Audiobooks by Michael Morpurgo

“There once is a Queen ever constant to her people…” From the Nation’s Favourite Storyteller Sir Michael Morpurgo comes a poetic celebration of our Queen and longest reigning monarch. There once was a little girl, born a princess. While she was still a young woman, she became a queen, our Queen Elizabeth. Now, seventy years later, her reign as the longest serving female monarch in history has seen her stand steadfast through triumph and tribulation, and through the monumental changes that have shaped our world. This remarkable queen has remained devoted to crown, to country . . . and a corgi or two! Beginning with the queen as a little girl, planting an oak tree with her father, There Once is a Queen follows her incredible story in a way that will bring this historic reign vividly to life for readers, big and small, around the globe. An exquisite gift book and commemoration of the Platinum Jubilee, it marks a unique moment in our shared history and will be a treasured keepsake for generations to come.

Michael Morpurgo (Author), Michael Morpurgo (Narrator)

Audiobook

Tweet of the Day: A Year of Bird Lovers

Bird lovers including Will Young, Samuel West, Dermot O'Leary, Greta Scacchi and Sue Perkins introduce us to their favourite birds - plus, Alison Steadman presents The Twelve Tweets of Christmas Since 2013, Tweet of the Day has been a daily delight for early risers, with its 90 seconds of beautiful birdsong and fascinating ornithological stories. But what of the people who tune in to this avian chorus? In this collection, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of an array of wildlife enthusiasts, all eager to recount their encounters with birds - among them 'Birdgirl' Mya-Rose Craig, writers Joe Harkness, Amy Liptrot, Melissa Harrison and Mark Cocker, Springwatch host Lindsey Chapman and the staff at Slimbridge Wetland Centre, the RSPB, BirdLife International and the British Trust for Ornithology. Together, they guide us through the year, from May to March, and introduce us to the birds that have inspired them. We also hear from some unexpected celebrity sources, who share stories of the birds that catch their eyes - and their ears. Will Young tells us about seeing a Woodland Kingfisher as a child in South Africa; Sue Perkins recalls coming face to face with a Great Horned Owl and Greta Scacchi reveals her fondness for the magnificent Goldfinch. Other famous names include Samuel West, who counts the turkey-like Capercaillie and the dapper, white-bibbed Dipper among his ten picks; and Dermot O'Leary, whose five choices include 'the Alsatian of the skies', the Greater Black-Backed Gull. Jimi Goodwin, the lead singer in Doves, swerves his band's titular bird in favour of the Cuckoo and the Mallard; while musician Fyfe Dangerfield celebrates the two birds that gave his bands their names - Guillemots and Gannets - along with eight others, and uses his own birdsong recordings to experiment in music. Also featured is The Twelve Tweets of Christmas, in which Alison Steadman provides a selection of festive editions inspired by the well-known carol 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'. Production credits Produced by Maggie Ayre, Miles Warde, Tom Bonnett, Eliza Lomas, Mark Ward, Karen Gregor, Tim Dee, Sarah Blunt and Andrew Dawes © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Chris Packham, Dermot O’leary, Michael Morpurgo, Monty Don, Sue Perkins, Will Young (Author), Alison Steadman, Chris Packham, Dermot O’leary, Greta Scacchi, Michael Morpurgo, Monty Don, Samuel West, Sue Perkins, Various, Will Young (Narrator)

Audiobook

Barney the Horse and Other Tales from the Farm: A Farms for City Children Book

Full of friendship and adventure, this charming story collection from Michael Morpurgo and illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees is perfect to read together, and celebrates the way the countryside and its animals can leave an impression on a child’s heart forever. Full of friendship and adventure, these three uplifting stories capture the wonder, muck and magic of a city child’s week on the farm. Join in the daring rescue of a lost lamb, meet a boy who saves a family of swallows, and discover how Barney the horse forever changes the life of the girl who looks after him. From Michael Morpurgo, co-founder of the charity Farms for City Children, and illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees, this charming story collection for young readers celebrates the countryside and the way its landscape and animals can leave an impression on a child’s heart forever.

