The Story of Ferdinand is an illustrated children’s story about individuality, gentleness and the pressure to behave as others expect. Ferdinand is a young bull in Spain who has no interest in fighting with the other bulls and prefers sitting quietly beneath his favourite cork tree, smelling the flowers. An unexpected incident makes him appear fierce, and he is selected for a grand bullfight in Madrid, where an excited audience expects courage, aggression and spectacle. Munro Leaf uses simple storytelling and gentle humour to explore nonviolence, self-acceptance and the freedom to choose a different path, while Robert Lawson’s detailed pen-and-ink illustrations create a vivid Spanish setting and reveal the contrast between Ferdinand’s peaceful nature and the role imposed upon him. The story invites young readers to consider whether Ferdinand will accept the part others have chosen for him or remain true to himself.
Author: Munro Leaf
Publisher: Penguin Books – Young Puffin
Year published: 1967
Number of pages: 80
Target age: 3–5
For independent reading in English: approximately ages 6–8, depending on reading level.
