A moving tale set during the Spanish Civil War, about the bond between a little boy and his bull, and their escape from a terrifying fate.

‘Once again, Morpurgo demonstrates his talent for stories of absolute clarity about big events’ Sunday Times

Surrounded by animals on a farm in the Spanish countryside, Antonito’s life is simple but sublime. He and his calf, Paco are inseparable, and the future is an unknown possibility. That is until Antonito sees with his own eyes what happens to bulls in the bullring and resolves to escape with Paco to the hills.

But Paco’s is not the only brutal fate they must run from. As civil war engulfs Spain, planes and soldiers arrive, and their bombs and guns may destroy Antonito’s whole world …

Age 9-12