Bethan lives with her father in Wales. He is not unkind but since the loss of his wife he has become a distant figure. When their farm dog has puppies Bethan is desperate to keep and love the smallest of the litter. At first it seems her father will sell this pup but somehow she convinces him to let little Cobweb join their family. The small corgi proves himself a hard worker with the sheep and he is totally devoted to Bethan. Then just like in all the bad fairytales the wicked step mother arrives and Cobweb is gone. She has sold him and she tells Cobweb the new master will be a cruel one. Luckily this is not true. Becoming a drover's dog is a whole new and rewarding adventure even though the journey to London is long and at times quite dangerous. Meanwhile in Europe Napoleon has been defeated and soldiers are returning from the battlefield. Cobweb will make a new friend (the cover hints at this) and yes, he will find his way back to his beloved Bethan.
This is an engrossing story perfect for readers aged 9+. This book is especially easy to read because (thank you) the publisher has used a bigger font and lots of white space and there are terrific illustrations scattered throughout by Michael Foreman.
A truly moving portrayal of the powerful bonds that can be formed between animals and humans, and of courage, the ghastliness of war and resulting loss of human life. Red Reading Hub
Publisher blurb:
"They call me Cobweb. I’ll tell you why later. I may be a dog, but I know and understand a lot more than people think I do.”
Britain. 1815. After years of loss and sacrifice, the end of the war with Napoleon is approaching. Cobweb knows nothing of the war – he loves being a young puppy and playing with his owner, Bethan, exploring the countryside and chasing rabbits. But when he is taken away from Bethan and sold, Cobweb must learn to become a Drover’s Dog – herding sheep and cattle for hundreds of miles on the long, treacherous journey to London. And after the Napoleonic wars finally come to an end with the Battle of Waterloo, Cobweb meets an unexpected stranger with an incredible tale to tell on his journey home …
Michael Morpurgo has written over 150 books and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize and the Whitbread Award. In 2005 he won the Blue Peter Book Award for his novel Private Peaceful, which was also adapted into an acclaimed stage play. Michael was Children’s Laureate in the UK from 2003 to 2005. He was knighted in 2018 for services to literature and charity. His books include the classics War Boy and War Game, winners of the Kate Greenaway Award and Smarties Book Prize respectively.
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