Where My Wellies Take Me by Michael Morpurgo

by Michael Morpurgo

A childhood scrapbook with poems and pictures. .Pippa loves staying with her Aunty Peggy. She loves going for walks, whether it's sunshiney or cold - long, wandering walks where her wellies take her. Follow Pippa into the beautiful countryside as her day unfolds, and the wildlife, animals and people she encounters are complemented by relevant poems from some of our greatest authors. Part poetry anthology, part child's scrapbook, this is a truly lavish project designed to instil a love of language in young children.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Nature, Childrens, Art, Animals, Adventure

Hardcover

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

Sir Michael Andrew Morpurgo, OBE, FRSL is the author of many books for children, five of which have been made into films. He also writes his own screenplays and libretti for opera. Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in 1943, he was evacuated to Cumberland during the last years of the Second World War, then returned to London, moving later to Essex. After a brief and unsuccessful spell in the army, he took up teaching and started to write. He left teaching after ten years in order to set up 'Farms for City Children' with his wife. They have three farms in Devon, Wales and Gloucestershire, open to inner city school children who come to stay and work with the animals. In 1999 this work was publicly recognised when he and his wife were invested a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to youth. In 2003, he was advanced to an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) in 2004. He was knighted in the 2018 for his services to literature and charity. He is also a father and grandfather, so children have always played a large part in his life. Every year he and his family spend time in the Scilly Isles, the setting for three of his books.

Reviews

[J.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely add the books I read with my children to my GR list, but this one is special.

Wonderful story -entertaining and informative, well-chosen poetry, truly stunning artwork.

It's a beautiful book. So, so beautiful.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice mix of classic poems and more modern ones, beautifully presented.

[Les McFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow! Love this book. So here comes another reaction as My book reviews are dire!
Love the size, shape and feel of it. Its matte, thick pages covered in the most entrancing artwork. The colours are earthy and primal ( can you say that about colour?!) So before I had read it I was already a little bit in love with it!
The girl riding a horse on the front cover, Pippa, takes a well established walk from Aunt Peggy's round the surrounding area depicted on the map in the front of the book ( I have a 'thing' for maps!)
The book has a scrapbook kind of feel to it. The poems that intersperse Pippa's journey are typed but the narrative itself has the look of being hand written. This gives it a personal feel and it played out like a commentary in my mind as I read. Not in an overpowering way, in fact quite the opposite, it felt as though I was listening in on her thoughts.
Some of the illustrations had an unfinished quality, as if we were peeking into a sketchbook. The songbirds and the wildflowers were a particular treasure although I loved each and every picture for one reason or another.
Then of course there's the poetry. I know absolutely nothing about poetry. I am ashamedly completely ignorant. But boy oh boy! Even a heathen like me couldn't fail to be interested by the array of verse on offer here. Yeats, Rafferty, De La Mare and Ted Hughes to name but a few. It has made me determined to develop my knowledge of poetry ( I found Hughes's poems varied, and intriguing, maybe I'll start there?!)
The book was written to raise money for a worthy cause and this was a borrowed copy. So I'm off to buy my own..... not least because this will take a few more reads to dig around some more in this earthy adventure of country life and prose.

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so glad to see that both Michael and Clare were a part of this scrapbook together. They have been tirelessly running Farms for City Children now for decades (http://farmsforcitychildren.org/peopl...) in order to bring the wild a little closer to those who may never have the opportunity to see it. This collection of poetry chosen by both and wonderfully illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill, allows us to follow a young Clare (Pippa) through her early holidays at Iddesleigh where she would walk the lanes and fields. This area of Devon has clearly called to both Michael and Clare and has been an important setting to Michael for many of his works.
Pippa's first-person narrative guides us through the countryside in a beautiful, cursive script past a range of watercolours and poetry ranging from De La Mare to Yeats. There are plenty of lift-the-flaps, maps, pull out pages to make the reader a part of the exploration. This is a rich exploration of the countryside and so well presented that a child who is not allowed to explore it is a child who has missed out on an enriching and enlightening reading experience.

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happiness is reading a book that can transport you to the outdoors wherever you might be! My Mum and Dad had nostalgic smiles on their faces as they watched me unwrap this book. They instantly found themselves back in their childhoods, back in Pippa's shoes...or should I say wellies! And I have to admit, I felt the same way.

This is a beautiful and honest winding narrative, taking a donder through fields and hedgerows of poetry from many wonderful people! Pippa is our host, our storyteller, our teacher - a young girl with a passion for the outdoors. The book itself is a more grown up version of the Jolly Postman, with maps to open and secrets hiding behind doors! It never fails to excite the child within. The style of the book and the mixed media used to compile this tactile adventure is probably a bit like Marmite. I loved it. If you would like to escape a little each day, lose yourself in this lovely book!

