Michael Morpurgo was appointed Children’s Laureate in May 2003 and held the post until May 2005. During his time as Children’s Laureate, Michael travelled all over the UK talking to children and telling his stories and encouraging them to tell theirs.
He has written over 100 books including Why the Whales Came, which has been made into a major feature film, and My Friend Walter, filmed by Thames Television.  He won the Whitbread Children’s Book Award in 1995 and has been shortlisted many times.

Michael and his wife, Clare, started the charity Farms for City Children in 1976 and help to run three farms around the country, in Gloucestershire, Pembrokeshire and North Devon. Each farm offers children and teachers from urban primary schools the chance to live and work in the countryside for a week, and gain hands-on experience.