On Angel Wings

by Michael Morpurgo, Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

Michael Morpurgo and Quentin Blake's classic Christmas story, now in a brand-new larger gift format – the perfect Christmas gift! A singing of wings, a glorious light, and a sudden beacon of brightness. It can only mean – can it really? – a visit from the Angel Gabriel himself … One cold Christmas night, a shepherd recounts the magical story of how he came to be the first visitor to the newborn Christ child – ahead of the other shepherds, and in complete secret. This magical reworking of the nativity by the bestselling author of War Horse Michael Morpurgo is beautifully illustrated by Quentin Blake. A wonderful Christmas gift to treasure and share. Michael Morpurgo's book 'There Once is a Queen' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 06-06-2022.

Genres: Christmas, Childrens, Fiction, Picture Books

48 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2006

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

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This retelling of the Nativity story was nice enough. I liked Quentin Blakes illustrations for this, the colours were nice and I liked the angels but for me Blake's style suggests something comical and jokey so they didn't suit the tone of the book, I want something more magical for a Christmas story. Some of the language used by the characters didn't match the period of history the rest of the story seems to be in either. There are so many Christmas stories out there, I didn't feel this was one of the better ones.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This small hardback retells the Nativity story from a shepherd boy's perspective. It is quite clever how Morpurgo does this and makes it accessible and interesting for quite a wide age range. It is also beautifully, but simply, illustrated by Quentin Blake. We have had it quite some time now, but occasionally we return to it. Perfect for the Christmas Period.

[Surya · Rating 2 out of 5]

My favorite line from the book is this,
"He smiled, and it was a smile I have never forgotten, a smile of such love that it moves my heart to this day whenever I think of it."

I wish I could smile like that. I most definitely believe in angels in a sense that kind, sensible and thoughtful people who transform people's lives are angels.

[Roxanne Hsu Feldman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm baffled by how such a short book could not have been improved upon by the editorial process to make the voice consistent with the time period or location it's supposedly set (first century, probably the year 60s or some such, near Jerusalem) -- expressions such as, "scaredy cat" or "proper stupid we felt" are quite out of place. I also wonder if a humble shepherd youth, probably mid- or late-teen, would how to write down the grandfather's story because it is supposedly what the narrator did.

[Tarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is pretty nice. The little shepherd gets to fly with an angel to go visit Baby Jesus the night He is born.

My favorite bit is about how the angels in the night sky who announced Christ's birth, also become guardians over the flock of sheep, while the shepherds go to Bethlehem.

The illustrations aren't my personal favorite, but still has a fun appearance.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is now my all time favourite Christmas Story. I want the chance to read it to all my grandchildren on the night before Christmas for as many Christmases as possible. It is full of wonder and promise which is just what Christmas is. Brilliantly illustrated by Quentin Blake.

[Deyanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read so many Christmas stories that something must be really well done and unique to stay with me. This was just so-so.

[Bex · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story of the youngest shepherd boy at the nativity. Angels we have heard on high etc. Love the illustrations in my edition.

[Desna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice more traditional tale of Christmas.

[Fiona Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a very magical twist on the Christmas story; told from the the shepherds point of view and their journey to see baby Jesus. Loved Quentin Beake’s illustrations.

[Pauline Keane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful little book for children telling the well known Christmas Story from the the shepherd’s experience.

[Federica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un nonno racconta tutti gli anni la stessa storia ai suoi nipoti, mentre insieme nella notte, davanti al fuoco, badano alle pecore. Una storia meravigliosa, di quando bambino fu visitato dall'Angelo Gabriele che lo portò in volo sulle sue ali fino alla grotta di Betlemme.
Il nonno, colpito dallo sguardo d'amore del bambino Gesù avrebbe poi seguito per tutta la vita quel bimbo divenuto adulto, il suo Salvatore.
Ma ai nipoti pare una storia inventata, sempre la stessa, forse un sogno o una pia illusione?
Ma quella stessa notte i nipoti avranno una visita speciale, che li convincerà che quella storia riaccade sempre, ed è vera veramente.

[Dhwani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!

[Vonnie Skaggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been a nice addition to our stack of "Christmas Books". It is a sweet story for children and adults. And the illustrations by Quentin Blake are a nice touch.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book about nativity that KS2 children can enjoy. Read it with my older children in Christmas week and they enjoyed hearing it.

[J.T. Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful in word, line and color, but most of all in the spirit of the Christmas story.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story of a young shepherd who gets to meet the baby Jesus in his manger on the first day of his life. Michael Morpurgo tells a interesting adaptation of this Biblical story, and Quentin Blake demonstrates his distinctive style of art in a way that enriches its meaning. I think I'll read this to my college students at Christmas!

[Thebruce1314 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure what age group this book is aimed at - it looks like a picture book for children, but there is a lot of text on each page and fewer illustrations than I would expect. It is a retelling of the story of the birth of Jesus, told from the perspective of a young shepherd. Not my very favourite of Morpurgo's books (which I love!), but a nice Christmas story.

[Tanja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whatever Michael Morpurgo writes, I just love it. His stories always have a very special touch. In this one, he narrates the night Jesus was born through the eyes of a young shepherd. Lovely illustrations by Quentin Beake make this a special little gift especially around Christmas.

[LibraryLaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fresh take on the Christmas story. I thought Roald Dahl's illustrator was an unusual choice, but it works.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, magical retelling of the Christmas story with wonderful illustrations by Quentin Blake. A really special little gem of a book.

[Fariza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Walaupun buku ini berkenaan dengan kelahiran Jesus. Teknik penulisan Michael Morpurgo memang sentiasa mempersonakan.

[Brenda Wharton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this with the boys and was a great retelling of the birth of Jesus, told by the shepards

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely holiday book, more a slim novel than a picture book, really. The illustrations by Quentin Blake really add something special (as all his illustrations do).

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A known story written for the young readers with his style of story telling.