved when Raffi goes up, up and away with an exceptional blue cat. It’s a dark, dark night when Raffi and the strange cat who appears in his bedroom take off into the night. Together, they light up everything around them – even the stars. Michael Foreman’s night time sky-scapes with their exceptional range of blues provide a perfect background and complimented by a lyrical story from the pen of a major talent in children's literature. It's fun.
A welcome return for a classic picture with a timeless message. Long Neck the Dinosaur lives alone in the forest with just the small animals around him as his friends. He is happy. But then Thunderfoot, a huge new dinosaur arrives. Long Neck hates the intrusion and is terrified by the size of the newcomer. A deadly battle ensues as the two dinosaurs fight for supremacy. How can they overcome their distrust and become friends? A wonderful story about tolerance, friendship and trust.
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.' In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Not Bad for a Bad Lad a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'He was bad, he knew he was bad but when the grandfather is telling the story he always sees something positive about what and why it was happening.' Scroll down to read more...
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. ~ Julia Eccleshare 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.' In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Not Bad for a Bad Lad a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'He was bad, he knew he was bad but when the grandfather is telling the story he always sees something positive about what and why it was happening.' Scroll down to read more...
Michael's parents buy a yacht, and take him off to sail round the world. Washed overboard in a fierce storm, Michael finds himself on the shore of a remote island - and soon discovers he's not alone. Kensuke, a former Japanese soldier, survived the war and the bombing of Hiroshima, but his family perished. As an extraordinary bond forms between the two, Kensuke faces a heart-breaking choice: can he give up the secluded life he's built for himself to help reunite Michael with his parents? Knowing the pain of losing his own family, Kensuke knows which way he has to decide... Reading this book will take you through every emotion you can think of, from great joy and laughter to utter sadness and loss. At its heart is a story of friendship that will live long in your mind long after and whilst reading it you will be utterly captivated.
Shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2011. A Lovereading4kids 'Great Read' you may have missed 2011 selection. From a dog being a doctor to an elephant wanting trousers, animals doing extraordinary things make this a wonderful collection of unusual stories. Terry Jones takes a kindly look – and a positive one – at all kinds of animal antics and Michael Foreman illustrates the whole collection perfectly capturing the jokes about the animals while retaining their dignity.
Perfect for reading aloud at bedtime – or any other time – these wonderful retellings of some of the lesser-known fairy stories taken from all over the world are full of gentle magic and enchantment retold with a light and humorous touch. A classic collection beautifully illustrated and handsomely produced.
Even more inventive and wondrous than the fairy stories, this classic anthology is a treasure trove of the unusual and the unexpected. Terry Jones revels in the crazy capers and madcap antics of humans and animals alike. Each story is vividly brought to life in Michael Foreman’s brilliant illustrations.
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.' In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Not Bad for a Bad Lad a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'He was bad, he knew he was bad but when the grandfather is telling the story he always sees something positive about what and why it was happening.' Scroll down to read the full review...
A Lovereading4kids 'Great Read' you may have missed 2011 selection. 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.' In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Not Bad for a Bad Lad a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'He was bad, he knew he was bad but when the grandfather is telling the story he always sees something positive about what and why it was happening.' Scroll down to read the full review...
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.' In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Not Bad for a Bad Lad a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'He was bad, he knew he was bad but when the grandfather is telling the story he always sees something positive about what and why it was happening.' Scroll down to read the full review...
A Lovereading4kids 'Great Read' you may have missed 2011 selection. 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.' In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Not Bad for a Bad Lad a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'He was bad, he knew he was bad but when the grandfather is telling the story he always sees something positive about what and why it was happening.' Scroll down to read the full review...
An awfully big adventure for the Littlest Dinosaur when a little walk turns into a night time drama. Alone in the middle of a big, dark forest the Littlest Dinosaur needs to be as brave as he can be. The he finds another little dinosaur, crying and afraid and he knows he has to get both of them to safety. Does he have the courage? A big-hearted and reassuring story about overcoming fear. Click here for the first title featuring the littlest dinosaur.
Lewis Carroll’s world favourite children’s classic, loved by generations for its limitless imagination, has been brought vividly to life by one of the UK’s most awe inspiring children’s book illustrators, Michael Foreman. Lewis Carroll’s make-believe world that’s full of humour, fun and invention is brilliantly captured in Michael Foreman’s superb illustrations. This is a must for the nursery bookshelf and one that will be hugely enjoyed by both parents and children alike.
This is a beautifully illustrated collectable edition of the classic children's story. It is illustrated by one of today's best-loved children's illustrators. It is a perfect addition to any child's home library.
