Michael Morpurgo

Age: 9+

Published: February 2007

ISBN: 9781405229258

Format: Paperback

Gracie and Daniel have been warned to stay away from the mad Birdman, but a message in the sand tells them the Birdman isn’t what he seems. Then they get lost in the fog and stranded on Samson Island – should they believe the Birdman’s story that the island is cursed? Why the Whales Came is set in the Isles of Scilly during World War I.

Download a PDF extract ›

Buying options

Buy Why the Whales Came on Amazon.co.uk

Also available in:

Get in touch about rights in other languages ›

Related Resources

Why the Whales Came

This set of lesson plans is loosely based on the Year 5 Literacy Framework and covers a range of core skills such as dictionary work and different writing styles. It can be used over a period of 3 weeks to form a unit of work. The suggested activities are in no particular order and not specific only to year 5 so can be used as and when, or as a guided reading activity. All the worksheets are designed to be photocopiable.

Download (PDF) ›

Reviews

Write a review of Why the Whales Came. Your review won't appear on the site straight away as we will read it first.

anna_banana says:

I loved this book. 10/10. He obvoiusly put a lotof thought into this whole thing. Would definitly reccomend it!

ElmoRose55 says:

I love Why the Whales Came! We are reading it at school for guided reading. We haven’t yet finished it but it is brilliant so far. It is so descriptive and you always feel what the characters feel he has written so well. I really recommend to anyone who likes reading stories about real life situations! I hope you like it - I do!

Phoebe says:

This is an amazing adventure book for children 9+. I would recommend it to anyone over the age of 9…even adults!!!!

micahphone says:

I have not read this book but it sound like a really good book. My friend loves reading and reccomends this book so I am going to get a copy and read it myself. I have read many of his books and they are really good so thank you micheal morpurgo for writing such magnificent books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zenab says:

This is an amazing book. I would recommend it from anyone aged 9. I have read this book more than 3 times and im still not bored of it when you read the book you can actually imagine the atmosphere and how the characters feel and move in your head. Its a wonderful book!

10/10

Shauny says:

amazing i was scared at the begining but it was happy at the end PHEW! This is my favourite book from micheal morpurgo.

Emma says:

I heavily enjoyed this book like so many others by Michael Morpurgo. This book shows bravery, determination and overall I think the main message was that the two children had to be different than everyone else to do what they thought was right. I felt that I was being sucked into the book as I turned every page and my mum had to physically wave her hand in front of my face to get me to return to the real world. I loved the book from the very first page to the very last and I think it has a very meaningful message which is that even if someone is different and people think they are strange, it doesn't mean that you have to be a sheep and think like everyone else. This story simply proves that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover or in this case, judge a man by his cover. An excellent book with deep meaning. I'd give it 10/10 any day no doubt about it.

Jess says:

This book was amazing. I really love the feeling it gives you. It reminds me of the islands in Scotland I have been to. It was so mysterious and easy to make connections with the characters. It was if you were there with Michael whilst he was writing it! It would be fab to hear and see the things that fuel his stories. I could read it again and again. 10/10