A fox is on the loose, and all the animals except Albertine the goose have hidden themselves inside. Albertine is safe on her island in the pond - at least so she thinks, until the fox starts swimming towards her... This bold and energetic new musical follows the air-raising adventures of Pintsize, the youngest and most daring piglet on Mudpuddle Farm. Pintsize loves nothing more than playing with his next-farm-neighbour and best friend Diana the sheep, but one day Pintsize wakes up to discover a tall fence built between their two farms. A charming series of adventures for younger readers, featuring a family of all sorts of animals that live in the farmyard behind the tumble-down barn on Mudpuddle Farm… Mossop the old farm cat likes to sleep - and not much else! So when Farmer Rafferty tells him to catch twenty-six mice by sunset, all the animals have to pull together to give Mossop one last chance... Jigger the sheepdog has just one day off a year. Just one day to chase all those little animals hiding in the corn. But even the best made plans can go wrong...

Michael Morpurgo is a master storyteller, weaving captivating stories full of drama and intensity that are coming to be regarded as true classics. Exploring the most profound subjects with a light yet powerful touch, his books tell unforgettable stories in simple, direct words.

Curriculum

In November 2016 Michael Morpurgo won the J M Barrie Award for his contribution to children’s literature.This award is given every year by Action for Children’s Arts to a “children’s arts practitioner” whose lifetime’s work has delighted children and will stand the test of time. Devastated by the loss of playtime with his best pal and the fact that pigs can’t jump over fences, Pintsize resolves that he will figure out how to fly over it instead. Can his determination and ingenuity defy the laws of physics? Will crotchety Farmer Rafferty finally make peace with his neighbour, Farmer Brightwell? Can Albertine the clever goose keep Pintsize from hurting himself as he tries to fly?

Michael Morpurgo has thrilled and delighted huge numbers of young readers since becoming a children’s author in the early 1970s," Wood said. "Action for Children’s Arts is delighted to recognise Michael’s outstanding contribution by presenting him with the J M Barrie Award 2016. His work will undoubtedly, like Peter Pan, stand the test of time, making him a truly worthy recipient of this award." A charming series of adventures for younger readers, featuring a family of all sorts of animals that live in the farmyard behind the tumble-down barn on Mudpuddle Farm... It's a long hot summer, and Pintsize the piglet wonders if it might be cooler in the sky. But when he tries to fly, he annoys just about everyone. It's time he learned his lesson... Golden Toad Theatre presents a new farmyard musical about the joy of unlikely friendships. Musical adaptation by Caroline Wigmore & Jen Green. For more information about the work of Farms for City Children, please visit www.farmsforcitychildren.org

Summary

Michael's books have been translated into many languages including Chinese, Bulgarian and Hungarian, Hebrew and Japanese. He travels all over the UK and abroad talking to people of all ages at literary festivals, telling his stories and encouraging them to tell theirs. A fox is on the loose, and all the animals except Albertine the goose have hidden themselves inside. Albertine is safe on her island in the pond – at least so she thinks, until the fox starts swimming towards her… Something strange is going on at Mudpuddle Farm. Egbert the goat is not himself at all. Instead of grumbling, he’s singing and dancing! And he’s even greedier than usual… Design and create your own puppets using recycled objects and bring them to life in this workshop for children ages 3-11 and their adults. These explorative sessions are created by professional performers and puppeteers.

Michael Morpurgo Book Discussion Guide - Encourage meaningful dialogue around the wonderful writing of Michael Morpurgo with this discussion guide. Meet the creatures that live behind the tumble-down barn on Mudpuddle Farm! There’s farmyard adventure galore in this pair of exciting stories. In Mossop’s Last Chance, the farmer is very cross with the lazy farm cat, who likes to sleep – and not much else! When Farmer Rafferty tells him to catch twenty-six mice by sunset, can all the animals give Mossop one last chance? And when poor Albertine the goose is terrorized by a crafty fox, how will she escape? From a former Children’s Laureate, this simple book for younger readers has a wonderfully fresh outdoor setting.

Jigger the sheepdog has just one day off a year. Just one day to chase all those little animals hiding in the corn. But even the best made plans can go wrong… A son and grandson of actors, Michael has acting in his blood and enjoys collaborating and performing live adaptations of his books at festivals, concerts and theatres.

You can also read about his life in War Child to War Horse,a collaborative biography with Maggie Fergusson. Morpurgo added: “Storymakers and storytellers like Barrie, and like all the previous winners of this award, have given us the hope and faith children need, we need, to keep flying, have sustained us through dark and troubled times, have banished doubt. To touch the lives of children, to witness their listening and reading silence, is reward enough in itself. This is simply the icing on the cake.”It’s a long hot summer, and Pintsize the piglet wonders if it might be cooler in the sky. But when he tries to fly, he annoys just about everyone. It’s time he learned his lesson… Looking for even more? Browse our full collection of Michael Morpurgo resources here! What is the book ‘Mudpuddle Farm’ about?