A wonderfully emotional but heart-warming tale from the pen of one of the foremost writers for children. Brilliantly interwoven in historical fact at the time of the sinking of the Titanic is the story of Kaspar the Savoy cat, who we also discover is a survivor of the sinking of the Titanic. The story is utterly compelling and brought to life still further by some really dreamy illustrations by Michael Foreman. A story to read aloud during those cold wintry evenings as much as a story to cuddle up with alone. Wonderful.
Michael Foreman’s bright and beautiful illustrations vibrantly bring all the magical fun and adventure of Peter Pan’s world to life. His story and that of the Darling children has thrilled and delighted children for generations.
Michael Foreman’s stunning illustrations brilliantly capture the fast-paced action and drama of Stevenson’s classic, of high seas adventure, mysterious maps, peg-legged pirates and fabulous buried treasure that has sparked children’s imaginations for generations. How difficult it must have been for Foreman to select the parts of the story to illustrate !There’s even an absolutely brilliant Foreword to the book by Michael Morpurgo that imagines a meeting between Michael Foreman and the great Robert Louis Stevenson to discuss the illustrations you see within the covers! An added bit of brilliance to an already brilliant edition of a timeless classic.
Brilliantly capturing the thrill of scoring a winning goal whether at schoolboy or international level, this is a book for all aspiring footballers to dream over. Michael Foreman’s stunning and atmospheric illustrations evoke football in general and the magic of the goal scoring moment in particular.
A dramatic graphic novel adaptation of the epic Anglo-Saxon legend. Beowulf, the King of heroic epics gets a superb and lavish visual interpretation in this full-colour mixed-media gem. A story that has been told over the generations for more than a thousand years, Beowulf finds a true home in this graphic novel edition, which makes the heroic saga instantly accessible to younger readers. Graphic novels are growing in mainstream popularity,especially for encouraging reluctant readers. To view other Graphic novels featured on Lovereading4kids click here.
BOOK OF THE DAY - 19th NOVEMBER Artfully retold and magnificently illustrated, this companion volume to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is made instantly accessible to children by a formidable children's book partnership. In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Beowulf a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'Lots of adventure and alliteration...The pictures are really good too, I especially like the ones of the Death-Dragon.' Scroll down to read more reviews...
This is one of the most moving and eloquently written novels I've read in while. For any musically inclined child from 8 or so upwards then they, and indeed you, can't fail to be incredibly moved and gripped all at the same time as the story unfolds. In addition, any child who has a love of writing and yearns one day to be a journalist then this novel will give them that further boost of determination to get there. The Mozart Question will undoubtedly bring tears to your eyes and Michael Foreman's illustrations are a delight to behold. ------------------------------------------------- In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for The Mozart Question a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'Captivating you from the first turn of a page, and mesmerising you throughout, this book is likely to only last a few sittings.' Scroll down to read more reviews... Author's Note It is difficult for us to imagine how dreadful was the suffering that went on in the Nazi concentration camps during the second World War. The enormity of the crime that the Nazis committed is just too overwhelming for us to comprehend. In their attempt to wipe out an entire race they caused the deaths of six million people, most of them Jews. It is when you hear the stories of the individuals who lived through it - Anne Frank, Primo Levi - that you begin to understand the horror just a little better, and to understand the evil that caused it. For me, the most haunting image does not come from literature or film, but from music. I learned some time ago that in many of the camps the Nazis selected Jwish prisoners and forced them to play in orchestras; for the musician it was simply a way to survive. In order to calm the new arrivals at the camps they were asked to serenade them as they were lined up and marched off, many to the gas chambers. Often they played Mozart. I wondered how it must have been for a musician who played in such hellish circumstances, who adored Mozart as I do - what thoughts came when playing Mozart later in life. This was the genesis of my story, this and the sight of a small boy in a square by the Accademia Bridge in Venice, sitting one night, in his pyjamas on his tricycle, listening to a busker. He sat totally enthralled by the music that semed to him, and to me, to be heavenly.
Michael Foreman makes history such fun and this book in particular is so inspirational. It tells the story of life after World War Two as soldiers return to begin life back home with families who have been without them for so long and of course some families whose loved ones did not return. Reading this book will make the reader realise how lucky we all are and interspersed with the story you’ll find out a little of how it affected the author’s family as well through photographs and captions throughout.Other titles in this series of books set in, around and after the two world wars of the 20th century by Michael Foreman include War Game, War Boy, Farm Boy and Billy the Kid.
