Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Finding Alfie: a D-Day Story – Michael Morpurgo. Michael Foreman.

    Scholastic Australia May 2025 ISBN: 9780702325205 ISBN-10: 0702325201 RRP: $29.95 When I got this it, I decided to save it for Rembrance Day, as the timing from my point of view wasn’t right for the D-Day events. But what a superb book it is, as one would expect from these two literary legends. I have said before…

  • Picture Book Month extra!! Cobweb – Michael Morpurgo

    Harper Collins Australia RRP: $19.99 Once again Michael Morpurgo demonstrates exactly why he is a master of middle grade historical fiction, even at the venerable age of 80+. If you have read his memoir Such Stuff: a Storymaker’s Inspiration, you will already be aware that most, if not all, of Michael’s stories are sparked initially…

  • Michael Morpurgo’s Tales from Shakespeare

    Harper Collins Australia October 2023 Featuring: Macbeth, illustrated by Dapo AdeolaThe Taming of the Shrew, illustrated by Joelle AvelinoRomeo and Juliet, illustrated by Peter BaileyThe Tempest, illustrated by BarrouxTwelfth Night, illustrated by Ian BeckHenry V, illustrated by Christian BirminghamA Midsummer Night’s Dream, illustrated by Alona MillgramHamlet, illustrated by Tom Clohosy ColeKing Lear, illustrated by Michael…

  • Boy Giant: Son of Gulliver – Michael Morpurgo

    Harper Collins September 2019 ISBN: 9780008347925 ISBN 10: 0008347921 Imprint: HarperCollins – GB List Price: 19.99 AUD And the master has done it again! Morpurgo has drawn on Jonathon Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels as his inspiration for this latest exploration of human nature, political unrest and compassion. Omar has fled war-torn Afghanistan with his mother in a race for survival.…

  • Flights of Fancy: stories, pictures and inspiration from ten Children’s Laureates 😉

    Walker Books, April 2019, 80 pp., $27.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781403687858 Quentin Blake, Anne Fine, Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Rosen, Anthony Browne, Julia Donaldson, Malorie Blackman, Chris Riddell, Lauren Child. Naturally we are not the only ones to celebrate our creators of extraordinary children’s books and this compilation is a real treat. The above authors,…

  • Toto: the Dog-gone Amazing Story of the Wizard of Oz – Michael Morpurgo. Illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark

    Harper Collins           ISBN: 9780008134594           ISBN 10: 0008134596          Imprint: HarperCollins – GB          On Sale: 21/08/2017          List Price: 19.99 AUD When I had my sixth birthday my older sister gave me an illustrated copy of The Wizard of Oz and I immediately fell in love with the story. This poor book (which I still have) was re-read…

  • The Giant’s Necklace – Michael Morpurgo. Illustrated by Briony May Smith

    Walker Books Australia ISBN: 9781406357127 Imprint: WALKER HARDBACK Australian RRP: $19.99 New Zealand RRP: $22.99 Coming hot on the heels of my review of Michael’s ‘Such Stuff’ is this absolutely beautiful short story/novella which is both poignant and thrilling.  And of course, now I also want to know the ‘prompt’ for this particular story. A family is on their…

  • Such Stuff: A Story-maker’s Inspiration – Michael Morpurgo. Illustrated by Michael Foreman

    Walker Books October 2016 ISBN 9781406364576 RRP: $27.99 What a master storyteller Michael Morpurgo is! His body of work and his reputation are both completely awe-inspiring. This unparalleled weaver of dreams who was the UK Children’s Laureate from 2003-2005, with over 100 books to his credit, (many translated into other languages) and numerous awards has…