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Michael Morpurgo

UK  (1943 - )
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About Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo, author of more than fifty books, has an unparalleled reputation in the world of children's books. 'Wombat Goes Walkabout' (Collins) was shortlisted for the 1999 Whitbread Awards. 'The Butterfly Lion' (Collins) won the 1996 Smarties Book Prize and the Writers' Guild Children's Book Award 1996. It was shortlisted for the Young Telegraph / Fully Booked Children's Paperback of the Year Award 1996 and The Children's Book Award 1996. 'The Dancing Bear' (Collins) was shortlisted for the Writers Guild Children's Book Award 1994 and the Young Telegraph Children's Paperback of the Year Award 1994. He won the 1995 Whitbread Children's Book Award for 'Wreck Of The Zanzibar' (Reed).

Michael Morpurgo is, in his own words, "oldish, married with three children, and a grandfather six times over." He hasn't always been like that, though. When he was young he went to school in London, Sussex and Canterbury (one at least of which was horrible enough to inspire him to describe obliquely in 'The Butterfly Lion' ). After school he went on to university in London, followed by a step in the teaching profession and a job in a primary school in Kent.

Twenty five years ago Michael Morpurgo and his wife, Clare, started the charity Farms For City Children. They now have three farms - Nethercott in Devon, Treginnis in Wales and Wick in Gloucestershire, where children from towns and cities could come and be farmers. "As a teacher I realised many children had little real contact with the world around them - to them the television was real. I wanted them to experience life at first hand." Michael's first picture book for Collins, 'Sam's Duck', is about the first farm and is a touching story about the magic and harsh realities of rural life. The book, beautifully illustrated by the highly regarded and exceptionally talented artist Keith Bowen, was described by the Sunday Times as 'a classic as soon as it came off the presses.'

Living in Devon, listening to Mozart, and working with children have provided most of the stimulae Michael needs to discover and write his stories. He spends about half his life mucking out sheds with the children, feeding sheep or milking cows; the other half he spends dreaming up and writing stories. "For me, the greater part of writing is daydreaming, dreaming the dream of my story until it hatches out - the writing down of it I always find hard. But I love finishing it, then holding the book in my hand and sharing my dream with my readers."

Michael hopes to continue writing fresh stories, as well as staying healthy, keeping his family happy, and developing 'Farms For City Children' so that thousands more children can benefit.
 
New and Forthcoming Hardbacks

Kaspar
Kaspar

New and Forthcoming Paperbacks

Riptide
Riptide

Cock-A-doodle-do
Cock-A-doodle-do
(Mudpuddle Farm)

Pigs Might Fly!
Pigs Might Fly!
(Mudpuddle Farm)


Wild at Heart
Wild at Heart

Animal Tales: Three Stories in One
Animal Tales
Three Stories in One

Wild At Heart: Animal Stories
Wild At Heart
Animal Stories


Alien Invasion
Alien Invasion
(Mudpuddle Farm)

Kaspar
Kaspar

It's a Dog's Life
It's a Dog's Life

Novels
Long Way HomeFriend or FoeNine Lives of MontezumaMiss Wirtles Revenge
War HorseTwist of GoldLittle FoxesWhy the Whales Came
Tom's Sausage LionKing of the Cloud ForestsMossop's Last ChanceMy Friend Walter
Mr. Nobody's EyesAlbertine, Goose QueenJigger's Day OffWaiting for Anya
And Pigs Might FlyThe Sandman and the TurtlesMartians at Mudpuddle FarmThe War of Jenkins' Ear
The Dancing BearArthur, High King of BritainThe Wreck of the ZanzibarMum's the Word
The Ghost of Grania O'MalleyThe Butterfly LionRobin of SherwoodFarm Boy
Joan of ArcRed Eyes at NightEscape from Shangri-LaWartman
Arthur, High King of Britain - ExcaliburCamelot: The Last DaysKensuke's KingdomWho's a Big Bully Then?
Billy the KidDear OllyOut of the AshesToro! Toro!
Cool!The Last WolfThe Sleeping SwordBlack Queen
Mister SkipCool as a CucumberPrivate PeacefulSir Gawain and the Green Knight
Adolphus TipsI Believe in UnicornsAlone on a Wide Wide SeaBeowulf
Born to RunThe Mozart Question
 
Omnibus
The Marble Crusher: And Other Stories
 
Collections
All Around the YearThe White Horse of Zennor: Other Stories from below the Eagle's NestMichael Morpurgo PackStories from Mudpuddle Farm: Martians At Mudpuddle Farm, And Pigs Might Fly, Jigger's Day Off
Muck and Magic: A Collection of Farm StoriesFrom Hereabout Hill: A Collection of Short StoriesMore Muck and Magic: Stories from the CountrysideSinging for Mrs Pettigrew: A Story-maker's Journey
Three for Tea: Tasty Tales for You And Me
 
Plays
The Voices of Children
 
Picture Books
ConkerJo-Jo the Melon DonkeyColly's BarnThe King in the Forest
Snakes and LaddersBlodin the BeastSam's DuckCockadoodle-doo Mr. Sultana!
Wombat Goes WalkaboutThe Rainbow BearThe Silver SwanMairi's Mermaid
Gentle GiantDolphin BoyLittle AlbatrossIt's a Dog's Life
On Angel WingsThe Best Christmas Present in the World
 
Links to other websites
michaelmorpurgo.com


Michael Morpurgo recommends
A Little Piece of Ground
A Little Piece of Ground (2003)
Elizabeth Laird
"A fine book, and a daring book."
Against the Tide
Against the Tide (2005)
(Against the Tide)
Theresa Tomlinson
"Utterly absorbing."
Montmorency's Revenge
Montmorency's Revenge (2006)
(Montmorency, book 4)
Eleanor Updale
"Thrills from first page to last."



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