It was Christmas Day in the trenches in France during World War One and a remarkable football match took place. British and German soldiers put down their weapons and took up a game of football instead. For one day, the enemies are friends: they talk and play instead of fighting. But, the war isn’t over and next day they pick up their weapons and the lads from Suffolk are ordered to go over the top…An astonishing story beautifully told in words and pictures… LoveReading adds: Winner of the prestigious Smarties Prize, this unputdownable, yet at times harrowing story of a group of boys from Suffolk who sign up to fight in World War One is a classic. Written in memory of his Uncle who died during World War One this is probably the best children’s book for a youngster to read and begin to understand what his or her ancestors’ sacrificed their lives for to bring peace and prosperity to this country. It’s a masterpiece.
This is a book for every generation to share but in particular for a grandfather to share with his grandson for this is the story of Billy, a supremely talented footballer who at 19 was picked to play for one of the top clubs. But it was 1939 and his life changed at the start of World War Two. So here in Billy the Kid he tells his story but he intersperses it with a story about a group of youngsters who are playing football in the park; in the park he scored his first goal in over 70 years ago. Billy’s memories bring both joy and sadness to the book but first and foremost it’s a story for us all; to ensure we never forget the hardships his generation went through in order to bring future generations the country we now take for granted. With the most wonderful nostalgic illustrations by Michael Foreman it’s a moving and inspiring tale.
One of the most heart-warming stories you'll read around war, this is a classic Christmas story from the bestselling author/illustrator team of Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman.With the anniversary of WWI upon us this tells the story of one of the most poignant events, the Christmas Truce. Yet from this one event Michael spins an incredible story in which you will feel so drawn in by the characters created by Michael and because of that it will leave you, the reader, whateveryour age with goosebumps.
Michael Morpurgo has created a sweeping and dramatic story in the time of Bonnie Prince Charlie. This spellbinding tale is complemented perfectly by Michael Foreman's illustrations. Robbie McLeod and a wolf cub, both orphaned, venture far from their birthplace, a land of rebellious fighters and vicious redcoats. There is little constancy in Robbie's adventurous life, save for the companionship of his wolf. But when at last Robbie finds a place where he can peacefully make his home, he knows in his heart that the wolf must find his own natural home too...~ Julia Eccleshare
An inspiring tale from Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman celebrating the world's most iconic train, Flying Scotsman, and its greatest fan, a young girl named Iris. Iris knows everything there is to know about Flying Scotsman. Her dad is the famous train's driver, and nothing makes her prouder than seeing him at work. But each time Flying Scotsman pulls away, Iris wishes more than anything that she could be with her dad in the driver's cab. Then again, who's to stop her... Our cheeky train-enthusiast protagonist hops aboard Flying Scotsman as it travels from London to Edinburgh, breaking the speed record for steam locomotives on its way! And when Iris grows up, she's one of the first women to work on the railways during the Second World War. But will Iris ever achieve her dream of riding in the driver's cab of the greatest train in the world, like her dad? This charming story captures the adventurous spirit of the golden age of steam travel, while paying tribute to the amazing workers who drove the trains and kept the railways running. Warmly written and joyously illustrated, this book is the ultimate celebration of the great Flying Scotsman.
Named Children's Book of the Week by The Times! Inspired by a true family story, Michael Rosen presents an astonishing account of perseverance, love and hope in wartime. Beginning in 1939, young Solly in London exchanges letters with his teenaged cousin, Bernie, in Poland. While Solly is evacuated and tries his best to adjust to life in the English countryside, Bernie's parents know that as Jews they're not safe staying in Warsaw, so they send Bernie to the Russian-occupied side of the country in the hope that he'll be safer there. Soon, though, he is arrested and sent off to a forced labour camp in Russia. As the cousins exchange sporadic letters, they try to keep their spirits up, trading jokes and observations about the world changing all around them. Then Bernie seizes the opportunity to join the Anders Army and fight the Axis powers, and tells Solly all about his experiences in Iraq and eventually Italy, where he fights alongside the British at the famous Battle of Monte Cassino. Does Bernie survive and find a safe place to call home? With breathtaking illustrations by beloved illustrator Michael Foreman, this is an unforgettable story of courage and love, perfect for the whole family to share. Michael Rosen is one of the best-known figures in the children's book world, known for his work as poet and author of classic books such as WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT. This book is a perfect companion to POPPY FIELD by Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman. Together, the books are a wonderful introduction to the history of the great wars of the 20th century and the importance of Remembrance.
Discover this spellbinding story from former Children's Laureate and author of War Horse Michael Morpurgo, and illustrated by multi-award-winning Michael Foreman. Jim lives in a Cornish fishing village - but since the fish disappeared, no one goes fishing any more. One day, Jim spots a dolphin beached on the sand, and soon the whole village is working together to return the dolphin to the water. The dolphin stays in the harbour, playing with Jim and the swimmers, but then the dolphin disappears... will Jim ever see him again?
