Books in series
#1
Muck & Magic
2019
A beautiful countryside story for Michael Morpurgo fans, illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill (J. K. Rowling's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them). Bonny has always wanted to be a top cyclist, maybe even a future Olympic champion. But her world changes after meeting a sculptor named Lizzie, who gives her a job on her farm. Bonny is introduced to a life-sized sculpture of Lizzie's horse and is allowed to pose as its rider, a completely magical experience. She learns from Lizzie that a true gift is never to be wasted, and that if you "breathe the world in deep", you can do anything.
#2
More Muck and Magic
2001
The Farms for City Children charity gives children from inner-city schools the chance to stay and work on a farm in Devon for a week, and to truly experience life in the country. In a similar way, the pages of this warm anthology capture an inspirational snapshot of the countryside and its animals. From Ted Hughes' famous animal poems and Michael Morpurgo's dog's-eye-view, to the visit paid by the mysterious Mona in Jamila Gavin's family story, there is a special insight for everyone in this book.
Author
Michael Morpurgo
Author · 138 books
Sir Michael Andrew Morpurgo, OBE, FRSL is the author of many books for children, five of which have been made into films. He also writes his own screenplays and libretti for opera. Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in 1943, he was evacuated to Cumberland during the last years of the Second World War, then returned to London, moving later to Essex. After a brief and unsuccessful spell in the army, he took up teaching and started to write. He left teaching after ten years in order to set up 'Farms for City Children' with his wife. They have three farms in Devon, Wales and Gloucestershire, open to inner city school children who come to stay and work with the animals. In 1999 this work was publicly recognised when he and his wife were invested a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to youth. In 2003, he was advanced to an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) in 2004. He was knighted in the 2018 for his services to literature and charity. He is also a father and grandfather, so children have always played a large part in his life. Every year he and his family spend time in the Scilly Isles, the setting for three of his books.
