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Here Be Dragons co-curated by Cressida Cowell and Toothless - opens 13 July. Admission included with ticket to the Galleries

1001 Stories Collection

The Silver Donkey

1001 The Silver Donkey
Added on 30th September 2020

Author Sonya Hartnett
First Published 2004
Publisher Viking Press, Sydney, Australia

Folk and fairy tales Historical
1001

A beautifully told story about the nature of courage and the power of storytelling.

Story

After sisters, Coco and Marcelle find a blind English soldier in French woodland they make it their mission to bring him back home. In return for their courageousness, he tells them stories inspired by the little trinket in his pocket, a silver donkey.

Why we chose it

A story which asks what it is to be brave. It is simply told in beautiful poetic language, which brings to life both the horror that the soldier has escaped and the peace of the wood he is hiding in. The stories about donkeys he tells the girls show the power of storytelling.

Where it came from

Sonya Hartnett is an Australian writer. Her first book Trouble All the Way was published when she was just 13 and she has since become one of the best Australian writers of her generation.

Where it went next

The Silver Donkey has won many accolades including CBCA award and was the winner of the COOL Children's Choice Awards in 2007. The book has been adapted for the stage and toured in Australia and America.

Associated stories

Sonya Harnett’s novels for children include Children of the King, Thursday’s Child and The Midnight Zoo.

Added on 30th September 2020

Author Sonya Hartnett
First Published 2004
Publisher Viking Press, Sydney, Australia

Folk and fairy tales Historical
1001