Nothing strikes strength, courage, and valour into the heart like tales of Arthurian legend. Morpurgo does very well again to get that sense of magical mysticism into the story of the Knights of the Round Table. Will be enjoyed particularly by boys and girls will a sense of adventure.
Join Michael Foreman on an incredible journey around the globe. His prolific career as an illustrator has taken him through war-torn Vietnam to the vast forests of Siberia, from Mao's China to Japan, the Arctic to the South Seas and from the top of the world to the bottom of the ocean. Armed with a pencil and watercolours, Michael's signature style captured the sights and sounds of all he encountered. These are his incredible memoirs.
Thumbelina may only be the size of a thumb, but she is brimful of kindness and good nature. Stolen away in the middle of the night, she is forced to take refuge wherever she can find it. Slimy toads, mice and moles all offer her shelter, but it isn't always comfortable. Will she ever find a place that she can truly call her home? Enchanting storytelling and illustrations capture the magic of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale. TreeTops Greatest Stories offers children some of the worlds best-loved tales in a collection of timeless classics. Top children's authors and talented illustrators work together to bring to life our literary heritage for a new generation, engaging and delighting children. The books are carefully levelled, making it easy to match every child to the right book. Each book contains inside cover notes to help children explore the content, supporting their reading development. Teaching notes on Oxford Owl offer cross-curricular links and activities to support guided reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Get to know these rare and beautiful birds in this warmly illustrated non-fiction picture book. The little girl in this book has never seen a barn owl, but one day her grandpa puts a nest-box high in the old oak tree. They wait and they wait until one spring night, just as the sky goes pink, a pale face looks out of it, then takes off towards them...
A beautiful new edition of the timeless classic featuring the Kate Greenaway Award nominated illustrations of Michael Foreman, one of today's best-loved artists. This is a gift book to be enjoyed by families year after year and a great addition to any child's home library. Without a doubt one of the greatest achievements in children's literature, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland introduces children to a whole world of humour, fun and invention. Featuring more iconic characters and locations than any other children's story, Alice's world introduces today's children to the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, the evil Queen of Hearts, the tea party and, of course, the rabbit hole that starts it all. Michael Foreman's watercolours beautifully capture the world of Wonderland in all of its breathtaking glory. The Illustrator Michael Foreman's numerous books for children have earned him widespread recognition as one of the world's leading illustrators. He has worked on a vast range of children's books, and has collaborated with Terry Jones on all of his books for children. He also writes and illustrates his own books, including War Boy and War Game - winners of the Kate Greenaway Award and Smarties Book Prize respectively - and After the War was Over. Also he has illustrated The Knight and the Squire and The Lady and the Squire, as well as the classic stories Peter Pan and Wendy and The Wind in the Willows. Michael lives in London and St Ives.
When Cat is accidentally whisked away in a fish van, her kittens find themselves all alone. Left to fend for themselves they don't know how to survive, until an unlikely new friend comes along... an old dog who looks after them until mum returns.
Could a pair of socks help the Two Giants become friends again? Enthralling, warm-hearted and funny, this story about the transformative power of friendship is told by one of the world's leading author-illustrators, Michael Foreman. Two giants live in a part of the world where everything is perfect and they are the best of friends ... until they quarrel, that is. Then their beautiful world becomes dark and miserable. What will it take for them to become friends again? Could it be something to do with their prized socks? Originally published in 1967, this wonderful story returns in a beautiful new edition, with stunning artwork that has stood the test of time.
A powerful fable about friendship transforming the world from the award-winning and internationally best-selling illustrator Michael Foreman. A powerful and beautifully illustrated fable about friendship from the internationally-acclaimed and award-winning illustrator Michael Foreman, who is best known for classics like War Boy and for illustrating Michael Morpurgo's stories. In this moving story, Adam feels alone in his strange, new city. He misses the colours and friendships of his faraway home. But when a teacher at school gives him a few seeds, she plants an idea in him - an idea that could transform his grey world for ever.
Cats and dogs fight, don’t they? Not in this touching story by award-winning Michael Foreman. When a mother cat gets swept off in the fish van her three little kittens worry about how they will manage on their own. But kind dog looks after them making sure they are warm and dry and well-fed. When the cat returns, her kittens tell her how good dog has been to them and a new family takes shape. Soon they are all off on a new adventure.
