“Farm Boy” by Michael Morpurgo the sequel to “War Horse”

Review:  “Farm Boy” by Michael Morpurgo the sequel to “War Horse” is a heartwarming story about the relationship between a young boy and his grandfather.  This delightful book recaptures the time when history was passed down through the stories retold by our grandparents.  The relationship between the young boy and his grandfather is precious and encouraging.   

The author weaves the tale in storytelling fashion that makes this book a quick and enjoyable read.   There is drama and suspense as well as heartfelt love between the boy and his grandfather as well as the grandfather and his horse.  

I would encourage any young boy to pick it up and read it.   I enjoyed the whimsical feel of days gone by and the historical perspective of life in the past. (rev. C. Delorge)

An engaging early chapter book/reader for the elementary student that is replete with lots of soft illustrations by Michael Foreman done in black and white pen and ink.

Author bio: Michael Morpurgo 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 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 awarded an MBE for services to youth. 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.

Illustrator bio:  Michael has worked on magazines, book jackets, animated films, TV adverts, and even for the police, sketching criminals described by witnesses. As well as illustrating many of his own books, Michael has illustrated over a hundred books for authors such as Shakespeare, J. M. Barrie, the Brothers Grimm, Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde. Michael has travelled widely - to Africa, Japan, the Arctic Circle, China and Malaysia, the Himalayas, Siberia and New Zealand - to research his books. "I do a lot of research when I'm travelling - I find it thrilling to discover the particular 'art' of different landscapes and work them into a book.

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Scholastic Press on behalf of the author for the purpose of our honest review. Opinions expressed are solely those the reviewer. There was no obligation for a positive review.