Customer Reviews

Babe: The Gallant Pig

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Like many of my generation, I came to "Babe" via the movies. I'm not proud of this fact. As a children's librarian I like to pretend that I've heard about all my children's books in their original papery forms. This is hardly the case, of course. Lots of book (like the wonderful "Millions" by Frank Cottrell Boyce) first come to my attention through their film. "Babe" is one of those books though that stands up well to a reading after viewing its adaptation to the silver screen. Dick King-Smith had enough guts and wherewithal to write a children's book about a pig despite the fact that the greatest pig adventure tale (i.e. "Charlotte's Web") was bound to draw comparisons. But did he care what die-hard White fans would say? Not he! He wrote a truly interesting, original, and deeply meaningful tale all on his own and devil take the consequences! Babe has the inherent sweetness of Wilbur and the pluck and charm of Walter R. Brooks', "Freddy". There's even a moral to the tale, but it's so sly and unassuming that kids will end up learning something despite themselves. Well done there.

Farmer Hogget is a man of few words. Running a small farm of sheep, the occasional goose, and a family of sheepdogs, Hogget has never owned a pig (despite his own swinish name). At a nearby fair he happens to correctly guess the weight of a small piglet up for grabs. The pig is happy to go with Hogget but is deeply lonely and the farmer's kind-hearted sheepdog Fly takes the piggy under her wing and raises him as she does her own puppies. It soon becomes clear that Babe, as the pig is called, has a fast mind and is quick to learn. He befriends an old sheep named Ma and learns that by speaking politely to ewes, like herself, he is able to herd them as effectively as any sheepdog. Farmer Hogget is initially bemused by the idea but when it becomes clear that Babe is not only a first-rate sheep-pig but also a great protector of the flock, Hogget can't help but consider entering the animal in the upcoming sheepdog trials. But it's only when Fly and the sheep consider talking to one another sanely that Babe is given the key to keeping his master from becoming the laughing stock of the country.

It's hard to read a book like this and not get bopped over the head time and time again by the things the movie added to the mix. In this story you will find no male sheepdog, no wacky duck sidekick, no singing mice, and no self-assured cat villainess. You don't need all that. This is a book that has as much emotional oomph as any Technicolor adaptation. Comparisons to E.B. White's book are inevitable, but the two stories aren't as similar as you might think. "Charlotte" was about growing up and how nothing in life ever stays the same. "Babe" is about overcoming prejudices, no matter how innate, and trusting in what you know to be good and true. When a character close to Babe dies, the result is not as wrenching and meaningful as Charlotte's death in "Charlotte's Web" but it still does the trick. "Babe" is beautiful in its simplicity.

Now I'm reviewing the 20th Anniversary Edition of Babe at the moment. The illustrations are soft fluffy pictures that are the closest I've ever seen pencil come to pastel. It seems to me that when you're picking out which edition of "Babe" to have in your home, you need to make a quick decision between the original and classic pen and inks of Mary Rayner or these new softy-softy pencilings of Maggie Kneen. I'm sure that had I grown up with the Rayner shots I'd be gung-ho about the original. As it stands, I hadn't any preconceived notions about the book when I picked it up. All I cared was that the newer edition not make the farmer and his wife look like the actors in the film. They don't, it's true, and Kneen's drawings have an entirely new take on the book. They make it very clear that the story takes place in the present day (Mrs. Hogget wears a sweatshirt and has a rather short and fashionable hairdo near the story's end). The farmer and his wife are both relatively young looking. Neither of these are flaws. Unfortunately, Kneen doesn't read into the text very clearly. The book goes on and on about how large Babe grows and how he almost rivals the sheep in size. In the book though he's still smaller than Fly and rather tiny to boot. There's none of those taut muscles the text expects us to see. On top of that, I can't get over the picture of Babe on the cover. Has anyone else noticed that his front legs don't seem to be drawn correctly? There are joints where joints should not be and his left trotter is mighty small. All in all, stick with the original pen and inks by Rayner. Not only do they match the tale but they also offer the far more exciting action sequences of Babe running, fighting dogs, and generally being an active protagonist. Kneen's Babe appears to prefer lying down and sitting. Tis the lesser of the two versions, no question.

Altogether, "Babe" is just the kind of story to bring reluctant readers and voracious ones together to the table. It has something for everyone and is a deeply loving story. Perhaps Dick King-Smith's best, and certainly his best known. And I highly recommend that if this title pleases you that you seek out his roughly five thousand other animal tales. He's a prolific writer and a good one.