This splendid collection of best-loved stories from Hans Christian Andersen includes 'The Little Mermaid', 'The Ugly Duckling' and 'The Steadfast Tin Soldier'. Michael Foreman's haunting colour illustrations are charged with Andersen's essential magic, making this a must-have classic for any child's bookshelf.
'In those empty chairs you see about the Round Table, there once sat a company of knights, the finest, bravest men the world has ever seen. And they were my friends too. I'll tell you about them...' Marooned on a sandbank, a boy faces certain death. With the sea closing in and the current about to drag him to a watery grave, his final wish is to see heaven. Waking in a strange bed, the boy meets an old man sitting by the fire with his dog. It is Arthur, the great warrior king of legend, and from his lips the boy hears of Camelot, chivalry, magic, evil and betrayal. This extraordinary re-telling o the stories of the legendary King Arthur and his knights features stunning full colour illustrations from award-winning illustrator Michael Foreman.
A powerful folktale about a lonely giant who lives by a beautiful lake. When he saves a girl from drowning, the giant finds the love and courage to save the lake from destruction. On a small island way out in the middle of a silver lake there once lived a sad young man. He was sad because he had grown up into a giant of a man, very big, very strong and very frightening. Because of this, no one liked to go near him. So his only friends were the wild creatures that lived all around him. Then one day, he saves a girl from drowning, a girl in a wide-brimmed straw hat. Little does he know how she is going to change his life forever. Michael Morpurgo draws on traditional storytelling to weave a tale of extraordinary relevance to our own world today. A story of compassion, and love, and a simple belief in the healing powers of nature.
As Erik and the crew of The Golden Dragon set off in search of adventure, little do they know that their courage, skill, strength and stamina will all be tested to the extremes... Includes an exclusive foreword from Monty Python's Terry Jones and newly coloured illustrations from Michael Foreman. Scan here for the exclusive video: Age range: 8+
Billy's no kid - he's eighty today. He's enjoying watching the boys in the park knock a football around and this afternoon he'll be cheering on his team, Chelsea, as he has done all his life. In 1939 Billy was picked for Chelsea. Not quite nineteen, and his dreams had come true: 'Billy! Billy the Kid!' they shouted as he scored goal after goal. Surely life could get no better. But in 1939 too, the Second World War began and Billy's life was never to be the same again. Through the story of 'Billy the Kid', Michael Morpurgo reaches across the generations and with Michael Foreman's nostalgically vivid illustrations, creates a life with a past that will be moving and inspiring for young and old alike
A magical mermaid picture book, based on a classic Cornish story. On the rugged Cornish coast, where the land meets the sea, lies the village of Zennor. Here, there are stories and whispers of a villager capturing the heart of a mysterious and beautiful stranger from the sea ... a mermaid! From a landscape rich with myth and magic comes this classic folk tale. With beautiful watercolour illustrations from award-winning artist Michael Foreman. 'A simple, magical story which enters your heart and stays there.' Books For Keeps
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. It turns out that his skill with horses saves him from a life of crime: on leaving prison, he manages to get a job working with horses in the army, and eventually achieves his dream of becoming a drum major.
Three deftly spun, emotionally resonant stories with the feel of time-honoured fables but the freshness of a contemporary voice. When Tashi's mother falls ill and is unable to work, Tashi looks to the monkeys on a Himalayan tea plantation for help... Yazul and his clan, trapped inside their desert fortress by bandits, are saved from starvation by fiercesome dragon kites... Issa, the old mountain guide, has his life turned upside down when he stumbles upon a camel sheltering a baby girl in a desert storm...
Suffice to say the reading of this book will take you the reader through every emotion you can think of, from great joy and laughter to utter sadness and loss. At its heart is a story of friendship that will live long in your mind long after its finished and whilst reading it you will be utterly captivated. This edition has some absolutely stunning colour illustrations throughout. ------------------------------------------------- In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Kensuke's Kingdom a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'Kensuke's Kingdom is very atmospheric and you can imagine yourself on the island along with Michael, Stella and Kensuke. I would recommend this story to all readers either to read alone or together.' Scroll down to read more reviews...
Master storyteller Michael Foreman has created a timely and moving story of a child creating a garden of hope in the midst of poverty and war. Master storyteller Michael Foreman has created a timely and moving story of a child creating a garden of hope in the midst of poverty and war. A boy's world is ruin and rubble, with a wire fence and soldiers separating him from the cool hills where his father used to take him as a small child. Can a tiny, green plant shoot give him hope in a bleak landscape?
