A delightful tale of victory against all odds from master storyteller, Michael Morpurgo, lavishly illustrated by Michael Foreman.“Every fox in the whole town, in the whole country just about, is a football fan… And we all have an impossible dream.”In a cosy den under a garden shed lives a family of foxes. They love to watch football – all foxes do. But their favourite team keeps losing and losing, and it seems like things will never look up.That is, until Daddy Fox finds the ghost of a king, buried underneath a car park. A king who wishes only to be free.“Release me,” says the Ghost King, “and I can do anything. Just tell me your greatest wish.”For these football-loving foxes, might everything be about to change…?
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.Extra material:– Introduction by Michael Morpurgo- Inspiration letter by Michael Morpurgo- Background on the execution of British soldiers in WW1 for cowardice, including personal testimony from soldiers
Three thrilling, moving and heart-lifting novels set against the backdrop of World War II. By master storyteller Michael Morpurgo – award-winning former Children’s Laureate and author of War Horse.All three stories are illustrated by the hugely talented and award-winning, Michael Foreman.THE AMAZING STORY OF ADOLPHUS TIPS: It's 1943, and Lily 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 and returns to the forbidden area. Frantic to find her, Lily decides to enter the danger zone herself…AN ELEPHANT IN THE GARDEN: It’s 1945. Elizabeth's father is fighting with the German army on the eastern front. Her mother works at Dresden zoo, where her favourite animal is a young elephant named Marlene. When the zoo director tells her the dangerous animals must be shot to prevent them running amok when the town is bombed, Elizabeth's mother moves Marlene into the back garden to save her… and then the bombs start to fall.Their home destroyed, Elizabeth and her family must flee the bombed-out city and through the wintery landscape, all the while avoiding the Russian troops who are drawing ever closer. It would be hard enough, without an elephant in tow…LITTLE MANFRED: It is the summer of 1966, and Charley and her little brother, Alex, are walking their dog Manfred on the beach when they notice two old men, staring out to sea. A chance encounter brings them together and slowly Charley and Alex learn of their mother’s past.For in 1945 , their farmstead home was a posting for German prisoners of war and their mother Grace was just a little girl…This edition of Little Manfred includes beautiful full-colour illustrations.
Six best-loved novels on the theme of war by the nation’s favourite storyteller and award-winning author of ‘War Horse’, brought together in this ebook collection.A perfect introduction to Michael Morpurgo’s enthralling stories for new readers and a classic collection for fans.‘Private Peaceful’:Thomas Peaceful and his brother Charlie are on the battlefields of the First World War, trying to keep hope alive in the horror of the trenches through memories of their childhood…‘Little Manfred’: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…‘The Amazing Story of Adophus Tips’:In 1943, Lily Treganza was living in a sleepy seaside village, scarcely touched by the war. But all that was soon to change…‘Toro! Toro!’:Antonito is a young boy growing up in Southern Spain, on a farm rearing bulls for the bull ring. Antonito hand rears a little black calf, Paco, and they become firm friends. But later on the eve of the Spanish Civil War, Antonito learns of the horrors of the bull fight and Paco’s fate, and so frees the black bull and rides with him into the hills…‘Shadow’:Aman and his mother live in war-torn Afghanistan. When a Western dog appears at the mouth of their cave, it soon becomes Aman’s constant companion, his shadow as he calls her. But life is becoming increasingly dangerous for Aman and his family…‘An Elephant in the Garden’:It is Dresden in 1945 and Karli and Elizabeth’s mother works at the zoo. When the bombs begin to fall, they cannot bear to leave behind beloved elephant, Marlene…
Six best-loved novels by award-winning author of ‘War Horse’, brought together in this ebook collection.A perfect introduction to Michael Morpurgo’s enthralling storytelling for new readers and a classic collection for fans.‘Kaspar’: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 bellboy, you see, and he carried all of Countess Kandinsky's things to her room, including this very special cat!‘Born to Run’:When Patrick saves a litter of greyhound puppies from the canal, he convinces his parents to let him keep one. Patrick names his puppy Best Mate, and that’s what he becomes…Until one day Best Mate is kidnapped by a greyhound trainer. The trainer’s step-daughter loves the greyhound and renames him Bright Eyes. But what will happen when he can’t run any more?‘The Butterfly Lion’:When Bertie is a little boy, he 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.‘Alone on a wide, wide sea’:When six-year-old orphan Arthur Hobhouse was shipped to Australia after WWII he lost his sister, his country and everything he knew.Now he has built a special boat for his daughter Allie – a yacht designed to carry her to England, in search of his long-lost sister…‘Running Wild’: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.Until Oona, the elephant Will is riding on the beach, begins acting strangely, shying away from the sea. That's when the tsunami comes crashing in, and Oona begins to run.But when the tsunami is gone, Oona just keeps on running.‘Farm Boy’:The fascinating sequel to ‘War Horse’. Set on a farm in rural Devon, this is the story of Grandpa’s memories. Family secrets come to light as Michael’s wonderful writing depicts the moving relationship between grandfather and grandson.