The Silver Donkey facts for kids
First edition
|
|
| Author | Sonya Hartnett |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Anne Spudvilas |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Viking (Australia) |
|
Publication date
|
2004 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 191 |
| ISBN | 0-670-04240-4 |
The Silver Donkey is a children's novel written by Sonya Hartnett. It was published in 2004. The story takes place during World War I. This book won an award from the CBCA. It has also been turned into a musical play.
What is The Silver Donkey About?
The book follows an English soldier during the war. He meets two young girls, Marcelle and Coco, in a French village called Wissant. The soldier is having trouble seeing because of the stress from the war. This is sometimes called "psychological blindness."
The girls decide to help the soldier. They want to help him find a way to get back to his brother. He needs to cross the English Channel to go home. Marcelle and Coco bring him food. In return, the soldier tells them stories. These stories teach important lessons. They are about being brave and never giving up. They also teach about trying your best, no matter what.
One of his stories is true. It is about his younger brother, John. John was very sick. One day, while digging in the garden, John found a small silver donkey. The soldier carries this silver donkey with him. It brings him luck, hope, and inspiration. When the soldier gives the donkey to Coco, she also feels this hope and luck.
The story can be seen in different ways. An adult might wonder if the soldier's tales are true. Or, he might be making them up to get the girls' help. From a child's point of view, the stories are simply magical and full of hope.
From Book to Stage: The Musical
In 2006, The Silver Donkey was made into a musical. Matthew Frank wrote the music. Dean Bryant wrote the story and songs. The musical was very successful.
The Children's Performing Company of Australia and Echelon Productions put on the show. It first played for a short time in Melbourne, Australia. After that, it went on a big tour in the United States. The musical was performed in many cities. These included San Francisco, New York City, Orlando, Washington D.C., and Las Vegas.
The young actors in the original cast were all between 10 and 20 years old. A recording of the show's songs was made in late 2006. This was used for publicity and to help others perform the show. Some of the actors on the recording were James Bryers, Andrew Kronert, Josie Lane, Lugi Emile Lucente, Chris Scalzo, Annie Johnstone, and Georgie Darvidis.
In September 2008, the show returned to America. It had a mostly new cast from Australia. They performed in Boston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
