This was sweet and sad story, as well writeen as all of Michael Morpurgo's books. My three star rating is nothing to do with the quality of the book but simply my relationship with it. Whereas a lot of Morpurgo's novel really cross the age divide and are of equal interest to adults and children this was clearly was a younger child's novel. As a book for a child in that age group it would have been given a 5 star rating. ( )

This is a really beautiful, heartwarming little story with an unexpected twist at the end. It is a very easy and quick read due to the size and flow of the book. Morpurgo knows how to write a sensitive story that grips you right from the beginning.

The story is all about a little girl called Roxanne who found a bear cub one day and after convincing her grandfather that the bear could make him some money he agreed to her keeping it. From this moment on Roxanne and the bear become very close, it was as if they were one in the same person. Roxanne used to sing to the bear to help calm him and lull him to sleep every day. One day a popular actor (Niki) came to the village to film a show (an interpretation of the Pied Piper) using all the village people to play the parts. During this time Niki discovered Roxanne’s voice and offered her fame and riches. She thought long and hard about what she was being offered and discussed what was happening with her bear. She also sang to her bear to help settle him.

You will need to read the book to find out how it ended as I don’t want to spoil it for you. Enjoy. ( )

This is a short story about a small and fairly isolated village in the mountains and how it gained a pet bear and about the big wide world of fame and fortune that comes to visit and offers a new life of fame and fortune to a child of the village. Central to the story is the character of a good teacher. It's heart warming and hopeful despite having the characteristic not so happy parts that most Morpurgo stories have. ( )

A great short story ( )

Roxanne is an orphan girl who lives with her grouchy grand-father. She finds a lost bear cub who she keeps and delights the village with him. One day a film crew comes to make a film of The Pied Piper of Hamiln with. When they discover the bear can dance they suddenly put him in. But the lovely bear can only dance when he is listoning to Roxanne's sweet voice. The crew decide to drop the bear and the directer takes Roxanne as a singer. ( )