The Pied Piper of Hamelin

A beautiful edition of this classic retelling by master storyteller Michael Morpurgo, with glorious illustrations by Emma Chichester Clark.

In the town of Hamelin, the rich and greedy live like kings and queens while the poor and sick scavenge rubbish tips for scraps. A lame orphan boy tells the classic tale of how a plague of rats takes over the town and how a fantastic piper offers to rid Hamelin of its rats for a single gold coin, then lures away the town’s children when the greedy mayor breaks his word. Masterfully weaving contemporary social and environmental themes into a gripping tale, and celebrating it with breath-taking illustrations, former British Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo and illustrator Emma Chichester Clark team up to create a compelling new take on this timeless story.

Emma Chichester Clark’s illustrations … create gorgeous, detailed tapestries: never was a swarm of rats so beautiful. Michael Morpurgo’s version has a timeless sense of justice Sunday Times
Emma Chichester Clark's illustrations are outstanding -- Amanda Craig The Times
Morpurgo has done a wonderful job of bringing the pied piper to life while Chichester Clark's illustrations are a vision to behold Daily Express
The great duo strike gold again Angels and Urchins
Together, writer and artist have created a work of immense and deeply moving energy. It is a truly remarkable achievement... It is a most important work of art! School Librarian
Emma Chichester Clark’s gorgeous illustrations enhance Michael Morpurgo’s retelling of The Pied Piper of Hamelin. The result makes it a good book choice for this age group. Newbury Weekly News

Michael Morpurgo has written more than ninety books and and has won numerous prizes, including both the Whitbread Award and the Children's Book Award. His books include retellings of Hansel and Gretel, illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark, as well as Beowulf and Sir Gawain the Green Knight, both illustrated by Michael Foreman. Michael was Children's Laureate between 2003 – 2005. He lives near Winkleigh, Devon.

Emma Chichester Clark studied at the Chelsea School of Art and the Royal College of Art from 1980 to 1983, where she was taught by Quentin Blake. In 1988, she won the Mother Goose Award for the most exciting newcomer to children's book illustration. She has written and illustrated many acclaimed books for young readers, including Goldilocks and the Three Bears, which she retold and illustrated, and Hansel and Gretel, retold by Michael Morpurgo. She lives in London, W6.

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