here
to be king boy children.
rom the Nation’s Favourite Sir Michael Morpurgo, comes a celebration of our new monarch, beautifully illustrated in watercolour acclaimed artist Michael Foreman.
There once was a little boy, born Encouraged by his parents, he grew passion for the countryside, wanting after it. Then, as the longest-serving of Wales in British history, he dedicated decades of his life to raising awareness conservation. Now our king, his work will continue to inspire the of our planet for future generations.
This allegorical story tells how – with a tiny acorn – a wise old woman gives who would be king, the courage and to change the world for the better, for There Once
this commemoration of King Charles coronation is a gift book truly to be
day . . .
once was who was going
Colouring Activity Colour in these scenes from the King’s life
©
2023 Sir Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain’s best-loved writers for children. He has written well over 130 books, many of which have been adapted for film, theatre and TV, and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award and the Whitbread Award. His recent bestselling novels and picture books include Boy Giant Toto and The Birthday Duck Michael is also the co-founder, with his wife Clare, of the charity Farms for City Children. In 2018 he was knighted for services to literature and charity. Michael Foreman is one of the most admired and best-known illustrators of our time. He has twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal, the most prestigious British award for an illustrator of children’s books, and has frequently collaborated with “the other Michael”, including recently on The Fox and the Ghost King Carnival of the Animals From the Nation’s Sir Michael Morpurgo, celebration of our beautifully illustrated acclaimed artist Michael There once was little Encouraged by his passion for the countryside, after it. Then, as the of Wales in British decades of his life conservation. Now work will continue of our planet for future This allegorical story a tiny acorn – wise who would be king, the to change the world An exquisite companion this commemoration coronation is gift book There once who was going www.harpercollins.co.uk Photograph Phil Crow Photograph Tom Dunkley illustrated by Michael Foreman There once was a boy who was different, not like other children. He was going to be king one day . . . Michael Morpurgo Michael Foreman THE B oy Who W ould B e GOLD FOIL There once was a boy who was different, not like other children. He was going to be king one day . . .
Illustration
Michael Foreman
Colour in these scenes from the King’s life Colouring Activity
2023 Sir Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain’s best-loved writers for children. He has written well over 130 books, many of which have been adapted for film, theatre and TV, and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award and the Whitbread Award. His recent bestselling novels and picture books include Boy Giant Toto and The Birthday Duck Michael is also the co-founder, with his wife Clare, of the charity Farms for City Children. In 2018 he was knighted for services to literature and charity. Michael Foreman is one of the most admired and best-known illustrators of our time. He has twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal, the most prestigious British award for an illustrator of children’s books, and has frequently collaborated with “the other Michael”, including recently on The Fox and the Ghost King Carnival of the Animals From the Nation’s Sir Michael Morpurgo, celebration of our beautifully illustrated acclaimed artist Michael There once was little Encouraged by his passion for the countryside, after it. Then, as the of Wales in British decades of his life conservation. Now work will continue of our planet for future This allegorical story a tiny acorn – wise who would be king, the to change the world An exquisite companion this commemoration coronation is gift book There once who was going www.harpercollins.co.uk Photograph Phil Crow Photograph Tom Dunkley illustrated by Michael Foreman There once was a boy who was different, not like other children. He was going to be king one day . . . Michael Morpurgo Michael Foreman THE B oy Who W ould B e GOLD FOIL There once was a boy who was different, not like other children. He was going to be king one day . . .
Illustration © Michael Foreman
Illustration ©
Sir Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain’s best-loved writers for children. He has written well over 130 books, many of which have been adapted for film, theatre and TV, and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award and the Whitbread Award. His recent bestselling novels and picture books include Boy Giant Toto and The Birthday Duck Michael is also the co-founder, with his wife Clare, of the charity Farms for City Children. In 2018 he was knighted for services to literature and charity. Michael Foreman is one of the most admired and best-known illustrators of our time. He has twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal, the most prestigious British award for an illustrator of children’s books, and has frequently collaborated with “the other Michael”, including recently on The Fox and the Ghost King Carnival of the Animals From the Nation’s Sir Michael Morpurgo, celebration of our beautifully illustrated acclaimed artist Michael There once was little Encouraged by his passion for the countryside, after it. Then, as the of Wales in British decades of his life conservation. Now work will continue of our planet for future This allegorical story a tiny acorn – wise who would be king, the to change the world An exquisite companion this commemoration coronation is gift book There once who was going www.harpercollins.co.uk Photograph Phil Crow Photograph Tom Dunkley illustrated by Michael Foreman There once was a boy who was different, not like other children. He was going to be king one day . . . Michael Morpurgo Michael Foreman THE B oy Who W ould B e GOLD FOIL There once was a boy who was different, not like other children. He was going to be king one day . . .
Michael Foreman 2023
Make your own bunting!
