Special Collections
Micheal Morpurgo's magnificent tales
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Oxford Reading Tree TreeTops Greatest Stories
by Adèle Geras and Ian Beck and Michael Morpurgo and Kimberley ReynoldsThe peaceful town of Hamelin is overrun with rats: they are raiding larders, hiding in cupboards, sneaking into bed linen and driving the locals to despair. Desperate for help, they turn to the mysterious Pied Piper who promises a solution. But when the Piper falls out with the mayor, he takes away more than the townspeople ever expected. A wonderfully vivid interpretation of the story, which tackles trust, pride and revenge. TreeTops GreatestStories 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 newgeneration, 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.
The Butterfly Lion (PDF)
by Christian Birmingham and Michael MorpurgoA 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.
Wombat Goes Walkabout (PDF)
by Christian Birmingham and Michael MorpurgoWombat loves digging deep holes and thinking deep thoughts, but nobody thinks much of that until danger threatens the bush and the small wombat comes up with a great big idea ...
The Butterfly Lion
by Michael Morpurgo and Christian BirminghamILLUSTRATED BY CHRISTIAN BIRMINGHAM. 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.
War Horse (PDF)
by Nick Stafford and Michael MorpurgoI want you to do yourself proud, Joey. You go and drive those Germans back where they've come from, and then come home to me. At the outbreak of World War one, Joey, young Albert's beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. Caught up in enemy fire, fate takes Joey on an extraordinary odyssey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man's land. But Albert cannot forget Joey and, still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home. Nick Stafford's adaptation for the stage of the celebrated novel by the Children's Laureate (2003-05) Michael Morpurgo leads us on a gripping journey through history. War Horse premiered at the National Theatre, London, in October 2007.
War Horse (PDF)
by Nick Stafford and Michael MorpurgoThis moving story, based on the novel by National Curriculum recommended author Michael Morpurgo and adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford, is an incredibly moving portrayal of the bond between a soldier and his horse in the deadly chaos of the First World War. Sold to the army in 1914 andseparated from his beloved young master Albert, farm horse Joey is thrust into the midst of the Western Front. Albert vows to follow Joey to war and to be reunited with his friend, but will they find one another?
Collins Drama - Private Peaceful (PDF)
by Simon Reade and Michael MorpurgoA stunning adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's elegaic novel of the First World War. As young Thomas Peaceful looks back over his childhood from the battlefields of the First World War, his memories are full of family life deep in the countryside. But the clock is ticking, and every moment that Tommo spends remembering how things used to be, means another moment closer to something that will change his life forever.
The Amazing Story Of Adolphus Tips
by Michael Morpurgo and Michael ForemanA 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.
Collins Big Cat - Pinocchio
by Clare Morpurgo and Michael MorpurgoRemind yourself of the enchanting story of Pinocchio, by Pinocchio, retold here by the multi-award winning author Michael Morpurgo and beautifully illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark. A truly beautiful edition that brings this classic tale back to life.
Cool! (PDF)
by Michael MorpurgoMichael Morpurgo's inspiring new story of Robbie, a boy in a coma - victim of a car accident. Locked inside his own head, able to hear but not move or speak, Robbie tries to keep himself from slipping ever deeper into unconsciousness.
Toro! Toro! (PDF)
by Michael MorpurgoBest-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.
Tom's Sausage Lion (PDF)
by Michael Morpurgot it's true', Tom shouted. 'It was a real lion, I know it was'. No-one believes Tom when he says he has seen a lion - padding around the orchard with a string of sausages in its mouth! No-one, that is, except for Clare, the cleverest girl in the class. Together, she and Tom plan to prove his story is true - by catching the lion!
Born to Run (PDF)
by Michael MorpurgoJoy and heartbreak combine in this bittersweet tale of a champion greyhound's journey through life - and from owner to owner...
War horse
by Michael Morpurgo1914, Joey, a young farm horse, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front. In the desolation of the trenches, Joey's courage touches the soldiers around him. nbsp;
Private Peaceful (PDF)
by Michael MorpurgoHeroism or cowardice? A stunning story of the First World War from a master storyteller. Told in the voice of a young soldier, the story follows 24 hours in his life at the front during WW1, and captures his memories as he looks back over his life. Full of stunningly researched detail and engrossing atmosphere, the book leads to a dramatic and moving conclusion. Please note: This title is also available to purchase or loan in hard copy Uncontracted and Contracted Unified English Braille. Please contact the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 to buy through our Braille on Demand service or loan through our Library.
