A beautiful edition of this classic retelling by master storyteller Michael Morpurgo, with glorious illustrations by Emma Chichester Clark.In the town of Hamelin, the rich and greedy live like kings and queens while the poor and sick scavenge rubbish tips for scraps. A lame orphan boy tells the classic tale of how a plague of rats takes over the town and how a fantastic piper offers to rid Hamelin of its rats for a single gold coin, then lures away the towns children when the greedy mayor breaks his word. Masterfully weaving contemporary social and environmental themes into a gripping tale, and celebrating it with breath-taking illustrations, former British Childrens Laureate Michael Morpurgo and illustrator Emma Chichester Clark team up to create a compelling new take on this timeless story.
This book has been graded for interest at 5-9 years.
There are 112 pages in this book.
This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+).
This book was published in 2016 by Walker Books Ltd .
Emma Chichester Clark studied at Chelsea School of Art and then the Royal College WHere she was taught by Quentin Blake. She won the Mother Goose Award in 1988 for Listen to This. Michael Morpurgo has brought together poems by writers as diverse as Spike Milligan and Stevie Smith, John Lennon and Jo Shapcott.
This book contains the following story:
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
The town of Hamelin was over-run with rats, and the mayor was desperate for a solution. When a mysterious Pied Piper appeared the town’s troubles seemed to be over. The piper enchanted the rats with a tune from his pipe, and marched them out of town. But when the mayor refused to pay for the service the piper played another tune that enchanted all the children of the town into following him. Out of town, through the valley and into the mountain the piper led the children, never to return. Only one crippled boy – unable to keep up – was saved from the piper’s revenge.
This book features the following character:
Pied
This book features the character Pied.
Emma Chichester Clark's illustrations ... create gorgeous, detailed tapestries: never was a swarm of rats so beautiful. Michael Morpurgo's version has a timeless sense of justice * Sunday Times *
Emma Chichester Clark's illustrations are outstanding -- Amanda Craig * The Times *
Morpurgo has done a wonderful job of bringing the pied piper to life while Chichester Clark's illustrations are a vision to behold * Daily Express *
The great duo strike gold again * Angels and Urchins *
Together, writer and artist have created a work of immense and deeply moving energy. It is a truly remarkable achievement... It is a most important work of art! * School Librarian *
Emma Chichester Clark's gorgeous illustrations enhance Michael Morpurgo's retelling of The Pied Piper of Hamelin. The result makes it a good book choice for this age group. * Newbury Weekly News *
