Michael Morpurgo Books In Order

Publication Order of Muck & Magic Books

Publication Order of Mudpuddle Farm Books

Publication Order of War Horse Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Children's Books

Publication Order of Picture Books

Publication Order of Plays

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Red Hot Reads Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Michael Morpurgo is a literary and children’s fiction author. He has played a crucial role in developing children books which have seen him being awarded numerous awards among them The Smarties Prize, Blue Peter Award and also The Writers Guild Award. As children’s laureate from 2003 and 2005 he traveled all over the UK and later on named The Booksellers Association author of The Year.

Michael has always been inspired by Ted Hughes, Paul Gallico, and Ernest Hemingway. His books include some series and standalone novels which are praised highly by authors and readers and also awarded heavily.

War Horse

War Horse introduces the War Horse Series. Morpurgo gives the story of joey who moves through a series of troubles and good times. Joey witnesses a lot of things that make him happy and strong while others demoralize him, making friends and losing others on his journey.

Joey, a beautiful red-bay foal, is sold out to farm at a young age. On the farm, he meets Albert who turns out to be his friend, master, and a brother. Unlike Albert, his father is not a person who is likeably seen from his treatment of Joey. Instead, Albert is idealistic kind and gentle. On one fateful day, Joey is sold out to the army which breaks Albert’s heart. While serving in the army, he meets with another warhorse with whom he creates a friendship. It is an excellent time for joey as he interacts with civilians and other horses.

Together with Topthorn, they lead a charge towards the enemy line assisting their master in the war against the French. However, they are affected by the horrors that they witness with endangers their life and health. In the process of this war, Joey is captured and taken into the hands of Germans. Emily and her grandfather lovingly take care of him for a short time. Back in the battle, Topthorn is left alone pulling a heavy gun and out of exhaustion and working under rain, cold and mud, he dies. He is loved on the battlefield and touches many hearts which make them treat him with love and adoration. But despite all these good things happening he only longs for the time he will unite with Albert.

Joey has a resilient character, and despite the many and horrors that he goes through, he never gives up bringing joy and exceptional service all along. After the death of Topthorn, Joey is devastated and wanders back towards the British and reunites with Albert. Albert and his father had vowed to work towards bringing him home after he gets old and this they do in the end. War Horse gives the story of growing up in a time of war for the horse as well as for Albert. The author brings out the dark side of the war showing the unlikely things that brought about both psychological and physical damages to people.

The writing is straightforward bringing every landscape back to life for the people as well as the animals. Michael has wonderfully portrayed the events that transpired during the World War 1 period giving an excellent description of personality traits. The author brings out the issue of childhood memories making it fit for the targeted age group. Together with the illustrations used in bringing up a piece that is touching, full of surprises and highly educative more so on the issue of friendship and family.

Farm Boy

Farm Boy is the second installment in the Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse Series. Set in the pre and post-world war one period Farm Boy tells the story of a horse. It is given from the side of a great-grandson of Albert jangling between the past and the present.

During one of the holidays, an eager young man visits his grandfather who is the son of Albert on their old farm. During this visit, he is told a lot about the adventures of Albert and Joey, the famous horse. He is told of the kind, hardworking and loyal nature of Joey. His grandfather also narrates to him the incredible relationship that existed between Joey and Albert. But while all this is going on, he discovers that his grandfather can neither write nor read. He takes over the responsibility of teaching him writing and reading as his grandfather promises to pay him if he agrees to offer help on the same.

At the end of this, he learns a lot more than the value that his grandfather promises him. The stories that he is taught are far worth and this shapes his life. He learns the importance of friendship, loyalty, and love from the narrations and advice that he receives. The stories given to the grandson are full of touching reminiscences, humor crafted by the grandson and his grandfather. Michael brings in a lot of issues that were never addressed in the first book, War Horse. He takes the reader back to time and links the same with the present to make you understand simple but essential things that make a life.

The story demonstrates a lot of love and respect between one generation and the next Passing their history, morals and standards all along. As the two learn from each other, they get enriched while the bond between them is significantly strengthened. Bringing the past into the present makes the grandson understand some lessons that are not easily taught which help in shaping him to be a responsible and valuable person in the society while the grandfather gets something of value from him in the process.

The author has created a short sweet, and funny story further made attractive with the illustrations added. The themes of family love, loyalty and war are addressed excellently in the story. He shifts between the past and the present digging many lessons which are highly applicable in current life. It is funny at the same time and will make you emotional seeing the bond created between the characters discussed all through the book. Michael’s use of pace and language is one that is easy to read and straight to the point thought weighted with the different themes addressed in the short story.