Titles in the Set

Farm boy
Born to Run
Shadow
An Elephant in the Garden
The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips
A Medal for Leroy
Running Wild
Private Peaceful
Alone on a Wide Wide Sea
Listen to the Moon
The Butterfly Lion
From Hereabout Hill
Little Foxes
The Nine Lives of Montezuma
My Friend Walter
Twist of Gold
Waiting for Anya
The War of Jenkins' Ear
The Marble Crusher

Farm boy

The magical sequel to ‘War Horse’, soon to be a major motion picture.Joey was the last working horse on the farm, and the apple of Grandpa’s eye. In War Horse, 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…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.

Born to Run

Joy and heartbreak combine in this bittersweet tale of a champion greyhound’s journey through life – and from owner to owner…“The sack wasn't just drifting gently along like everything else, it was turning of its own accord. There was definitely something inside it, struggling against the side of the plastic bag, kicking at it, squeaking and squealing in terror. He had no idea what it might be, only that it was alive and in danger of drowning.”When Patrick saves a litter of greyhound puppies from the canal, he can’t bear to hand them all over to the RSPCA. He pleads with his parents: couldn’t he just keep one of them? But nothing will convince them and Patrick cries himself to sleep – only to be woken by a greyhound puppy licking his face!Patrick christens his puppy Best Mate, and that’s what he becomes. Patrick’s favourite thing is to watch Best Mate running at full stretch on the heath, a speeding bullet, a cheetah-dog. Until one day Best Mate is kidnapped by a greyhound trainer, and begins a new life as a champion race dog. Suzie, the greyhound trainer’s step-daughter, loves Best Mate on first sight and gives him a new name, Bright Eyes. But what will happen when he can’t run any more?

Shadow

A powerful novel from Michael Morpurgo, the nation’s favourite storyteller…Never have Aman and his mother needed a friend more than when a Springer Spaniel appears – thin and war-ravaged – in the mouth of their Afghan cave. Nursed back to health by Aman, the dog becomes a constant companion, a shadow, and that's what Aman decides to call her.But life in Afghanistan becomes more dangerous by the moment. Eventually, Aman, his mother and Shadow find the courage to embark upon the treacherous journey from war-torn Afghanistan to the safely of a relative's home in Manchester, England.But how far can Shadow lead them? And in this terrifying new world, is anywhere really safe…?

An Elephant in the Garden

A thrilling and moving novel about an extraordinary animal caught up in a very human war, for anyone who loved The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips or The Butterfly Lion…By the award-winning former Children’s Laureate and author of War Horse.Dresden, 1945. Elizabeth and Karli's mother works at the zoo, where her favourite animal is a young elephant named Marlene. Then the zoo director tells her that the dangerous animals – including the elephants – must be shot before the town is bombed. Unable to give Marlene up, their mother moves her into the back garden to save her… and then the bombs start to fall.Their home destroyed, the whole family must flee the bombed-out city and through the perilous, snow-covered landscape, all the while avoiding the Russian troops who are drawing ever closer. It would be hard enough to do, without an elephant in tow…

The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips

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…

A Medal for Leroy

Inspired by the true story of Walter Tull, the first black officer in the British army.A novel about families, identity and loss by bestselling award-winning author of WAR HORSE.Michael doesn’t remember his father, an RAF pilot lost in the war. And his French mother, heartbroken and passionate, doesn’t like to talk about her husband. But then Auntie Snowdrop gives Michael a medal, followed by a photograph, which begin to reveal a hidden history.A story of love and loss.A story that will change everything – and reveal to Michael who he really is…

Running Wild

The epic and heart-rending jungle adventure from the nation’s favourite storyteller, now available in paperback.For Will and his mother, going to Indonesia isn't just a holiday. It's an escape, a new start, a chance to put things behind them - things like the death of Will's father.And to begin with, it seems to be just what they both needed. But then Oona, the elephant Will is riding on the beach, begins acting strangely, shying away from the sea. And that's when the tsunami comes crashing in, and Oona begins to run. Except that when the tsunami is gone, Oona just keeps on running.With nothing on his back but a shirt and nothing to sustain him but a bottle of water, Will must learn to survive deep in the jungle. Luckily, though, he's not completely alone…

Private Peaceful

A stunning edition of this modern classic of World War One, featuring an introduction by the author and insightful testimonies from soldiers.Told in the voice of Private Tommo Peaceful, the story follows twenty-four hours at the front, and captures his memories of his family and his village life – by no means as tranquil as it appeared.Full of vivid detail and engrossing atmosphere, leading to a dramatic and moving conclusion, Private Peaceful is both a compelling love story and a deeply moving account of the First World War.

Alone on a Wide Wide Sea

How far would you go to find yourself? The lyrical, life-affirming new novel from the bestselling author of Private Peaceful,There were dozens of us on the ship, all up on deck for the leaving of Liverpool, gulls wheeling and crying over our heads, calling good-bye…That is all I remember of England.When six-year-old orphan Arthur Hobhouse is shipped to Australia after WWII he loses his sister, his country and everything he knows. Overcoming enormous hardships with fellow orphan Marty, Arthur is finally saved by the extraordinary people he meets and by his talent for boat-design and sailing. Now he has built a special boat for his daughter Allie – a solo yacht designed to carry her to England in search of his long-lost sister. Will the threads of Arthur's life finally come together?