A recommendation from our Guest Editor, September 2020, Michael Morpurgo, MBE | I think this was Michael Foreman’s first book, written and illustrated by him. Written under the threat of the Cold War, it is a powerful and compelling plea for peace, as important today as it ever was. - Michael Morpurgo As relevant as when it was first published, Michael Foreman’s very first book is beautifully reissued in this 50th anniversary edition. General Jodpur loves to train his soldiers making them the best fighting force in the world. But, one day, he discovers the beauty of the countryside and realises that saving the flowers and trees and creatures who live in them is more important than fighting. An important message delivered in striking pictures.
A robust and entertaining football story about a family with enough players in it to make their own five-a-side team! Charlie tells of the mounting excitement as she and her brothers fight their way into the final. They are all set for the great day when a huge snow storm dramatically changes the plans. Will they be able to get back together in time and will there even be a match?
Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level Berlin in 1938 is not a safe place to be if you're Jewish. For Matti and many other Jewish children it means being sent to England for safety. Placed with a foster family in the British countryside, Matti is happy but desperate for his parents to join him. He starts working on a plan, but will it work out in time? Emerald/Band 15 books provide a widening range of genres including science fiction and biography, prompting more ways to respond to texts. Text type: A story set in the past. A map of Europe on pages 46-47 shows Matti's route from Berlin to London. Curriculum links: History: What was it like for children in the Second World War? This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.
Bobby's football team mascot is a dog, and Bobby wants one too. He dreams of a cuddly puppy who will join him as a defender on the pitch. But when a dog arrives next door, his love of dogs turns to terror. Can he overcome his fear? Will he be able to help his sister, Charlie, in her cup final, and even take on the local bully?
Action-packed adventure propels this short and easy to read book forward at pace and will be hugely satisfying to emerging readers. Charlie is football mad, as is most of his family. But when his brother Bobby develops a passion for pirates he is lost to kick-ups in favour of digging for treasure. Bobby’s passion also leads to a terrifying adventure and Charlie fears he’ll lose him forever.
Get to know these rare and beautiful birds in this warmly illustrated non-fiction picture book. The little girl in this book has never seen a barn owl, but one day her grandpa puts a nest-box high in the old oak tree. They wait and they wait until one spring night, just as the sky goes pink, a pale face looks out of it, then takes off towards them...
A heart-warming tale of courage and warmth, set against the backdrop of the second world war, about an abandoned village, a lifelong friendship and one very adventurous cat! 'Classic Morpurgo brilliance' - Publishing News Something's up. Something big too, very big. At school, in the village, whoever you meet, it's all anyone talks about. It's like a sudden curse has come down on us all. It makes me wonder if we'll ever see the sun again. It's 1943, and Lily Tregenze lives on a farm, in the idyllic seaside village of Slapton. Apart from her father being away, and the 'townie' evacuees at school, her life is scarcely touched by the war. Until one day, Lily and her family, along with 3000 other villagers, are told to move out of their homes - lock, stock and barrel. Soon, the whole area is out of bounds, as the Allied forces practise their landings for D-day, preparing to invade France. But Tips, Lily's adored cat, has other ideas - barbed wire and keep-out signs mean nothing to her, nor does the danger of guns and bombs. Frantic to find her, Lily makes friends with two young American soldiers, who promise to help her. But will she ever see her cat again? Lily decides to cross the wire into the danger zone to look for Tips herself... Now, many years later, as Michael is reading his Grandma Lily's diary, he learns about The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips - and wonders how one adventurous cat could still affect their lives sixty years later.
A beautiful new edition of the timeless classic featuring the Kate Greenaway Award nominated illustrations of Michael Foreman, one of today's best-loved artists. This is a gift book to be enjoyed by families year after year and a great addition to any child's home library. Without a doubt one of the greatest achievements in children's literature, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland introduces children to a whole world of humour, fun and invention. Featuring more iconic characters and locations than any other children's story, Alice's world introduces today's children to the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, the evil Queen of Hearts, the tea party and, of course, the rabbit hole that starts it all. Michael Foreman's watercolours beautifully capture the world of Wonderland in all of its breathtaking glory. The Illustrator Michael Foreman's numerous books for children have earned him widespread recognition as one of the world's leading illustrators. He has worked on a vast range of children's books, and has collaborated with Terry Jones on all of his books for children. He also writes and illustrates his own books, including War Boy and War Game - winners of the Kate Greenaway Award and Smarties Book Prize respectively - and After the War was Over. Also he has illustrated The Knight and the Squire and The Lady and the Squire, as well as the classic stories Peter Pan and Wendy and The Wind in the Willows. Michael lives in London and St Ives.