Listen To the Moon (PDF)
by Michael MorpurgoMay, 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. Where has she come from?
Running Wild (PDF)
by Michael MorpurgoAn epic and heart-rending jungle adventure from the bestselling author of Kaspar and Born to Run. 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. He's got Oona.
Kensuke's Kingdom (PDF)
by Michael MorpurgoWashed up on an island in the Pacific, Michael struggles to survive on his own. He can't find food, he can't find water. In the end, he curls up to die. When he wakes, there is a plate beside him of fish, of fruit, and a bowl of fresh water. He is not alone. Please note: This title is also available to purchase or loan in hard copy Uncontracted and Contracted Unified English Braille. Please contact the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 to buy through our Braille on Demand service or loan through our Library.
Friend or Foe (Literacy Evolve, Year 5) (PDF)
by Michael MorpurgoEvacuated from London, David and Tucky feel like the war is a long way away from their new life in the Devon countryside. Then one night the skyline of the moor is lit up with gun flashes, and the distant crump of bombing miles away brings the war back to them and shatters their new-found peace.
Alone on a Wide Wide Sea (New Edition) (PDF)
by Michael Morpurgo'There were dozens of us on the ship, boys and girls. We were off to Australia. But it might as well have been the mon'. Orphaned in WWII, Arthur is separated from his sister and sent to the other side of the world. There his extraordinary journey continues as he and his friend Marty survive brutal captivity on a working farm, find a new family with the eccentric Aunty Meg and her animals, and discover their talent for designing yachts. Sixty years later, Arthur's daughter Allie sets sail single-handed in a yacht designed by her father, determined to find his long-lost sister in England. Can family love stretch across time and the vastness of the oceans? And will the threads of Arthur's life finally come together?
Canon Fire (PDF)
by Michael MorpurgoThis is a 'New Windmills Collection' of stories from the literary heritage paired with stories by contemporary writers. Based on the recommended authors list in the revised Key Stage 3 curriculum, this collection brings together great authors from the literary heritage and the best contemporary writers. The book is divided into four sections each of which introduces readers to a different genre. A six lesson scheme of work and assessment task accompanies each genre. Each contemporary story is paired with a story from the literary heritage to help make classic literature more accessible. The pairing of stories encourages comparisons between texts, helping students to develop an important skill required at GCSE.
Private Peaceful (PDF)
by Michael MorpurgoHeroism or cowardice? A stunning story of the First World War from a master storyteller. Told in the voice of a young soldier, the story follows 24 hours in his life at the front during WW1, and captures his memories as he looks back over his life. Full of stunningly researched detail and engrossing atmosphere, the book leads to a dramatic and moving conclusion. Please note: This title is also available to purchase or loan in hard copy Uncontracted and Contracted Unified English Braille. Please contact the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 to buy through our Braille on Demand service or loan through our Library.
Kensuke's Kingdom
by Michael MorpurgoWashed up on an island in the Pacific, Michael struggles to survive on his own. He can't find food, he can't find water. In the end, he curls up to die. When he wakes, there is a plate beside him of fish, of fruit, and a bowl of fresh water. He is not alone. Please note: This title is also available to purchase or loan in hard copy Uncontracted and Contracted Unified English Braille. Please contact the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 to buy through our Braille on Demand service or loan through our Library.
Mr Skip (PDF)
by Michael MorpurgoBelieving in magic makes dreams come true. Jackie dreams of having a horse of her own, one that'll be the fastest on the estate, the fastest in all Ireland and the fastest in the world. Mum dreams of a little cottage in the country for her and Jackie to live in. What they get is a garden gnome that Jackie finds in a rubbish skip; one she lovingly repairs and paints; a gnome she calls Mr Skip. And Jackie soon discovers that with Mr Skip, anything is possible.
The Butterfly Lion (PDF)
by Michael MorpurgoA 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.