Three thrilling, moving and heart-lifting novels set against the backdrop of World War II. By master storyteller Michael Morpurgo - award-winning former Children's Laureate and author of War Horse.
All three stories are illustrated by the hugely talented and award-winning, Michael Foreman.
THE AMAZING STORY OF ADOLPHUS TIPS: It's 1943, and Lily lives on a farm, in the idyllic seaside village of Slapton. Apart from her father being away, and the 'townie' evacuees at school, her life is scarcely touched by the war. Until one day, Lily and her family, along with 3000 other villagers, are told to move out of their homes - lock, stock and barrel.
Soon, the whole area is out of bounds, as the Allied forces practise their landings for D-day, preparing to invade France. But Tips, Lily's adored cat, has other ideas and returns to the forbidden area. Frantic to find her, Lily decides to enter the danger zone herself...
AN ELEPHANT IN THE GARDEN: It's 1945. Elizabeth's father is fighting with the German army on the eastern front. Her mother works at Dresden zoo, where her favourite animal is a young elephant named Marlene. When the zoo director tells her the dangerous animals must be shot to prevent them running amok when the town is bombed, Elizabeth's mother moves Marlene into the back garden to save her... and then the bombs start to fall.
Their home destroyed, Elizabeth and her family must flee the bombed-out city and through the wintery landscape, all the while avoiding the Russian troops who are drawing ever closer. It would be hard enough, without an elephant in tow...
LITTLE MANFRED: It is the summer of 1966, and Charley and her little brother, Alex, are walking their dog Manfred on the beach when they notice two old men, staring out to sea. A chance encounter brings them together and slowly Charley and Alex learn of their mother's past.
For in 1945 , their farmstead home was a posting for German prisoners of war and their mother Grace was just a little girl...
