Gr 5-8-A grandfather tells his grandson about the horrors of war in this story set during the Spanish Civil War. As a youngster, Antonito lived on a small farm outside the village of Sauceda. His father raised strong black bulls for the bullring, or corrida. The boy bonded with a newborn calf after its mother died, and in order to save it, he led Paco into the surrounding hills. While they were away, Franco's soldiers bombed the village. Leaving Paco behind, Antonito returned home, discovering the farm in flames. He escaped back into the safety of the countryside, but couldn't find the calf. Weeks later, suffering from hunger and exhaustion, he was found by his Uncle Juan, a Republican soldier, and nursed back to health. While recuperating, he heard a tale of a large black bull that chased down Nationalist soldiers, and he hoped that it was Paco. Years later, after he dreamed that the creature rested next to him while he slept in the forest, he awakened to discover hoof marks of a massive bull in the still-warm grass. Morpurgo's action-filled novel packs an emotional punch. The author gradually reveals the historical information and narrates the tale with the careful detachment of someone relating a story so awful that he can hardly bear to tell it. Ideal for reluctant readers, this book focuses on the loss and grief that grows out of times of war.-Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Best-selling author Michael Morpurgo turns his storytelling skills to the drama and tragedy of the Spanish Civil War, read by Christopher Barlow.
TORO! TORO! is the story of a young boy growing up in Andalucia, Spain, on a farm rearing bulls for the bull ring. Antonito hand-rears a little black calf, but the boy doesn't yet understand the fate of the black bulls - the corrida and death. Later, learning of the horrors of the bull fight, he frees Paco, and rides with him into the hills. There they witness the beginning of the Spanish Civil War and Antonito is left alone - his family and the farm are destroyed by bombs, and Paco has run off, wild with fright. He decides to stay in the hills, where he joins the Resistance fighters. Around the campfire, Antonito hears tales of the wonderful black bull, who becomes a symbol of freedom for them all. Could this really be Paco? One night, Antonito falls asleep and dreams of Paco. In the morning, he wakes to see hoof prints on the ground beside him...
A delightful story, full of nostalgia and drama in the author's own inimitable style. Illustrated by Michael Foreman.
Immerse yourself in this historical fiction, a bestseller by the Sunday Times bestselling author, Michael Morpurgo. The story, though short, is a poignant depiction of the military conflicts during the Spanish Civil War, seen through the innocent eyes of a child.
For fans of M.G. Leonard (Twitch), Lauren St. John (Finding Wonder), Michelle Paver (Wolf Brother), and Bob Cattell (Glory Gardens 1).
Best-selling author Michael Morpurgo turns his storytelling skills to the drama and tragedy of the Spanish Civil War, read by Christopher Barlow.
TORO! TORO! is the story of a young boy growing up in Andalucia, Spain, on a farm rearing bulls for the bull ring. Antonito hand-rears a little black calf, but the boy doesn't yet understand the fate of the black bulls - the corrida and death. Later, learning of the horrors of the bull fight, he frees Paco, and rides with him into the hills. There they witness the beginning of the Spanish Civil War and Antonito is left alone - his family and the farm are destroyed by bombs, and Paco has run off, wild with fright. He decides to stay in the hills, where he joins the Resistance fighters. Around the campfire, Antonito hears tales of the wonderful black bull, who becomes a symbol of freedom for them all. Could this really be Paco? One night, Antonito falls asleep and dreams of Paco. In the morning, he wakes to see hoof prints on the ground beside him...
A delightful story, full of nostalgia and drama in the author's own inimitable style. Illustrated by Michael Foreman.
Immerse yourself in this historical fiction, a bestseller by the Sunday Times bestselling author, Michael Morpurgo. The story, though short, is a poignant depiction of the military conflicts during the Spanish Civil War, seen through the innocent eyes of a child.
For fans of M.G. Leonard (Twitch), Lauren St. John (Finding Wonder), Michelle Paver (Wolf Brother), and Bob Cattell (Glory Gardens 1).
Editorial Reviews
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940170299263 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HarperCollins UK |
| Publication date: | 01/05/2012 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
| Age Range: | 8 - 11 Years |
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