Michael Morpurgo Books in Order

Five early stories bring together Michael Morpurgo's writing for children, including an adventure around a wartime pillbox. Young characters encounter places and situations where ordinary curiosity can quickly lead them into trouble and unexpected discoveries.

This anthology brings together poems by living writers from around the world, with particular attention to childhood and youth. Different voices explore growing up, inviting readers to consider how poetry captures experiences and changing perceptions.

George plans to run away from another foster placement and return to his children's home. But life with the Dyer family, and his friendship with Tom and Storme, begin to challenge his determination to leave.

Clare escapes her family's arguments during a holiday in Devon and befriends the solitary Thatcher Jones and his horse. Her attachment to the pair grows despite the adults' warnings to keep away from the old man.

A year on a Devon farm unfolds through Michael Morpurgo's observations of its work, animals and changing seasons. Ted Hughes's poems and James Ravilious's photographs accompany an account of the hardships and rewards of rural life.

Evacuated from London, David and Tucky discover a German bomber has crashed near their Devon home. When an enemy airman saves David's life, the boys must decide whether helping him means betraying their own side.

Montezuma grows from a farm kitten into an adventurous cat whose curiosity repeatedly brings him close to danger. Following his life alongside Matthew, the story explores the changing bond between a boy and his animal companion.

Belinda and her cart horse Bess face boys who mock them and doubt their abilities. Encouraged by Miss Wirtle, they take on a race that turns the boys' taunts into a challenge worth trying to win.

Sold into the cavalry during the First World War, Joey leaves farm boy Albert behind and experiences fighting on both sides. The horse's journey through danger and separation reveals friendships that survive beyond the battle lines.

Farmer Rafferty is convinced Martians are coming, leaving the animals of Mudpuddle Farm facing an alarming mystery. Albertine the goose takes charge of investigating, trying to discover what is really happening before panic takes over.

Sean and Annie leave famine-stricken Ireland to search for their father in America, carrying a small golden treasure. Their journey brings danger at sea and poverty in Boston, testing their hope of finding their family.

Bullied at school and unhappy at home, Billy finds comfort watching wildlife beside the canal. When a family of foxes is killed, he takes responsibility for the surviving cub and flees to keep it safe.

These stories draw on Cornwall's landscapes and legends, where familiar villages can hide unsettling secrets. Ghostly encounters and mysterious transformations place ordinary people close to a world in which the past refuses to stay buried.

Gracie and Daniel befriend the mysterious Birdman despite warnings to avoid him. When they become stranded on Samson Island, they must consider his account of a curse as wartime uncertainty reaches their island home.

Tom sees a lion in the orchard carrying sausages, but nobody believes his account except Clare. Together they devise a plan to catch the animal and prove that his extraordinary story is actually true.

After losing his dog and enduring a bully's taunts, Nick sets his sights on becoming a conker champion. His search for winning conkers leads to a scrapyard, where a starving dog needs his help.

Jo-Jo spends his days working in Venice, carrying melons through the city. When a storm threatens its people, the donkey faces a chance to do something far more important than his usual daily work.

Ashley and Uncle Sung flee China as the Japanese invasion threatens their home, heading towards the Himalayas. When Ashley is left alone in the mountains, survival depends on an encounter with an unfamiliar and mysterious tribe.

Mossop would rather sleep than catch the mice stealing grain, and Farmer Rafferty is losing patience with him. With the old cat's place on the farm at risk, Albertine the goose searches for a solution.

Bess meets the ghost of Sir Walter Raleigh and agrees to bring him home. But his taste for horses, mischief and old habits soon creates problems, making her new friendship difficult to explain to her family.

A fox is loose at Mudpuddle Farm, and the other animals have hidden themselves indoors. Albertine the goose is left facing the predator, forcing the farm's outspoken goose queen to deal with a dangerous visitor.

Harry feels unwanted at home and is struggling at school when he befriends Ocky, a circus chimpanzee. Their friendship leads them into trouble with the police, and the pair find themselves running away together.

Jigger gets only one day off each year, and he intends to spend it enjoying himself. But the farm dog's plans for chasing animals and exploring the cornfield soon become more complicated than he expected.

Jo discovers Jewish children hiding at a widow's farm in occupied France and becomes involved in helping them escape. When German soldiers arrive in the village, the secret rescue effort grows increasingly difficult and dangerous.

On a sweltering day at Mudpuddle Farm, Pintsize decides that flying might help him cool down. His attempts to take to the air upset the other animals, turning one piglet's idea into a farm-wide problem.

