ds1 adn I have just HOWLED throught he last chapter of Kensukes Kingdom

[poisson]

i was blubbign asn so was he
what a fab book
recommned

here

is that actually how you spell it

or is it kenneth's kingdom

or somebody else's kingdom

is it a kingdom or possibly something else

maybe you were reading Howard's ENd

I just like to check before rushing down to the library you understand

an amazing book

LOL, Twig.

Tis def Kensuke's Kingdom. DH has read it!

aw it looks really good!

There's a play now too (of course)

oh no!!
i have missed it in newcastle

Read my copy last week Cod! It has been given out for free in Salisbury as part of the festival in attempt to get all the city (children and adults) reading the same book.

I love Michael Morpurgo, he is brilliant. Ds1 and I have been reading Adolphus Tips - I read him a chapter at bedtime then he reads on himself before going to sleep. We were near the end and I just read for 45 minutes straight to finish it...and ended up unable to get the words out because I was crying so much (and so was ds1). It was a real bonding moment.

And Private Peaceful is one of the most powerful accounts of the First World War I have read - never mind that it's a children's book.

I've just added that one to my Amazon wish list, cod. Will I ever get everythig on my Wish List, do you think? It gets longer every week.

I just counted. There are 35 items on my Wish List

Remind me how old your ds1 is Moo...I think ds would like this novel especially but also some other Morpurgos.

When DS1 was quite young and still not a reader (about 9 IIRC) he loved the Butterfly Lion. It still has a place in his heart

DS2 reads even less than DS1 which reduces me to impotent fury. He did enjoy an Anthony Horowitz the other day but hasn't been inspired to read any more.

He was 9 in March - and is really fascinated by both World Wars so the two I've mentioned were exactly his kind of thing. He read Private Peaceful over three nights on holiday - then badgered me til I read it too

The Butterfly Lion is on my wish list too, Jan.

Ds is just 7 and circling Pte Peaceful and Adolphus Tips with intent. He will manage the reading of the words but I think he is still too young for these excellent books.
Might maybe try Butterfly Lion/Wreck of the Zanzibar initially.

I think my ds1 would have been too young at 7 - I'm loathe to give him books that he could read, but will get so much more out of when he's older. He picked up my copy of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas the other day and I said "er...not yet." (Luckily it says inside the dust jacket - "this is a book about a 9 year old boy but it is not a book for 9 year olds." Perfect get-out clause!)

I have a sort-of connection with MM - his stepfather was Jack Morpurgo, who was a director at Penguin Books in the good old days, and he married Allen Lane's daughter Clare; and my dad worked at Penguin Books in the good old days and was quite close to both AL and Jack Morpurgo.

In fact I'm wondering if Michael M was ever at the Penguin family parties and outings I used to go to; he's 8 years older than me but it was a very family-oriented company in those days, maybe when I was 3 he pulled a cracker with me, you never know

You work that into a story Jan and trade on it - I would

Message withdrawn

We went to see the birmingham rep poduction of Kensukes kingdom in the Easter holidays.We saw it in norwich buut it has been touring and was brilliant both ds1 (12) and ds2(9) really enjoyed it.I would thoroughly recommend it idf you can catch it .The butterfly lion is also one of our favourites

ok ta all!
did oyu all blub msiively?

Now I am crying at how the British publishing world has changed since those warm and friendly days JanH
I think the range of what children have to choose from is even better now...but the days of Chip and Scoop Club and the didactic blurbs in the backs of your Puffins "will appeal to all, especially sensitive girls of nine and over" are long gone and the dread merchandising and film rights are ever present.
How lovely that must have been

Thought I'd add to this: Waterstones have 3 for 2 on Michael Morpurgo atm. I got The Butterfly Lion, The War Horse and The Sleeping Sword. And I may go back next week and buy 3 more They didn't have Kensuke's Kingdom unfortunately.

I've just ordered this set from the Book People - I found Private Peaceful in the 2nd hand shop yesterday, and also ordered a 4-book set of A Horowitz and a 3-book Artemis Fowl, I am going to sit on him until he reads them all

Ooh Jan, I might get that and save the three separate ones for emergency birthday presents - that's such a good deal.