Use the templates to create your own bunting decorations.
Cut* out the flags and colour them in or use the template to cut* flags from red, white and blue paper.
Attach your flags to string or ribbon and your bunting is complete! Ask a grown up if you need help with cutting out
Illustration © Michael Foreman 2023
F rom the Nation’s Favourite Storyteller, Sir Michael Morpurgo, comes poetic celebration of our new monarch, King Charles III, beautifully illustrated in watercolour by acclaimed artist Michael Foreman. There once was little boy, born prince. Encouraged by his parents, he grew up with passion for the countryside, wanting to look after it. Then, as the longest-serving Prince of Wales in British history, he dedicated decades of his life to raising awareness for conservation. Now our king, his devoted work will continue to inspire the protection of our planet for future generations. This allegorical story tells how –with the help of tiny acorn wise old woman gives lonely boy, who would be king, the courage and determination to change the world for the better, for everyone. An exquisite companion to There Once Is Queen this commemoration of King Charles III’s coronation is a gift book truly to be treasured. T here once was a boy who was going to be king one day UK £12.99 CAN $24.99 illustrated by M ichael F oreman Michael Morpurgo Michael Foreman THE Boy Who Would Be GOLD FOIL
THE Boy Who Would Be
In TheBoyWhoWouldBeKing the young prince Charles plants an oak tree with his father. Use this oak leaf design in these fun craft ideas.
Party invitations
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Carefully cut* out the leaf here and use it as a template to make as many invitations as you need from coloured paper.
2. Write the details of your party on each leaf – don’t forget to include when and where the party will happen. You could use a gold or silver pen to make them look extra special. Now your invitations are ready to hand out!
*Ask a grown up if you need help with cutting out Sir Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain’s best-loved writers for children. He has written well over 130 books, many of which have been adapted for film, theatre and TV, and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award and the Whitbread Award. His recent bestselling novels and picture books include Boy Giant Toto and The Birthday Duck Michael is also the co-founder, with his wife Clare, of the charity Farms for City Children. In 2018 he was knighted for services to literature and charity. Michael Foreman is one of the most admired and best-known illustrators of our time. He has twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal, the most prestigious British award for an illustrator of children’s books, and has frequently collaborated with “the other Michael”, including recently on The Fox and the Ghost King Carnival of the Animals From the Nation’s Sir Michael Morpurgo, celebration of our beautifully illustrated acclaimed artist Michael There once was little Encouraged by his passion for the countryside, after it. Then, as the of Wales in British decades of his life conservation. Now work will continue of our planet for future This allegorical story a tiny acorn – wise who would be king, the to change the world An exquisite companion this commemoration coronation is gift book There once who was going www.harpercollins.co.uk Photograph Phil Crow Photograph Tom Dunkley illustrated by Michael Foreman There once was a boy who was different, not like other children. He was going to be king one day . . . Michael Morpurgo Michael Foreman THE B oy Who W ould B e GOLD FOIL
THE Boy Who Would Be
Coronation craft ideas
In TheBoyWhoWouldBeKing the young prince Charles plants an oak tree with his father. Use this oak leaf design in these fun craft ideas.
Table decorations
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Carefully cut* out the leaf design and use as a template to make lots of leaves.
2. You can use coloured paper or colour in your leaves however you like – use gold or silver pens or add glitter or paper shapes to make them extra special.
3. Now scatter your leaves on your party tables for everyone to admire!
*Ask a grown up if you need help with cutting out
Sir Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain’s best-loved writers for children. He has written well over 130 books, many of which have been adapted for film, theatre and TV, and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award and the Whitbread Award. His recent bestselling novels and picture books include Boy Giant Toto and The Birthday Duck Michael is also the co-founder, with his wife Clare, of the charity Farms for City Children. In 2018 he was knighted for services to literature and charity. Michael Foreman is one of the most admired and best-known illustrators of our time. He has twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal, the most prestigious British award for an illustrator of children’s books, and has frequently collaborated with “the other Michael”, including recently on The Fox and the Ghost King Carnival of the Animals From the Nation’s Sir Michael Morpurgo, celebration of our beautifully illustrated acclaimed artist Michael There once was little Encouraged by his passion for the countryside, after it. Then, as the of Wales in British decades of his life conservation. Now work will continue of our planet for future This allegorical story a tiny acorn – wise who would be king, the to change the world An exquisite companion this commemoration coronation is gift book There once who was going www.harpercollins.co.uk Photograph Phil Crow Photograph Tom Dunkley illustrated by Michael Foreman There once was a boy who was different, not like other children. He was going to be king one day . . . Michael Morpurgo Michael Foreman THE B oy Who W ould B e GOLD FOIL
THE Boy Who Would Be
Make your own crown
YOU WILL NEED
• scissors
• glue or tape • colouring pens or pencils
• coloured paper or other decorations (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Carefully cut* out the zig zag template for the front of your crown and the two strips for the back.