Albert fears that his headmaster owns a machine that destroys pupils' marbles in this collection of three stories. Other tales follow birds protecting their barn and a boy whose search for conkers leads to a dog.

Michael doubts his grandfather's tales of the Sandman and extraordinary turtles. But when he and his cousins Barry and Polly need help, those apparently impossible stories become much harder for him to dismiss as make-believe.

Toby Jenkins struggles to fit into boarding school, where another boy's claims of unusual powers unsettle him. As hostility grows between the pupils and local village children, Toby finds himself caught between competing loyalties.

A boy stranded on a sandbank fears he will drown, then wakes to meet King Arthur. Through Arthur's account of Camelot, he enters a world of knights, magic and betrayal behind the familiar legends.

Wendy's grandfather brings his snake Slinky to school, giving her a chance to show another side of herself. When Slinky escapes, the girl nicknamed Weedy Wendy must find the courage to help bring him back.

Roxanne, an orphan living in a mountain village, forms a close friendship with a bear she adopts. When a film crew arrives and wants a dancing bear, their plans threaten the life the two share.

Blodin's fire and destruction terrorise the countryside, leaving villagers desperate for help. Old Shanga knows how the beast might be defeated, but the journey required takes him beyond the mountains and beyond his own strength.

Bonny dreams of becoming an Olympic cyclist until a chance encounter draws her into a different world. Helping a sculptor care for horses, she discovers how work, animals and making art can reshape her ambitions.

Egbert the goat suddenly stops being grumpy and starts singing and dancing, puzzling everyone at Mudpuddle Farm. His strange behaviour leaves the other animals trying to understand what has changed their usually difficult companion.

Laura's diary records a difficult year on the Isles of Scilly after her twin brother Billy disappears. Storms devastate the community, and the wreck of the Zanzibar brings new uncertainty to an already troubled island life.

A twelve-year-old boy discovers a skull in a grave exposed by an uprooted tree. The find draws him into visions of Robin Hood's life, bringing Sherwood's outlaw and his struggles into the boy's own experience.

On a school visit to Nethercott Farm, city boy Sam rescues a duck and becomes determined to keep it. As the trip ends, he must work out how to take his new companion home secretly.

This collection celebrates twenty years of National Tell A Story Week with stories selected by children's book specialists. Contributions from writers including Michael Morpurgo, Joan Aiken and Robert Swindells offer different voices for young readers.

Bertie rescues a white lion cub in Africa, only to be separated when he leaves for boarding school in England. With the lion sold to a circus, he holds onto a promise to find it again.

Jessie and Jake try to protect their island's Big Hill when plans to mine for gold divide the community. The ghost of pirate queen Grania O'Malley offers unexpected help as the children defend a threatened landscape.

Writers and illustrators contribute stories celebrating Greenpeace's twenty-fifth anniversary, with settings ranging from medieval Europe to imagined futures. The anthology explores human relationships with nature and the consequences of greed, destruction and choices about protecting the planet.

A grandfather tells his grandson about Joey, the farm horse whose wartime journey changed his life. Fifty years after those events, memories of rural work lead him towards revealing a secret he has long kept hidden.

Two Mudpuddle Farm stories follow Mossop's struggle to keep his place as the farm cat and Albertine's encounter with a fox. The animals must find ways to help one another when familiar routines become dangerous.

Cessie wants to help her grandfather escape the nursing home he fears after his own son rejects him. Fragments of wartime memories point towards Dunkirk, drawing her into a search for the truth of his past.

Eloise's fascination with Joan of Arc leads into a retelling of the young woman's struggle to save France. A sparrow becomes her companion as conviction and courage drive her into conflict with powerful enemies.

Annoyed by her boastful cousin Geraldine, Millie invents a frightening story about a red-eyed ghost in the garden shed. Her revenge backfires when the tale scares her too, turning their rivalry into an unexpectedly alarming situation.

A girl in Orleans imagines the life of Joan of Arc, whose closest friend is an ordinary sparrow. Believing in her calling, Joan takes on the task of freeing France despite the dangers facing her.

Dilly Watson becomes a target for teasing after a wart appears on his knee and his attempts to hide it fail. With his confidence slipping, he hopes a little magic might help change his situation.

Animal stories selected by Michael Morpurgo bring together classic and contemporary writers, including Kipling, Jack London and Ted Hughes. Encounters with creatures explore nature, companionship and the different ways people understand the animals around them.

Michael falls from his family's yacht and reaches an island with his dog, where survival seems uncertain. An older man named Kensuke offers help but imposes rules, complicating Michael's determination to find a way home.