A heart-warming, colour-illustrated novel about Kaspar the Savoy cat, from the award-winning author of Born to Run and The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips Kaspar the cat first came to the Savoy Hotel in a basket - Johnny Trott knows, because he was the one who carried him in. Johnny was a bell-boy, you see, and he carried all of Countess Kandinsky's things to her room. But Johnny didn't expect to end up with Kaspar on his hands forever, and nor did he count on making friends with Lizziebeth, a spirited American heiress. Pretty soon, events are set in motion that will take Johnny - and Kaspar - all around the world, surviving theft, shipwreck and rooftop rescues along the way. Because everything changes with a cat like Kaspar around. After all, he's Prince Kaspar Kandinsky, Prince of Cats, a Muscovite, a Londoner and a New Yorker, and as far as anyone knows, the only cat to survive the sinking of the Titanic...
A wonderfully emotional but heart-warming tale from the pen of one of the foremost writers for children. Brilliantly interwoven in historical fact at the time of the sinking of the Titanic is the story of Kaspar the Savoy cat, who we also discover is a survivor of the sinking of the Titanic. The story is utterly compelling and brought to life still further by some really dreamy illustrations by Michael Foreman. A story to read aloud during those cold wintry evenings as much as a story to cuddle up with alone. Wonderful. In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Kaspar, Prince of Cats a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'one of the most enchanting books I ever read.' Scroll down to read more reviews...
For football mad families this is essential reading as are the previous two stories featuring Charlie and his little brother Bobby. Their mum is so footie mad that she gives yellow cards instead of a ticking off when her children are naughty. As a consequence the family make a great team. The love and affection shown between them all whatever life throws at them including the fact that little Bobby suffers from Down’s Syndrome is a wonder to behold and an education in understanding. Michael Foreman’s illustrations perfectly complement the entertaining story. 6 - 9 year olds will be the book’s core audience but could be read aloud to younger children too.
A story of hope and dreams set in a poverty-stricken community in South America, from a master children's book creator. Mia lives with her family in a small South American village beneath the snowy mountains. Their house is put together from the dumped rubbish of the city - it is not much of a place. One day Mia's father brings her a puppy, which she calls Poco because he's so small. When Poco runs away, Mia travels far up into the mountains to search for him. There she finds some white mountain flowers, growing under the stars, as well as something much more powerful - hope.
Shortlisted for the Blue Peter Award category, ‘the book I couldn’t put down’ The Story of Adolphus Tips is told in a diary. It tells the story of one brave cat and movingly brings to life a true story of how a whole community got caught up in the Second World War. Adolphus Tips is no ordinary cat. When the village of Slapton is evacuated, Lily and her family move to her uncle’s farm for safety. Lily intends to take Adolphus Tips too. But Tips is nowhere to be found. How Tips survives the terror when the beach is given over to training soldiers is a thrilling story. How Lily braves the guns and bombs to search for Tips and meets some extra-special US soldiers is full of warmth and insight. ~ Julia Eccleshare
A magical story from the tales of the Knights of the Round Table. Here are thrills and enchantment, chivalry and courage, a challenge and a quest. Its hero is the greatest of all King ArthurOs knights, Sir Gawain. His adversary is the fearsome Green Knight, who rides into Camelot one New YearOs Eve with a challenge that strikes dread into ArthurOs court.
This is the second story to feature Bobby, the Down's Syndrome football enthusiast, and his big sister Charlie. This time they are off to summer camp. Also with them is Paul, a boy who hides underneath a furry parka and will not speak. Bobby instantly decides that the two of them are best friends, and as he is potty about football, he tries to play it with him as much as possible. Charlie is being a responsible older sister and keeping a watch on Bobby, which is demanding enough, but she also has a challenge of her own. One of the planned camp activities is a relay race over water, and she is very scared of water. But thanks to the wonderful positivity that Bobby exudes all round him, Charlie beats her demons, Bobby plays football whether it's planned or not, and Paul? Well, Bobby gets him talking! He makes him Man of the Match!
Best-selling author Michael Morpurgo turns his storytelling skills to the drama and tragedy of the Spanish Civil War, illustrated by Michael Foreman. TORO,TORO is the story of a young boy growing up in Andalucia, Spain, on a farm rearing bulls for the bull ring. Antonito hand rears a little black calf and they become firm friends, but the boy doesn't yet understand the fate of the black bulls - the corrida and death. Later, when he learns of the horrors of the bull fight, he frees Paco, the black bull, and rides with him into the hills.There they witness the bombing of their village (it's the year 1936, and the Spanish Civil War has started) and Antonito cannot go back - his family and the farm are destroyed, and Paco has run off, wild with fright. He decides to stay in the hills, where he meets up with the Resistance fighters. During the War, Antonito hears stories round the campfire of the wonderful black bull, who becomes a symbol of freedom for them all. Could this really be Paco? But no-one has ever seen him. After the war, when Antonito is working as a muleteer in the mountains, he falls asleep and dreams of Paco. In the morning, he wakes to see hoof prints on the ground beside him... A delightful story, full of nostalgia and drama in the author's own inimitable style. Illustrated by Michael Foreman.