2. Colour and decorate the crown piece as you wish –you could use the template to cut * it from gold paper or card or cut* jewel shapes from coloured paper to stick on –it’s up to you!
3. Glue or tape the two straight bands one on each side of the crown.
4. Measure your bands to fit your head and mark where to glue or tape them together before doing so and cutting off any excess. Your crown is now ready to wear!
*Ask a grown up if you need help with cutting out
THE Boy Who Would Be
Thinking Tree
YOU WILL NEED:
• large paper roll, sheets of display paper or wallpaper lining paper
• sheets of plain or coloured paper or card
• scissors
• colouring pens
• paints or decorations of your choice
• glue
INSTRUCTIONS.
1. Create the background for your wall display with plain paper to create a space big enough to draw your tree outline.
2. Draw or paint the outline of a tree trunk and some branches like the one shown here. You could add paint or coloured paper to fill in the tree trunk and branches and create a background.
3. Use the oak leaf template from this pack to cut* out lots of leaf shapes for children to decorate as they wish or little ones might enjoy making hand prints with paint to be cut* out to make leaves. Older children could write a message to the King on their leaves or you could agree a message together.
4. Glue the leaves onto the branches to make a leafy Thinking Tree display
*Ask a grown up if you need help with cutting out
Sir Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain’s best-loved writers for children. He has written well over 130 books, many of which have been adapted for film, theatre and TV, and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award and the Whitbread Award. His recent bestselling novels and picture books include Boy Giant Toto and The Birthday Duck Michael is also the co-founder, with his wife Clare, of the charity Farms for City Children. In 2018 he was knighted for services to literature and charity. Michael Foreman is one of the most admired and best-known illustrators of our time. He has twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal, the most prestigious British award for an illustrator of children’s books, and has frequently collaborated with “the other Michael”, including recently on The Fox and the Ghost King Carnival of the Animals From the Nation’s Sir Michael Morpurgo, celebration of our beautifully illustrated acclaimed artist Michael There once was little Encouraged by his passion for the countryside, after it. Then, as the of Wales in British decades of his life conservation. Now work will continue of our planet for future This allegorical story a tiny acorn – wise who would be king, the to change the world An exquisite companion this commemoration coronation is gift book There once who was going www.harpercollins.co.uk Photograph Phil Crow Photograph Tom Dunkley illustrated by Michael Foreman There once was a boy who was different, not like other children. He was going to be king one day . . . Michael Morpurgo Michael Foreman THE B oy Who W ould B e GOLD FOIL
THE Boy Who Would Be
Coronation recipe ideas
Try these simple recipes to create a feast fit for a King!
Cucumber sandwiches (Serves
INGREDIENTS
• 2 slices bread
• 1 tsp butter or spread
• 1-2 tbsp cream cheese
• 6-10 slices cucumber
1)
METHOD
1. Spread two slices of bread with butter or spread.
2. Top one slice with cream cheese and sliced cucumber then the other slice of bread to make your sandwich.
3. Carefully cut off the crusts and cut into three to make finger sandwiches.
Coronation chicken
INGREDIENTS
• 3 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1-2 tsp mild curry powder
•1 tbsp mango chutney
• 1-2 tbsp sultanas
• 250g cooked chicken
• Salad to serve
(Serves 2 – 3)
METHOD
1. Mix together the mayonnaise, curry powder, chutney and sultanas.
2. Shred the chicken, add to the sauce and mix well. Serve with salad.
Flag fruit platter (Serves 4 – 6)
INGREDIENTS
• 150g blueberries
•150g raspberries
• 250g strawberries
• 12 mini meringues or meringue pieces
METHOD
1. Wash the fruit, carefully cut off the green tops of the strawberries and slice any big ones into halves or quarters.
2. Arrange the fruit on a square or rectangular plate or tray to make the shape of the Union Flag using blueberries for the blue, raspberries and strawberries for the red and mini meringues or meringue pieces for the white.
ASK A GROWN UP IF YOU NEED HELP WITH CUTTING.
