Michael Morpurgo "singing for Mrs Pettigrew" (a storymakers tale)

Just finished this after my daughter had zoomed through it. (fast & avid 7yr old reader)
Worth a mention here.

A collection of his short stories with a few pages between each as to how they came about...

Deals with all sorts, but ending with the title story itself of young Morpurgo & his time as a kid in the marshes..
a well written piece aimed at the young teen & those beyond who simply like a well told subject.

A little old thai lady living in a train carriage widowed & living te life with her donkey, dogs, bee's & small plot, then the marshes are deemed "ideal" for the building of Bradwell Nuclear power station, compulsory purchase, concrete shrouds & a facility that doesn't work, this is a "never go back to your youth" story.

filled with beauty & sadness throughout, ..a man in part responsible for my childs view of the world & her caring nature, oh for a compulsory 30 mins at the end of the day simply telling stories, if you want to change kids teach them the beauty of books & let their imagination fire away!

..cheaper, far cheaper than mopping up "sink estates" ..was it due to kids not reading these days or a respect & love of books that meant a branch of waterstones was left untouched in recent riots?

Sadly I think it was the former.