Michael Morpurgo (Author), Alison Reid (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Birthday Duck

The classic story of finding fun on the farm from the nation’s favourite storyteller, Michael Morpurgo. From Sir Michael Morpurgo comes a classic story of one small boy, and one very lucky duck… Sam is a city boy through and through – and isn’t looking forward to his school trip to Nethercott Farm at all. But busy days of farm work, animals and learning all about nature weave their magic – and when Sam finds a duck about to be dinner, he is determined to save him. But how? This warm and magical story is set on the real-life Nethercott Farm – a member of Farms for City Children – the charity that offers urban children from all over the country the chance to live and work together on a real farm and experience the magic of the English countryside.

Michael Morpurgo (Author), Michael Morpurgo (Narrator)

Audiobook

Jemima the Pig and the 127 Acorns

Official World Book Day £1 book From Michael Morpurgo, co-founder of the charity Farms for City Children, this charming story for early readers evokes the wonder, muck and magic of a week on the farm. The first of many Farm Tales to come, it is a window onto the countryside, and the way its landscape and animals can leave an impression on a child’s heart forever. ‘You’re farmers for a week, so you’ll be busy. There’ll be no time to miss home. You’ll eat like kings and queens, sleep like logs, and you’ll hardly be out of your wellies, except in bed.’ When a young boy goes from the city to stay on the farm, he discovers a world he never knew existed – a world of vegetable gardens, ducks and geese, where the sheep graze in the fields, where apples and pears grow in the orchard. He also meets Jemima the pig: she smells and she slobbers, she breaks out of her pen to steal potatoes, and she’s the undisputed queen of the farm. Soon, he’s hiding acorns in his pockets to feed to her every time he sees her. But then, Jemima starts to feel ill. Could she have eaten too many acorns? Or does this queen of a pig have a secret…?

Michael Morpurgo (Author), Michael Morpurgo (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Complete Collection of 10 Retellings

Sir Michael Morpurgo retells ten of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays in this stunning audio collection in association with the RSC, featuring readings by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Michael himself. This collection includes Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Hamlet, King Lear, Henry V, Twelfth Night, Taming of the Shrew, The Winter’s Tale and The Tempest. Translating these iconic plays into thrilling prose, the nation’s favourite storyteller preserves all the imaginative genius and spark of the originals, while bringing a contemporary and vibrant voice to their retelling. The stories are revealed in a fresh, exciting and entertaining way, providing both an entry point for child readers and a fascinating dialogue with the original texts that will intrigue any Shakespeare scholar. Each tale, directed by Hal Chambers and Aaron Parsons, is introduced by Michael and includes incidental music composed by Phil James.

Michael Morpurgo (Author), Alice Blundell, Anne Odeke, Assad Zaman, Avita Jay, Baker Mukasa, Ben Caplan, Colm Gormley, Dyfrig Morris, Georgia Landers, Kemi-Bo Jacobs Et Al., Miles Jupp, Patrick Osborne, Zoe Lambert (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Winter’s Tale and The Tempest

Sir Michael Morpurgo retells two of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays, The Winter’s Tale and The Tempest, in this stunning audio collection in association with the RSC, featuring readings by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Michael himself. Translating these iconic plays into thrilling prose, the nation’s favourite storyteller preserves all the imaginative genius and spark of the originals, while bringing a contemporary and vibrant voice to their retelling. The stories are revealed in a fresh, exciting and entertaining way, providing both an entry point for child readers and a fascinating dialogue with the original texts that will intrigue any Shakespeare scholar. Each tale, directed by Hal Chambers and Aaron Parsons, is introduced by Michael and includes incidental music composed by Phil James. Look out for the other instalments of Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth and Hamlet, King Lear and Henry V and Twelfth Night and Taming of the Shrew.

Michael Morpurgo (Author), Amanda Hadingue, Mogali Masuku, William Grint, Zoe Lambert (Narrator)

Audiobook

When Fishes Flew: The Story of Elena’s War

This first new novel in two years from the Nation’s Favourite Storyteller is a sweeping story of love and rescue – an unforgettable journey to the Greek island of Ithaca, and back in time to World War Two… Australian-Greek girl Nandi travels to her ancestors’ home in Ithaca, and discovers – through a friendship with an extremely unusual flying fish – the extraordinary story of her great-aunt Elena; of how she fell in love, in the hardest of times, and how of how she became an unsung hero of World War Two. But Elena has gone missing, and Nandi has to find her. In her search, she will discover that Elena was an even greater hero than she thought – and still is… Nandi’s story is a beautiful and inspiring tale of personal discovery, of love and place and belonging, threaded through with the quiet heroism of everyday people. It is full of magic, myth and mystery; a classic Morpurgo novel that will move and thrill every reader who loved Private Peaceful and War Horse, and combines all the hallmarks of this beloved Master Storyteller.