One windy summer day, an artist makes a horse sculpture out of the sand on the beach at St Ives. It takes him the whole day, and all the beach people admire it. But when everyone goes in at the end of the day, the Sand Horse can hear the white horses in the surf calling to him: 'Come with us to Sennen, Land's End, and Longships Light!,' and he longs to join them. This haunting story was Ann Turnbull's first for Andersen Press, beautifully interpreted by Greenaway Medal Winner Michael Foreman.
Billy was a champion soccer star, playing for Chelsea in the 1930s. But that was before war broke out... Billy the Kid is told through the voice of an 80 year old man, who looks back on his life as Chelsea's champion striker until the outbreak of war in 1939 and on through his subsequent life. Billy joins Chelsea as a football apprentice, rises through the reserves to become a real champion. His passion for football sees him through the war years - even as a prisoner of war he organises a friendly against the Italians - but, having been injured by a mine he cannot play for Chelsea on his return to England. Billy turns to vagrancy and alcohol and for years he wanders up and down the country. He re-settles in London in a derelict house and is befriended by a family who move him to a shed in their garden. He, in turn, helps their son with his football who in his turn becomes a Chelsea player. Billy becomes a Chelsea Pensioner and his 80th birthday is celebrated when Chelsea play at home. A novel for both children and adults which deals with some difficult issues. Michael Morpurgo's storytelling is superb and this will be a welcome follow up to the previous Morpurgo / Foreman collaboration - Farm Boy.
A retelling of a traditional Cornish folktale, illustrated in full colour by Michael Foreman. Next time you stare out to sea and spot a glimmering in the waves, look closer...it just might be a merrymaid! When Zachy's friend, Tom Taskis meets a mysterious young lady, it is only Zachy who knows she's a merrymaid! Tom asks Zachy not to say a word before he and his beautiful maiden disappear into the rushing water. Nearly a year later, when Zachy discovers a merrychild swept in from the crashing waves, he returns it to the spot where he last saw his friend Tom with the beautiful merrymaid...but will he see Tom or the merrymaid again?
Set on a farm in rural Devon, Farm Boy is a collection of Grandpa's reminiscences and stories touchingly told to his grandson. Superbly told by a master storyteller and stunningly illustrated by Michael Foreman - an exquisite book. Joey was the last working horse on the farm, and the apple of Grandpa's eye. In War Horse, published twelve years ago, Joey was sent away from the farm to be a warhorse in WWI. Grandpa had joined the cavalry in order to find, and fight, with Joey. Farm Boy brings us forward fifty years with Grandpa not only telling his grandson, Joey's story but also a 'shameful secret' which he has held for years - Grandpa has never learned to read and write. The story is set in Iddesleigh in Devon and lovingly evokes the bonds between farm and farmer; grandson and grandfather. The spirit of rural life is superbly captured in both Michael Morpurgo's writing and Michael Foreman's illustrations. An irresistible title from acclaimed author-illustrator partnership. The title was first published in full colour by Pavilion.
Whenever he is naughty, a young boy's mother threatens him with Mrs Cole, who appears to be a disreputable character living nearby in total chaos. One day he runs away from home and finds himself outside Mrs Cole's house. She invites him in and he discovers that Mrs Cole's noisy, kindly house is welcoming and warm and far from being frightening. 'Funny, touching and true' Sunday Telegraph 'One of the most outstanding young children's picture books for some time.' Financial Times
This is the tale of a Viking warrior by the name of Erik. But Erik is no ordinary Viking. With his trusty band of men he sets sail in search of the land where the sun goes at night - but he finds much more! The Sea Dragon, Dogfighters and giants combine to make his voyage a great saga of thrilling adventures. Written by Terry Jones, most famous for his membership of the Monty Python team, this is a wonderful tale, expertly spun, which won the Children's Book Award.
Three raindrops have an argument on their way out of a cloud ... A silly King goes for a walk with a dog tied to each leg ... An enterprising herring, bored of the North Sea, decides to swim right round the world ... Thirty short stories of magic and adventure penned by Monty Python team member, Terry Jones. Embracing the tradition of the fairy tale, but adding Jones's inimitable comic imagination and originality, each story makes a perfect bedtime read for children - and grown ups! 'Could become a modern classic ... the book is a joy' Brian Patten, Spectator.
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