A snow bear longs to capture the colours of a rainbow and become something different. When his wish comes true, the transformation threatens the things he once valued, making the dream more complicated than he expected.

Wombat emerges from a deep hole to find his mother missing and searches the outback for her. Other creatures dismiss his digging and thinking, until a bushfire threatens them and those overlooked skills become essential.

An eighty-year-old man recalls his rise as a Chelsea footballer and the war that interrupted his career. His account follows the hardships that changed his life, while a lasting love of football connects past and present.

Billy calls his mysterious neighbour the Black Queen because of her dark clothes and solitary habits. Asked to care for her cat, he explores a house filled with chessboards and begins wondering what she is hiding.

Olly waits for news from her brother Matt as a swallow begins its migration to Africa. Their linked journeys follow Matt's work at an orphanage and the bird's dangerous flight, exploring separation, family and commitment.

Stories of a girl hiding from soldiers, a child swept out to sea and brothers imagining their absent father explore love and loss. The collection brings together lives changed by danger, memory and difficult human relationships.

Michael Morpurgo selects classic stories from children's literature centred on boy characters. Different writers and settings bring together young protagonists whose experiences offer a varied introduction to the adventures and perspectives found across established children's fiction.

A boy watches a silver swan settle on his family's pond, find a mate and raise cygnets. His fascination with the birds meets a harsher reality when a hungry fox threatens the life he has been observing.

A boy challenges class bully Darren to confront Olly, a bull known for being gentle. Neither realises that the animal in the field is a different bull, turning an intended prank into a much riskier encounter.

Poems selected by Michael Morpurgo use rhythm, stories, humour and surprising language to stir the imagination. Writers including Lewis Carroll, Stevie Smith and Spike Milligan offer different voices in a collection designed for remembering and rereading.

Mairi finds learning to swim difficult, even when Robbie tells her to imagine being a mermaid. Uncertain whether mermaids exist, she must find her own way to approach the water and understand his unusual advice.

Countryside stories and poems gather different perspectives on rural life, including Ted Hughes's animals and Morpurgo's view through a dog's eyes. Other contributions introduce unexpected visitors and family encounters, revealing varied experiences of the natural world.

Becky Morley's diary begins with ordinary life on her Devon farm, until foot-and-mouth disease moves close to home. As nearby animals are destroyed, she fears for her family's livestock and the lamb she has raised herself.

Waiting through a long night during the First World War, young soldier Tommo Peaceful recalls his childhood and his brother Charlie. Family loyalties and memories of home shape his account as the brothers face military authority.

Antonito raises a black calf on his family's Spanish farm, then discovers the fate awaiting bulls in the ring. Determined to protect Paco, he faces another threat as the Spanish Civil War reaches their village.

Annie worries about the birds and animals living in an old barn her father plans to demolish. As she considers what will happen to Colly the swallow, a remarkable nighttime event reveals the creatures' unexpected abilities.

After a car accident, Robbie lies in a coma, able to hear people around him but unable to respond. His family tries to reach him while he struggles privately to remain connected to the world.

Jackie wants a horse fast enough to race the boys on her estate, but has only her grandmother's stubborn donkey. A magical gnome transforms Barnaby's prospects, leaving her wondering whether the surprising change can last.

Tracing family history with his granddaughter, Michael McLeod discovers an ancestor's account of escaping a cruel childhood. Robbie's friendship with an orphaned wolf pup leads them towards America, where hopes of safety meet new dangers.

Bun Bendle struggles to adjust after losing his sight, until he discovers an ancient tomb and an unusual sword. The find draws his contemporary island life into a mystery connected with the legend of King Arthur.

Peter reluctantly helps dig a garden patch for a school project celebrating the Queen's Jubilee. Interesting objects begin to appear in the soil, and something resembling a giant cucumber promises a discovery stranger than he expected.

A lonely giant lives on an island, feared by people and befriended only by wild creatures. Saving a girl from drowning begins an unexpected connection, while the lake he loves faces the threat of destruction.

A greedy sultan values his jewels above everything, so losing a diamond button sends him into a rage. A cheeky red rooster refuses to surrender the missing treasure, setting up a contest between wealth and stubbornness.

Jim discovers a dolphin stranded near his struggling fishing village and gathers people to return it to the water. The animal remains nearby and becomes his friend, offering the community an unexpected connection with the sea.

Russ the sheepdog describes his busy farm life, herding animals and plotting against the cat. When his young owner's birthday brings a horse, he fears losing her affection and works harder to prove his importance.

