This is an irresistible Christmas gift collection from the Master Storyteller. This is a collection of Michaels existing Christmas books (The Best Christmas Present in the World" " On Angel Wings" & " The Best of Times") with a new story " The Goose is Getting Fat". Curl up by the fireside & let Michael Morpurgo envelop you in stories of faraway lands & unexpected adventures. " The Best Christmas Present in the World"
- A mysterious letter in a secret drawer brings one night in the Great War vividly to life. Writing home from the front a soldier has an incredible story to tell. " On Angel Wings"
- A singing of wings a glorious light & a sudden beacon of brightness? It can only mean
- can it really?
- a visit from the Angel Gabriel himself..." The Best of Times"
- When the Prince & Princess marry joy rings out across the l&. But all too soon it fades away & a shadow hangs over the royal palace. As Christmas approaches Prince Frederico must find a way to warm his new brides aching heart. " The Goose is Getting Fat"
- A NEW STORY! Gertrude the goose is getting bigger by the day & Charlie is proud to look after her. But as Christmas approaches the thought of the grizzly fate awaiting her fills him with sadness. Can he save Gertrude from the Christmas dinner table?"





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Signing for Liverpool at the tender age of 17 Michael Owen soon made his mark at the highest level; in the 1997/98 season he was joint top goal scorer in the Premiership & was voted PFA Young Player of the Year. The first British player in twenty years to be crowned European Footballer of the Year Michael then helped Liverpool to League Cup FA Cup & UEFA Cup victories. With silverware in the cabinet he sought a fresh challenge with a move to join the galactios at Real Madrid in 2004. But despite some effective displays against tough competition in Spain his passion for the English game meant he couldnt resist a return to the Premiership. Newcastle United stepped in & in August 2005 Owen became a Magpie. After a career-threatening injury at the 2006 World Cup & management uncertainty at St Jamess Park Michael endured a turbulent time. But then came Manchester United with Sir Alex Ferguson taking a chance on Owen in 2009. & he has blossomed in his new role at Old Trafford taking on the coveted number 7 shirt & scoring vital goals
- ironically for Liverpools most bitter rivals. This is the story of one of the worlds greatest ever goalscorers.
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When Michael Palin was researching for his novel HEMINGWAYS CHAIR his interest was stimulated by Hemingways appetite for travel & Papas evocations of the places he knew. Hemingway remains a compelling figure & Palins goal was to revisit Hemingways world. This book

Includes:: the American West (wide lawns & narrow minds) Idaho Michigan (fly fishing hunting) Europe in the First World (where Hemingway was wounded serving in the Ambulance Brigade) Cuba (where Hemingway wrote FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS) Paris in the Roaring Twenties & Spain during the Spanish Civil War Sun Valley & Key West
- where the Hemingway lookalike competition is an annual event.


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This is a heartbreakingly honest account of a fathers grief for his son from the illustrious pairing of two former Childrens Laureates. Very occasionally the term non-fiction has to stretch itself to accommodate a book that fits into no category at all. Michael Rosens Sad Book" is such a book. It chronicles Michaels grief at the death of his son Eddie from meningitis at the age of 19. A moving combination of sincerity & simplicity it acknowledges that sadness is not always avoidable or reasonable & perfects the art of making complicated feelings plain. It wasnt made like any other book either; Michael Rosen said of the text I wrote it at a moment of extreme feeling & it went straight down onto the page... Quentin didnt illustrate it he realized it. He turned the text into a book & as a result showed me back to myself. No writer could ask & get more than that. & Quentin Blake says that the picture of Michael being sad but trying to look happy is the most difficult drawing hes ever done...a moving experience. Michael Rosens " Sad Book" which has sold over 125 000 copies in hardback won the Exceptional Book category at the English 4-11 Book Awards for the Best Books the Smarties Book Prize 6-8 Category Bronze Award & was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal." ...

From Agard to Zephaniah the very best of children's poetry from the very best of children's poets appears in this wonderful & exciting anthology edited by Michael Rosen the Children's Laureate. Coinciding with his laureateship & a very welcome public promotion of the need for children's poetry in our education system this future classic for Puffin will delight readers young & old & make the perfect gift. ...

Michael Schumacher is the outstanding Formula One driver of his generation & statistically the greatest ever. Gifted with a rare blend of superior ability & nerve that defines a champion for 15 seasons he has left rivals trailing in his wake winning an unprecedented seven world drivers championships. But he is a controversial figure feared for his ruthless tactics despised for using extreme methods in pursuit of his goals. THE EDGE OF GREATNESS examines Schumachers entire career: from his first Grand Prix with Jordan to his Benetton world championships & his attempt to win back Ferraris crown. It tells the story behind Schumachers record five consecutive world titles uncovers the secrets of how he has stayed at the top for so long & examines the impact of his domination on the sport. Frank honest adroit & in-depth
- James Allen reveals the anatomy of a champion.
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Abe says to Hymie 'I'm going to divorce my wife. She hasn't spoken to me in over two months.' Hymie says ' You better think it over Abe women like that are hard to find.' Michael Winner's hilarious Hymie jokes which now appear every week as a tail-piece to his popular ' Winner's Dinners' column in The Sunday Times have acquired cult status with readers sending in Hymie jokes to add to Winner's own & demanding a collection of them
- here it is! Apart from the many jokes Hymie offers his own idiosyncratic views on society in general & gives his own Hymie Restaurant Awards which will be announced at a star-studded function. He also offers his views on Winner himself ' That fellow Vinner thinks he's funny. He thinks he knows about restaurants...well he couldn't tell a snitzel from a bagel. Believe me he's just a putz!'
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Take a really wild rhyming adventure with these wacky & wonderful poems from TV presenter Michaela Strachan. From trying to out spit a cobra to pulling out the tooth from a polar bear join her on real-life animal rescues & daring challenges plus some guessing games in this action-packed cavalcade of raucous read-aloud rhymes accompanied by Sarah Hornes vivid illustrations & great photos. ...

Take a really wild rhyming adventure with these wacky & wonderful poems from TV presenter Michaela Strachan. From trying to out spit a cobra to pulling out the tooth from a polar bear join her on real-life animal rescues & daring challenges plus some guessing games in this action-packed cavalcade of raucous read-aloud rhymes accompanied by Sarah Horne's vivid illustrations & a great photos. ...

The Roux family is the most influential family associated with food in Britain. Through their various restaurants (Le Gavroche Waterside Inn Brasserie Roux) & catering services they have trained many of Britains top chefs. Albert & Michel Sr brought French high cuisine to Britain in the sixties much of the produce being brought twice weekly from France by Michels mother in the family car. Michel grew up in an environment of respect for fine food & ingredients of never settling for second best & of traditional French family excursions to find wild food. He tells the story of what it was like to grow up as part of this close-knit family. He left school at 16 to start his first apprenticeship with Maitre Patissier Hellegourarche in Paris. He then worked with Alain Chapel at Mionnay before doing his mililtary service at the Elysee Palace cooking for Presidents Giscard d Estaing & Francois Mitter&. After a stint cooking at the Mandarin Hotel in Hong Kong & catering in London he took over the running of Le Gavroche in 1994. ...