Nothing Like a Dame: Scene and Hird Is It Thora? Book

Toro! Toro! Begins with a grandfather telling his grandson, Antonio about the worst thing he has ever done as a young boy. The grandfather also called Antonio begins to tell a gripping and emotional story about the farm he grew up on in Andalucía, Spain. He lived there with his parent and older sister, where they reared black bulls for the ‘Corrida’ – the bull ring. One day Antonio helped his father deliver a calf, that he called Paco. The calves’ mother dies and Antonio takes on the responsibility of rearing the calf. Antonio’s father believes that bulls are reared for the bull ring and the bull ring only. When Antonio discovers the truth about the Corrida he leads Paco to safety by releasing all the bulls out into the wild. On Antonio’s return to the farm he discovers his home has been bombed and is now up in flames, The Spanish civil war has just broken out. There is no sign of his parents or sister. A frightened young boy now returns to the hills in the hope of safety.

This is the perfect story for young readers in years 4 and above. It could be used in many ways throughout the classroom. This book is ideal to introduce children to the Spanish civil war and Franco. This book is beautifully written and evokes many emotions.