Little Albatross grows safely beneath his mother's feathers until both parents leave him alone to go fishing. A predatory bird watches and waits nearby, putting the young bird in danger before his family can return.

A mysterious Green Knight challenges Arthur's court to a deadly exchange of blows, and Gawain accepts. Bound to honour his promise, the young knight sets out on a journey that tests his courage and honesty.

A letter found in an old desk recalls the Christmas truce of 1914, when enemy soldiers briefly shared peace. Its account draws the finder into a search for the woman who once received those wartime words.

Twenty-one retold fables follow animals and people whose choices reveal familiar human weaknesses. A greedy dog, a helpful mouse and a shepherd's dangerous lie appear in stories that connect small actions with consequences worth considering.

Children staying on a farm write letters home about their visit, sharing encounters with animals and the activities they try. Photographs accompany their accounts, introducing young readers to farm life through the experiences of visiting children.

Clare finds an injured fox cub on her family’s farm and secretly nurses it back to health. Her father considers foxes vermin, so protecting her new friend means keeping its presence hidden from him.

Tomas dislikes reading until a librarian and her wooden unicorn introduce him to the pleasure of stories. When war reaches his town, the library and the books he has grown to love face a new threat.

In 1943, Lily’s Devon village must evacuate so American soldiers can prepare for D-Day. Her beloved cat, Tips, keeps returning to the forbidden area, drawing Lily into a dangerous search amid the upheaval of wartime life.

This anthology gathers fifteen stories about war, each accompanied by its author’s personal introduction. Settings range from the Crusades to Beirut and the Falklands, exploring the courage, cruelty and human consequences of different conflicts.

Sent to Australia after the Second World War, young Arthur endures life on an abusive farm before finding help and learning to build boats. Years later, his daughter undertakes a voyage to uncover his lost family history.

The warrior Beowulf travels to help a kingdom terrorized by Grendel, beginning a series of battles with monstrous enemies. Michael Morpurgo retells the ancient epic, following its hero through encounters with Grendel’s mother and a dragon.

A young shepherd stays behind to watch the flock while the others travel to Bethlehem to see the newborn Jesus. When the angel Gabriel returns for him, the boy receives an unexpected chance to join the visit.

Short stories alternate with essays about how Michael Morpurgo creates fiction, drawing on memories, personal experiences and observation. The collection offers both tales to read and reflections on the events and encounters that inspired their writing.

Patrick rescues greyhound puppies from a canal and keeps one he names Best Mate. When the dog is stolen and taken into racing, his life becomes a journey through changing owners, friendships and uncertain homes.

Young journalist Lesley travels to Venice to interview the celebrated violinist Paolo Levi, with instructions to avoid the Mozart question. When Levi chooses to tell his story, their conversation reaches into family memories of the Second World War.

Designed for classroom reading, this collection pairs contemporary writing with texts from the literary heritage across four genre sections. Lesson sequences and assessment activities help pupils compare the selections and develop their understanding of different kinds of writing.

Abandoned in the forest, Hansel and Gretel discover a house made of sweets and a woman who offers them shelter. Her welcome conceals a dangerous purpose, leaving the children to rely on each other and their wits.

Savoy Hotel bellboy Johnny Trott becomes the companion of Kaspar, a cat brought to London by a Russian countess. His friendship with an American girl, Lizziebeth, leads them toward a voyage aboard the Titanic.

Young Tod rescues a white fawn from the king’s huntsmen and raises it as his companion. When the grown stag returns to the forest, their bond faces a fresh threat from the king and his hunters.

Beside the Thames, young Michael meets a whale carrying an urgent message about the damage humans are doing to the planet. While the whale struggles against the tide, Michael must find someone willing to believe his extraordinary encounter.

Michael Morpurgo selects animal stories by writers including E. B. White, Rudyard Kipling and Jack London. Extracts and tales explore animals in the wild and their relationships with people, from companionship to the struggle for survival.

In Dresden during the Second World War, Elizabeth’s mother brings an elephant from the zoo into the family garden. When bombing forces them to flee, the children and their mother must travel with their unusual companion.

Three stories follow children and the animals that matter to them: a donkey in Venice, a neglected dog rescued by a boy, and birds threatened by a barn’s demolition. Each tale places an animal’s future in human hands.

While on holiday in Indonesia with his mother, Will is riding an elephant when a tsunami strikes. Oona carries him into the jungle, where the boy must learn to survive far from help with his unexpected protector.