As a child, I did not like anything about anything awkward. I did not like dirt (even though I asked my father where the Famous Five went to the loo and how they had baths when they went camping). I did not find 'dirty' humour funny, even humour aimed at children. I liked politeness and neatness in all. No burping, no rude signs or gestures, nothing.The Red Dress is one of those books I certainly would not have liked as a child. Even now, I find that I cannot quite understand why ugly things find their way into literature. From where does this need to be 'true' to reality come? Smelly chicken rotting in the heat, worms of snot - why do I need to know?Yet, I liked the story-line. Engagingly written, The Red Dress made me continue reading despite my quarrels with it. The realistic elements did not change the fact that there are sudden, unexpected character changes and movements from an … [Read more...]

If you go to the moon, you would go up. But when you reach the moon, you land. You go down. And if you are on the moon and you look up, you will see the earth. That means that somewhere between here and the moon, up becomes down and down becomes up.I started reading Sophie's World when I was about twelve. I was impressed and intrigued - but I could not finish reading it. There was just too much intensity that I was not prepared to deal with. Perhaps if I had read Hello? Is Anybody There? first, I would have tried harder with Sophie's World.At first glance, Hello? Is Anybody There? is a bit like The Little Prince. At second glance, it still is, and in a good way.It is a book that reminds us that the question is far more important than the answer. It is a beautiful journey into our minds and our realities. I am sure that every time I read it, I will take something else out of the … [Read more...]

Is it true that the most moving books must be placed during wartime? How strange that the moments of greatest human kindness come during the cruelest of times!Toro! Toro! is not like the other Morpurgos that I have read, insomuch that it is not about the second world war at all. Yet, it is about cruel, incomprehensible war.I have never liked the idea of bullfights, not even when I was too young to know that the bull is killed and bleeds to death. I found the idea of a bullfight unnecessarily violent. I couldn't (and still can't) understand what the thrill is.How much stronger the feeling of revulsion would be for a child who has watched the birth of a bull and become its friend!Paco, a bull, pushes the young boy Antonito to do something that he would never dream of doing. And because of that one act, Antonito's life - in fact, his whole world - turns upside down.In true … [Read more...]

The best stories are the simplest ones of all. And who better than Michael Morpurgo to write simple stories so simply that they charm you?Boowie receives a letter from his grandmother, not very long after the death of his grandfather. It is undoubtedly the most remarkable letter of his life. As part of the letter, his grandmother sends him sections from her childhood diary. Slowly, little bit by little bit, she reveals the amazing story of her cat Tips. Part of the story is how Tips graduates to her grand name 'Adolphus Tips'. And most remarkable of all is what happens in the end.The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips is not just the story of a cat. It's the story of love, spirit and relationships that stretch way beyond the scope of literature.Michael Morpurgo - his stories are timeless. … [Read more...]

The story of two dogs and a cat during the second world war brought to mind an aspect of war that I had never considered. What happened to all the animals, particularly pets, during the war? Startling statistics that Megan Rix has included after the novel reveal that there were far more animals killed during the war than civilians. By far more, I mean, if I remember correctly, seven times the number.The Great Escape is a take on this idea, albeit a lighthearted take. The three animals escape from cruelty and danger, making an incredible journey from the city to the country. Adventures are plentiful; pitfalls expose them to human kindness and cruelty.A tale for children, I think it is a particularly charming read for animal-lovers who want to wear rose-tinted glasses, but want, at the same time, to be aware that that their glasses are tinted! … [Read more...]