Michael Morpurgo (Author), Helen Walsh (Narrator)

Audiobook

Twelfth Night and Taming of the Shrew

Sir Michael Morpurgo retells two of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays, Twelfth Night and Taming of the Shrew, in this stunning audio collection in association with the RSC, featuring readings by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Michael himself. Translating these iconic plays into thrilling prose, the nation’s favourite storyteller preserves all the imaginative genius and spark of the originals, while bringing a contemporary and vibrant voice to their retelling. The stories are revealed in a fresh, exciting and entertaining way, providing both an entry point for child readers and a fascinating dialogue with the original texts that will intrigue any Shakespeare scholar. Each tale, directed by Hal Chambers and Aaron Parsons, is introduced by Michael and includes incidental music composed by Phil James. Look out for the other instalments of Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth and Hamlet, King Lear and Henry V, and The Winter’s Tale and The Tempest.

Michael Morpurgo (Author), Colm Gormley, Kemi-Bo Jacobs (Narrator)

Audiobook

King Lear and Henry V

Sir Michael Morpurgo retells two of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays, King Lear and Henry V, in this stunning audio collection in association with the RSC, featuring readings by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Michael himself. Translating these iconic plays into thrilling prose, the nation’s favourite storyteller preserves all the imaginative genius and spark of the originals, while bringing a contemporary and vibrant voice to their retelling. The stories are revealed in a fresh, exciting and entertaining way, providing both an entry point for child readers and a fascinating dialogue with the original texts that will intrigue any Shakespeare scholar. Each tale, directed by Hal Chambers and Aaron Parsons, is introduced by Michael and includes incidental music composed by Phil James. Look out for the other instalments of Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbethand Hamlet, Twelfth Night and Taming of the Shrew, and The Winter’s Tale and The Tempest.

Michael Morpurgo (Author), Avita Jay, Baker Mukasa, Ben Caplan, Zoe Lambert (Narrator)

Audiobook

Macbeth and Hamlet

Sir Michael Morpurgo retells two of Shakespeare's best-loved plays, Macbeth and Hamlet, in this stunning audio collection in association with the RSC, featuring readings by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Michael himself. Translating these iconic plays into thrilling prose, the nation's favourite storyteller preserves all the imaginative genius and spark of the originals, while bringing a contemporary and vibrant voice to their retelling. The stories are revealed in a fresh, exciting and entertaining way, providing both an entry point for child readers and a fascinating dialogue with the original texts that will intrigue any Shakespeare scholar. Each tale, directed by Hal Chambers and Aaron Parsons, is introduced by Michael and includes incidental music composed by Phil James. Look out for the other instalments of Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream, King Lear and Henry V, Twelfth Night and Taming of the Shrew, and The Winter's Tale and The Tempest.

Michael Morpurgo (Author), Alice Blundell, Avita Jay, Dyfrig Morris, Patrick Osborne (Narrator)

Audiobook

Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Sir Michael Morpurgo retells two of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer’s Night Dream, in this stunning audio collection in association with the RSC, featuring readings by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Michael himself. Translating these iconic plays into thrilling prose, the nation’s favourite storyteller preserves all the imaginative genius and spark of the originals, while bringing a contemporary and vibrant voice to their retelling. The stories are revealed in a fresh, exciting and entertaining way, providing both an entry point for child readers and a fascinating dialogue with the original texts that will intrigue any Shakespeare scholar. Each tale, directed by Hal Chambers and Aaron Parsons, is introduced by Michael and includes incidental music composed by Phil James. Look out for future instalments of Macbeth and Hamlet, King Lear and Henry V, Twelfth Night and Taming of the Shrew, and The Winter’s Tale and The Tempest.

Michael Morpurgo (Author), Anne Odeke, Assad Zaman, Georgia Landers, Miles Jupp (Narrator)

Audiobook