Listen to the Moon

The stunning novel set during World War One from Michael Morpurgo, the nation’s favourite storyteller and multi-million copy bestseller.May, 1915.Alfie and his fisherman father find a girl on an uninhabited island in the Scillies – injured, thirsty, lost… and with absolutely no memory of who she is, or how she came to be there. She can say only one word: Lucy.

Little Manfred

A heart-lifting, heartbreaking story by Michael Morpurgo, the second-biggest children’s author in the UK.In the Imperial War Museum is a wooden Dachshund, carved by a German prisoner of war for the children of the British family with which he stayed after the fighting ended. This is the story of how it got there…When the Bismarck sinks, one of the only German survivors is taken on board a British ship as a prisoner of war. Sent to live with a host family, Walter must adapt to a new way of life, in the heart of an enemy country. Gradually, though, he finds a friend in ten-year-old Grace. So when the time finally comes to go back to Germany, it’s an emotional parting, with Walter leaving Grace with only a carved wooden dog to remember him by. The question is, will Walter and Grace ever meet again? In 1966, with the World Cup coming to Britain, that opportunity may just have come along.

The Butterfly Lion

A lyrical and moving tale of a young boy growing up in Africa, and his lifelong friendship with a white lion.“All my life I’ll think you you, I promise I will. I won’t ever forget you.”Bertie rescues an orphaned white lion cub from the African veld. They are inseparable until Bertie is sent to boarding school far away in England and the lion is sold to a circus. Bertie swears that one day they will see one another again, but it is the butterfly lion which ensures that their friendship will never be forgotten.

From Hereabout Hill

A spell-binding collection of short stories from War Horse author and former Children's Laureate, Michael Morpurgo. Included in this collection of short stories is a poignant tale about civil war, wherein a young girl hides from enemy soldiers in a public toilet; a haunting story of a little girl swept out to sea while collecting cowrie shells; and the moving account of two brothers, who, over the years, create a mental picture of their absent father. Explore friendship, love, revenge, life and death in these tales from the master storyteller behind An Eagle in the Snow, Listen to the Moon, Private Peaceful, and An Elephant in the Garden. Michael has written more than one hundred books for children and 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.

Little Foxes

Little Foxes is a spellbinding animal story from War Horse author and former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo. Bullied at school, nagged in Aunty May's tenth-floor council flat, there's only one place Billy really feels alive - in the wilderness by the canal. There he watches a cygnet on the water and protects a family of fox cubs. Then his secret place is discovered and the fox family decimated. Unwanted and unloved, Billy and the last fox run for their lives . . .

The Nine Lives of Montezuma

The charming tales of one mischievous cat from War Horse author and former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo. A cat's nine lives are full of adventure and excitement and none more so than Montezuma, the farmyard cat. From a young kitten to a grand old cat, he is cunning and proud while establishing his kingdom, but to Matthew, he's always loving and adorable.

My Friend Walter

Living with a ghost can have its difficulties, I discovered, even if he is your friend. Remember Sir Walter Raleigh, who laid his cloak in a puddle so that Queen Elizabeth I could walk across. Well, Bess meets his ghost and finds out hes an ancestor.How will Bess explain Sir Walter to her family. Especially when he breaks her brothers fishing rod, steals a horse and smokes cigars in her room!A charming and hilarious story of friendship between different eras

Twist of Gold

This work takes the reader on an epic journey through famine, hope and survival by a much-loved, award winning author. Sean and Annie have one chance to escape the potato famine and plague in Ireland. They survive a shipwreck and land safely in America searching for their father. But their new land is one of hardship and they live in poverty on the streets of Boston. However, their adventure is just beginning...they live on a steamboat and then join pioneers travelling across the prairies. Their music and dancing bring joy to all they meet, but their family torc brings both blessings and curses and thieves prowl to get hold of it. Annie and Sean must hang on to their torc - their family's survival depends on it.

Waiting for Anya

This is a gripping historical adventure by a much-loved and award winning author. It is World War II and Jo stumbles on a dangerous secret: Jewish children are being smuggled away from the Nazis, close to his mountain village in Spain. Now, German soldiers have been stationed at the border. Jo must get word to his friends that the children are trapped. The slightest mistake could cost them their lives.

The War of Jenkins' Ear

Michael Morpurgo is a master storyteller, former Children's Laureate and multi-award winner. This is a fresh reissue of a much-loved story with a beautiful new cover. Toby Jenkins hates going to Redlands' Boarding School - he gets called 'Jinks' and thinks he'll never make the top rugby team. But then, he meets Christopher who claims to have powers. Christopher promises Toby a miracle. When Toby goes fishing he crosses to the other side even though he knows it belongs to the villagers. The village boys catch Toby and beat him up, injuring his ear. Thus, the war of Jenkins' ear begins with all-out sticks and stones battles. Will Christopher be able to provide much-needed miracle

The Marble Crusher

Does Mr Manners, the headmaster, really have a machine that crushes marbles? Albert thinks so. Colly's Barn Colly the owl and Screecher the swallow band together to save the barn. Conker Nick beats the bully, Stevie Rooster, and becomes Conker king. But can he rescue a mistreated dog while searching for the best conker?t a child hooked on reading.