Sir Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain’s best-loved writers for children. He has written well over 130 books, many of which have been adapted for film, theatre and TV, and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award and the Whitbread Award. His recent bestselling novels and picture books include Boy Giant Toto and The Birthday Duck Michael is also the co-founder, with his wife Clare, of the charity Farms for City Children. In 2018 he was knighted for services to literature and charity. Michael Foreman is one of the most admired and best-known illustrators of our time. He has twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal, the most prestigious British award for an illustrator of children’s books, and has frequently collaborated with “the other Michael”, including recently on The Fox and the Ghost King Carnival of the Animals From the Nation’s Sir Michael Morpurgo, celebration of our beautifully illustrated acclaimed artist Michael There once was little Encouraged by his passion for the countryside, after it. Then, as the of Wales in British decades of his life conservation. Now work will continue of our planet for future This allegorical story a tiny acorn – wise who would be king, the to change the world An exquisite companion this commemoration coronation is gift book There once who was going www.harpercollins.co.uk Photograph Phil Crow Photograph Tom Dunkley illustrated by Michael Foreman There once was a boy who was different, not like other children. He was going to be king one day . . . Michael Morpurgo Michael Foreman THE B oy Who W ould B e GOLD FOIL
THE Boy Who Would Be
This easy cupcake recipe is perfect for any Coronation party
Cupcakes (Serves 12)
INGREDIENTS
• 110g butter
• 110g caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 110g self-raising flour
FOR THE ICING
• 300g icing sugar
• 3 tbsp milk
• red and blue food colouring
METHOD
1. Heat the oven 180C / 160 C fan / gas 4.
2. Beat the softened butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy, then whisk in the eggs one at a time. You can use an electric mixer or beat by hand.
3. Add the vanilla extract and flour and whisk until smooth.
4. Line a cupcake tray with cases and spoon the mixture between them.
5. Bake for 15 mins or until golden brown. When a skewer inserted into the middle of each comes out clean then the cakes are cooked. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
6. Make the icing by sifting the icing sugar into a bowl and gradually mixing in a little milk until it’s smooth and not too thick. Be careful not to add so much milk that it becomes too runny.
7. Separate your icing mixture into three bowls and add red colouring to one and blue to another.
8. Carefully spoon icing onto each cooled cupcake to make red, white and blue cakes, or use your icing to decorate as you wish!
Sir Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain’s best-loved writers for children. He has written well over 130 books, many of which have been adapted for film, theatre and TV, and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award and the Whitbread Award. His recent bestselling novels and picture books include Boy Giant Toto and The Birthday Duck Michael is also the co-founder, with his wife Clare, of the charity Farms for City Children. In 2018 he was knighted for services to literature and charity. Michael Foreman is one of the most admired and best-known illustrators of our time. He has twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal, the most prestigious British award for an illustrator of children’s books, and has frequently collaborated with “the other Michael”, including recently on The Fox and the Ghost King Carnival of the Animals From the Nation’s Sir Michael Morpurgo, celebration of our beautifully illustrated acclaimed artist Michael There once was little Encouraged by his passion for the countryside, after it. Then, as the of Wales in British decades of his life conservation. Now work will continue of our planet for future This allegorical story a tiny acorn – wise who would be king, the to change the world An exquisite companion this commemoration coronation is gift book There once who was going www.harpercollins.co.uk Photograph Phil Crow Photograph Tom Dunkley illustrated by Michael Foreman There once was a boy who was different, not like other children. He was going to be king one day . . . Michael Morpurgo Michael Foreman THE B oy Who W ould B e GOLD FOIL
ASK A GROWN UP IF YOU NEED HELP USING A MIXER OR OVEN.
a who was going to be king one
From the Nation’s Favourite Storyteller, Sir Michael Morpurgo, comes a poetic celebration of our new monarch, King beautifully illustrated in watercolour acclaimed artist Michael Foreman.
There once was a little boy, born a prince. Encouraged by his parents, he grew passion for the countryside, wanting after it. Then, as the longest-serving of Wales in British history, he dedicated decades of his life to raising awareness conservation. Now our king, his devoted work will continue to inspire the protection of our planet for future generations.
This allegorical story tells how – with the a tiny acorn – a wise old woman gives a lonely who would be king, the courage and determination to change the world for the better, for everyone. An exquisite companion to There Once Is this commemoration of King Charles III’s coronation is a gift book truly to be treasured.
There once was
illustrated by M ichael Foreman
a boy children. be one day . . .
B e
Michael Morpurgo Michael Foreman FOIL
THE
B oy Who W ould
GOLD
Attach your flags to string or ribbon and your bunting is complete! Ask a grown up if you need help with cutting out From the Nation’s Favourite Storyteller, Sir Michael Morpurgo, comes a poetic celebration of our new monarch, King Charles III, beautifully illustrated in watercolour by acclaimed artist Michael Foreman. There once was a little boy, born a prince. Encouraged by his parents, he grew up with a passion for the countryside, wanting to look after it. Then, as the longest-serving Prince of Wales in British history, he dedicated decades of his life to raising awareness for conservation. Now our king, his devoted work will continue to inspire the protection of our planet for future generations. This allegorical story tells how – with the help of tiny acorn – a wise old woman gives lonely boy, who would be king, the courage and determination to change the world for the better, for everyone. An exquisite companion to ThereOnceIsaQueen this commemoration of King Charles III’s coronation is a gift book truly to be treasured. There once was a boy who was going to be king one day UK £12.99 CAN $24.99 Michael Foreman Michael Morpurgo Michael Foreman THE B oy Who W ould e
