This series is designed to help primary teachers plan focused sessions on the work of popular, well-loved and valued authors, both classic and contemporary. Each book contains a range of activities for use directly in the classroom, covering: biographical information about the author; a review of the author’s work and a summary of the major themes in his or her key texts; key language features of the author; frameworks to help children analyse, evaluate and compare texts, and to develop opinions of authors’ works; ideas for writing modelled on or developed from key texts; speaking and listening opportunities, drama and role play ideas; and references to video, CD-ROM, websites and ICT activities. Inside each book is a colour poster illustrating the work of the author, which also has a set of challenges on the back. Michael Morpurgo is the author of over 60 books for children, including Sam’s Duck , The Butterfly Lion , The Wreck of the Zanzibar and Kensuke’s Kingdom . Beginning with a detailed plan for structuring a half-term’s work on Michael Morpurgo, this book presents activities which focus on narrative structure, character development, settings and themes. Activities and games include: focus on biography - writing blurbs, role-playing ask the author , creating a magazine article/web page about the author; exploring key themes - bullies, not liking school, caring for animals, relationships with older people; farm and country life; creating a character sketch; writing in role; focusing on time with a story web; analysing setting; and an in-depth study of The Butterfly Lion .