Best-selling author Michael Morpurgo turns his storytelling skills to the drama and tragedy of the Spanish Civil War, illustrated by Michael Foreman.

TORO,TORO is the story of a young boy growing up in Andalucia, Spain, on a farm rearing bulls for the bull ring. Antonito hand rears a little black calf and they become firm friends, but the boy doesnt yet understand the fate of the black bulls the corrida and death. Later, when he learns of the horrors of the bull fight, he frees Paco, the black bull, and rides with him into the hills.There they witness the bombing of their village (its the year 1936, and the Spanish Civil War has started) and Antonito cannot go back his family and the farm are destroyed, and Paco has run off, wild with fright. He decides to stay in the hills, where he meets up with the Resistance fighters. During the War, Antonito hears stories round the campfire of the wonderful black bull, who becomes a symbol of freedom for them all. Could this really be Paco? But no-one has ever seen him. After the war, when Antonito is working as a muleteer in the mountains, he falls asleep and dreams of Paco. In the morning, he wakes to see hoof prints on the ground beside him

A delightful story, full of nostalgia and drama in the authors own inimitable style. Illustrated by Michael Foreman.

Review

A tale about another country and another time that resonates with the here and now Once again, Morpurgo demonstrates his talent for stories of absolute clarity about big events
Sunday Times

A poignant tale, simply told, about the horror of the Spanish Civil War and the noble cruelty of bullfighting.
Sunday Telegraph

In Toro! Toro! Michael Morpurgo unpicks the problem of taking sides, of how enemies can be good, of guilty secrets kept for years A compact, horrifying and compelling story
The Times

A beautifully, directly and convincingly told story: typical Morpurgo. Michael Foremans illustrations are exactly right and the whole is a very fine, thoroughly recommended, production.
School Librarian

From the Back Cover

I didnt tell Paco what Id seen that day I didnt ever want him to know.
Ill take you away so you can live wild up in the hills, where youll be safe for ever and ever. Ill work something out, I promise you.Antonito lives an idyllic life on his parents bull farm in Spain. But the idyll is shattered when he realizes that his calf, Paco, is destined for the bullring. What can he do? He has a daring plan, but it will take enormous courage to see it through because it is 1936, and the drums of war are echoing across the Spanish plains.

About the Author

Michael Morpurgo OBE is one of Britain s best-loved writers for children. He has written over 100 books and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award and the Whitbread Award. His recent bestselling novels include Shadow , A Medal for Leroy and Little Manfred .

His novel War Horse has been successfully adapted as a West End and Broadway theatre play and a major film by Steven Spielberg. A former Children s Laureate, Michael is also the co-founder, with his wife Clare, of the charity Farms for City Children.