Brilliant for use in classrooms for seasons, places, poetry, insects and animals!

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful little book about an English girl who is out and about in the countryside. The illustrations were clever and interesting. There was some text but mostly it was a collection of poems about the flora and fauna of the countryside. I see it more as a reference for kids to choose a poem from to memorize, to describe an illustration that they created, or to add to a poetry book that they are making.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book for the nostalgic feeling it gave me having been brought up in a small English Village it transported me back 50 years

[Phobean]

A very sweet, quiet book with pretty illustrations and an unusual format, sprinkled with poetry. I would have LOVED it as a child. Didn't quite have the patience for it as an adult, and then the library needed the book back. I think I'll probably try again, when I'm in the mood for slower reading.

[Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A spectacular collection of poetry in a beautifully presented scrap book. The whole experience of reading this book is magnificent, from the rich poetic language to the intricate illustrative details. The poetry collected tends to lend itself better to KS2 audiences (especially as independent reading), as there are more stage appropriate creative engagement opportunities ideal for guided reading, however -I for one- would use some of this poetry for KS1. Unlike most anthologies, the poetry is presented throughout a narrative, where the reader follows Pippa as she explores Devon’s countryside, alongside interactive maps and sketches. This book enriches, mesmerises and transports any reader beyond the realm of poetry. Traditional poets are included, for instance: Yeats and Hughes. Jumping into poetry without context is difficult for many, not just children, but this book really contextualises the poems in a more accessible way; much less threatening than a traditional anthology.

[Helen Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! This is a collection of poetry like no other I have read before.
I found the scrapbook style of the book very approachable, and I found myself wanting to read on and on. I often find delving into traditional poetry collections difficult, with no clear idea of where to start. The first-person narrative of the character Pippa, written by Michael Morpurgo, guides us through the countryside, and his love of the countryside shines through.

There are also plenty of lift-the-flaps, pull out pages, maps, and illustrations to pull the reader in. This again makes the poetry approachable and provides context for the poems that have been picked. It is a simple story of one girl's childhood, shining a light on some beautiful poems in a way that children and adults alike can enjoy.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.

This book is so wonderful and beautiful, it's a real treasure. I found this in my local library and it's just fabulous, it was in the poetry section though I originally thought it were for children. It's just so well illustrated and wonderfully laid out by the authors; Claire and Michael Morpurgo - I'd say they'd definitely given it a lot of thought and so it was really a pleasure to read.

The design and illustrations by Olivia Lomenech Gill really make the book stand out, it's so good. I'd definitely recommend this, not only for the written but also the illustrations which simply make the book exquisite.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

On May Day, a girl goes for a walk around her rural village, stopping by farms and streams along the way. At her stops or sightings of creatures, related poems are shared.

This is part fictional story part nature poetry collection. Nature lovers should really enjoy it. I'm not sure how the average modern middle grader will do in reading the cursive script used for the text of the girl's story as it is made to look like a girl has written it in a scrapbook and it isn't always super clear. I really enjoyed the poems of Ted Hughes in this, a poet I wasn't super aware of before.

[Mr Bramley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely beautiful little book.

The book I handwritten in the design of a scrapbook of a girl named Pippa. The story takes you on a journey of her days adventure across the farms and meadows of her countryside home and weaves in some of the authors favourite poems and small rhymes too.

I even spotted the folk song used in the stage adaptation of War Horse got a whole two page spread.

A little hard to follow and definitely one to read together or for older children, but beautifully made and creative nonetheless.

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such an endearing book. It follows Clare Morpurgo, as she walks through the countryside as a child. The narrative is aligned perfectly with poetry that is chosen at different snapshots of Clare's walk. The narrative is written in first person, making it feel as though we are given a true snapshot of a day in the countryside with Clare. I particularly love the scrap book feel of the book, I don't think the book would have the same effect if it were just an ordinary book with illustration next to it.

A great book to have in the classroom :)

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest I didn't read this book. It was chock full of observations and poems and unfortunately I just didn't have the time to read it right now. The art work and concept were really stunning though. It feels very much like you're reading someone's private journal. I looked at some of the poems and they were really well chosen. I will definitely check this out from my library again another time when I have more time to actually devote to it.

[Alison Coles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book - a 'keeper' Ideal to return to and lovely to look at with a child - a snuggly, together time. The illustrations, story, poems and quality of paper and bindings make this an exceptional book. One to return to again and again. There is a good range of poems - a few old favourites, new unfamiliar ones and only one I didn't like!

[Mousmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 Stars.
This book of poems took me back to my childhood.
It includes many of the poems that I had read while growing up, as well as some of the poems that I wasn't familiar with, but i still enjoyed.

[Rachelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lovely story of a young girl tromping around the countryside in her wellies. Beautiful poems throughout the scrapbook style. I was unsure of the audience. Children? Adults? Families reading the book together? Regardless, encourages children to get out more and play in the mud!

[RhiannaH · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely combination of poetry and story-telling; both compliment each other well in this heart-warming rebelling of childhood adventures.

[Enola Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and very inspiring, the boys loved the mixed media approach idea to journalling.

[Rebecca Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is possibly my favourite children's book ever. A fantastic mixture of classic poems and nostalgia. An elegant view into the childhood in the countryside.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book, pictures, poems and lots of wellied adventures.

[Yildiray Lise · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on nature love and literature.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely scrapbook-style book filled with poetry and art that accompanies and complements Pippa on her adventures.
This book is calming and intriguing.
Poetry index in back.

[Paula Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is superb, a wonderful book to use in so many ways. I cannot wait to share with my class.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used to read this everyday as a kid.

[Moira Macfarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zo'n mooi landschap, zo prachtig geïllustreerd. Het is knap als de sfeer zo goed gevangen wordt dat ik ook echt even daar ben in mijn hoofd.

'[...]

This was my dream beneath the boughs, the dream that altered me.
When I came out of the oakwood, back to human company,
My walk was the walk of a human child, but my heart was a tree.'

Ted Hughes

[Daiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A visual masterpiece, I wish Olivia Lomenech Gill took more credit for it. Pervaded by sensitivity and grace, it nests a fine collection of poems. Perfection for any lover of nature and art!

[Laura Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief Plot Summary:
This book is about a young girl called Pippa and her experience of the countryside. When staying with her Aunt Peggy, Pippa takes it upon herself to go on rambles through the country lanes of Devon in her wellies. Along the way, she encounters the various wildlife and people of the country. Pippa ‘loves’ poetry, and uses it to describe her thoughts and feelings as she comes across things in her journey. Some of the most famous poems Pippa incorporates into her diary-like narrative of her travels include: The Lamb’ by William Blake and ‘Incy Wincy Spider’. This book is nostalgic in every sense and is about the experience of growing up and how our surroundings affect it. Presented to the reader as a collection of poems selected by the fictional character, the book can be perceived as an anthology, however Pippa’s story gives it a fictional twist, creating the impression the book is like a scrapbook.

Why I like this book:
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book because of the way in which various poems are inter-weaved with Pippa’s story. It made the poetry more relevant and brought attention to the key themes that link these poems which are nostalgia, the country-side and growing up. I think children will be able to relate to this, and it could enable them to see more clearly what the key ideas of each of the poems are. Structured like a scrapbook, or a diary, children can again relate to this, and think of a similar way in which they can construct their own poetry anthology.

Appropriate age range:
This book is most appropriate for children aged between 7-11 years.

How it can be used in the classroom:
This book can be used across the curriculum. Here a few examples of how it can be employed:
In literacy this book can be used when discussing poetry, poetry anthologies and how they are constructed. More specifically it can be used to highlight how poems present a key theme or idea; children can discuss how these poems are all linked. It can also be used to discuss the effectiveness of language, and how structure and form can affect the way in which words are received in a poem.
In geography lessons this book can be used when teaching children about maps; their importance, the various forms they come in etc. It can also be used to demonstrate how journeys can be mapped and can be used as example before children are to map their own journeys.

[Libbyvine Vine · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I speak of a valley.
I call at morning
the roll of its farms
till cocks reply.
From the cobbled yards
they cry and eastwards
the first leaf stirs
in a hush of doves.

I speak of a river.
I herd the fleece bright
flock of its springs
till driven streams
are loud in the fold
I lead its waters
to praise among pastures
their hartstongue home.

I speak of a childhood.
I lay a nightlong
Fable of sleep
till morning sang
In the green of the light
between leaf and language
a birth of ballad
a bird alone.

Ballad and childhood
and psalm and river
in the cup of my hands
I priest its praise;
I speak of a valley
and shall for ever
out of my numbered days.”

Sean Rafferty

“Where my Wellies Take Me….” by Clare and Michael Morpurgo is an enchanting collage of wonderful poetry combined with stunning watercolour illustrations….The most lovely book and one you will absolutely want to have as part of your children’s Library. A MUST read for Anglophiles, poetry lovers (Ted Hughes, Christina Rossetti, William Blake to name a few) and for budding naturalists. Beg, Borrow or Steal to get your hands on a copy of this. Reminiscent of The Year at Maple Hill Farm by Alice Provensen- an ideal companion for homeschoolers or unschoolers or those who would like to add a bit of structure to their kids summer learning.