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Summary
Summary
A beloved children's author and a master of the well-told animal tale. Dick King-Smith gathers eight of his best yarns in this handsomely illustrated and beautifully designed treasury. Old favorites can be found here, including "'Keep Yelling, Young Un, '" the tale of Babe's historic first day as a sheep-pig. There are also new treats, available here for the first time, such as "Fat Lawrence", which tracks the travels of a well-fed feline. These imaginative and witty tales are ideal read-alouds, sure to please Dick King-Smith's legions of fans and draw newcomers into the fold.
Author Notes
Dick King-Smith was born on March 27, 1922 in Bitten, Gloucestershire, England. Before becoming a full-time author, he was a farmer and a schoolteacher. He served in the Grenadier Guards during World War II and attended Marlborough College in Wiltshire.
He has written over 100 children's books including The Fox Busters, The Hodgeheg, and The Sheep Pig (aka Babe-The Gallant Pig), which was adapted as the 1995 film Babe. The 1995 TV miniseries The Queen's Nose was also based in one of his books. He was voted Children's Author of the Year at the 1991 British Book Awards. He died on January 4, 2011 at the age of 88.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 5-Babe fans will enjoy this collection of short stories and excerpts from novels. Eight episodes center on a variety of creatures in addition to the now-famous pig. All of the selections stand alone and are rich with King-Smith's characteristic tongue-in-cheek humor. Babe finds his place within a farm family when he courageously saves the sheep herd from rustlers; Ernest, hardly a show dog, wins a competition by being the most lovable pooch in the contest; Hedley the mouse overcomes danger in order to bring his family food; and Woolly the mammoth helps a cave family discover food, fire, and cooking. The traits of loyalty, courage, and love displayed by all of the main characters create a cohesive anthology. Terry's expressive, colorful, full- and half-page illustrations complement the warmth of the text. This title is suitable as a read-aloud for young children and as an enjoyable read-alone for older patrons. A definite purchase for King-Smith fans and collections in need of short stories.-Cheryl Cufari, Glencliff Elementary School, Niskayuna, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
More fun than a barrel of monkeys, these eight previously published tales by the author of the beloved Babe: The Gallant Pig bubble over with good cheer. Perhaps the pick of the litter is "Fat Lawrence," about an enormous black cat whose regular rounds of four adoring families add greatly to his girth, and whose efforts to slim down backfire when the feline of his dreams states a preference for "really well-covered types." Romance is again in the air in "The Happiest Woodlouse," when a wimp named Walter finally musters his courage and wins the heart of his lady-love Marilyn by saving her from being a bird snack (she promptly goes "weak at the knees, all fourteen of them"). King-Smith's penchant for P.G. Woodhouse-like names is in high gear throughout, from a pair of soon-to-be-parent mice named Ethel and Hedley to upper-crust feline fancier Colonel Barclay-Lloyd. With a wink at Oscar Wilde, the prize for best title goes to the waggish "The Excitement of Being Ernest," in which an affable mutt faces down the snobs at the village dog show and walks off with top honors. Terry's art, unfortunately, tends to caricature the animals in a manner at odds with King-Smith's genial prose; the crude depiction of Babe is especially disappointing. Although the pictures dull its luster, this upbeat medley is still a treat for animal lovers of all ages. Ages 5-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
This collection features eight previously published stories by King-Smith. Babe, the gallant pig, heads the line-up with a courageous effort to save a flock of sheep from modern-day rustlers. Themes of friendship, loyalty, and family distinguish the animal tales, but the color caricatures are at odds with the homey subjects in the stories. From HORN BOOK Spring 1999, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 3^-5, younger for reading aloud. Fetching full-color illustrations by Mike Terry, give personality to a diverse cast of heroic animal characters in this surprisingly uneven roundup of previously published work. An excerpt from King-Smith's Babe: The Gallant Pig is a good lead-off, as it introduces a character many children will recognize. Readers may also be familiar with Max, the intrepid hedgehog, who stars in two seemingly interconnected stories, which, oddly, are not presented consecutively. A woolly mammoth, a mouse, and a wood louse are among other featured characters. The funniest story, the best showcase for King-Smith's wry wit, concerns a cat named Fat Lawrence, who has carefully developed a system to ensure that he'll never go hungry. It's the best of the bunch, which will probably be popular, if not entirely satisfying. --Stephanie Zvirin
