Animal Stories Eight Stories about Babe and other Animals [Hardcover]

Dick King-Smith (Author), Dick King Smith (Author), Michael Terry (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1998

A collection of stories starring barnyard animals, including such characters as Babe the pig, Lawrence the cat, and Ernest the cow-dog.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 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
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Orchard Books; 1st American edition (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531300994
• ISBN-13: 978-0531300992
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,394,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dick King-Smith was a farmer for twenty years before becoming a writer, and most of his animal stories are based on his farming experiences. He won the Guardian Award with The Sheep-Pig, which became the blockbuster film Babe. Dick lives in Gloucestershire.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Happiest Woodlouce, January 17, 2012

By 

Class of 3L - See all my reviews

This review is from: Animal Stories Eight Stories about Babe and other Animals (Hardcover)

This brilliant story is exquiste because it has a great story about a wimp (Walter) who just wants a friend. Sadly, Walter is scared of everyone and everything! Walter is also apprehensive because when he is frightened he rolls up in a ball, furthermore he is shy. I think you should read this book because, eventhough it is only a few pages, it is still fantastic. Dick King-Smith hooks you into the short story because Walter goes on an exciting adventure.