It's impossible to not compare Babe to Charlotte's Web because it is also about a pig that is trying to save its neck. Babe really holds up well against the classic work. Babe (which is very much like the movie that came from it) tells a marvelous story and also contains a lot of depth. The short book tells the story of a pig who decides to become a sheep-dog (or sheep-pig). King-Smith relates humorous, exciting, and touching episodes of the pig's life until the novel reaches a splendid climax at the National Sheep-Dog Trials. The novel does have quite a bit to say about life. It speaks to overcoming traditional boundaries as Babe becomes a sheep-pig. The novel speaks to how fellow beings should be treated. Perhaps most importantly, Babe: The Gallant Pig speaks ... as Babe learns to treat the "stupid" animals (this is what they were known as prior to Babe) like sheep and ducks with politeness and friendship. Babe: The Gallant pig has a lot to say (particularly to children) and tells a great story. It certainly ranks among the top works of children's literature.

Mr. Hogget, a sheep rancher, won a pig named Babe at the fair, very much like the one I went to in Sheridan, WY! When Babe came to the ranch, he was a very little pig, so Fly, the sheep dog, decided to mother him along with her five puppies. Babe was soon calling Fly, Mum. Babe also became friends Maaa, an old ewe who at the time needed to be taken care of separately. Maaa was always complaining on how sheepdog treated sheep. Babe asked, "Mum, will you train me to be a sheep-pig?" She said, "Yes." So, Fly started to train him how to be a sheep-pig on ducks, and soon he was fairly good. One day, when Maaa was back in the pasture with the flock and Fly and Farmer Hogget were at market, he decided to go meet the flock. It was chaos! There were sheep rustlers there! Babe ceased them from stealing all the sheep. From then, on Farmer Hogget let Babe come with him and Fly to check the sheep. The first time he came with them Farmer Hogget tried to get him to work the sheep. He did it perfectly! From then on he did most of the sheep work. One day, he decided to go visit the sheep. Again it was chaos! This time it wasn't rustlers, but worriers! They had Maaa down! Before they could kill her, Babe chased them away. Maaa died soon after. Farmer Hogget was readying babe for the sheep dog trials! Will he win? I recommend Babe the Gallant Pig, because it's very outstanding, exciting, and suspenseful!

Dick King-Smith has written a real gem! He is a genius at characterization. We are immediately caught up in the contrasting characters of the farmer and his wife. She talks a blue streak with never a pause for breath and turns and twists at great length in long and convoluted sentences that take up half the page, question after question and answering most of them herself. One susinct word suffices her husband.

The animal characters are even more rich! The loving mother sheep-dog takes poor little piglet Babe under her "wing". Loving and kind though she may be to Babe, she is completely rude and disdainful towards the "stupid" sheep. Babe learns the power of truly respectful kindness, and totally surpasses the dog in being able to manage the sheep herd and bring out the best in them.

As a teacher, I believe this has a message for us. I've seen some "benevolent dictators" in my day, who treat students as simpletons and get as much. Kindness, respect, and assuming intelligence go a lot further!

Babe captured my heart, as he was trying to save his own skin. This book is truly a classic animal tale, where the creatures take on believable and human emotions and personalities. We see intelligence, fear, hope, and love, in a heartwarming pig, and his other animal friends. The inter-species bond between Babe and his human farmer is delightful! I have read it several times, and each time, see another angle, in this Pig-Shepherd memoir. Should not be limited to any age group, because adults as well as children will be entertained.
Arlene Millman
author of BOOMERANG - A MIRACLE TRILOGY
(The tale of a remarkable Boston Terrier)

When I checked out Babe: The Gallant Pig from the library and read it to my younger brother, we absolutely loved it! Dick King-Smith, who has a magical way with words, creates a charming story of a pig who is taken away from his mother and brought to a big farm in the country. All of the characters, human and animal, are simply wonderful. Anyone who has read this book will immediately fall in love with the imaginable environment and subtle realities in its context. After reading it only for a short time, the story draws you into the world of the innocent little pig like a magnet. If you have a younger sibling/son/daughter/nephew.., read this book to them! You'll be glad you did.

In this book, a pig was a prize to be won at a fair in sheep country. Mr. Hogget played the game for the pig. Mr. Hogget told his wife that he played the game for the pig. Mrs. Hogget said I'd like a pig. We can feed him scraps and eat him for Christmas dinner. Fly was training her four puppies when she saw the pig that Mr. Hogget won named Babe. Babe was adopted by Fly and soon learned to herd ducks, chickens, and other farm animals. He really wanted to meet the flock of sheep so he could be like Fly. Will he ever become a useful farm animal instead of a Christmas dinner? Babe saved the flock and convinced them that they would never eat him. Hogget was training Babe for the Grand Challenge Sheep Dog Trials. Mr.Hogget said to his wife see the telly and took off with Babe and Fly..... I reckoned this book for all ages, because it is a cute little book.

I had to read Babe in school. I didn't think I'd like it but I really did. I think Babe is very nice. He was always kind to others and never tried to be mean in any way. He got people (sheep) to obey him by just being kind. I think people in the whole world should read Babe and try to be like him.

One day Mr. and Mrs. Hogget where happily sitting in their chairs and heard a terrible sguealing. So they said I think that is a pig. How could it be a pig? Mrs. Hogget replied this is sheep country. I'm going to go deliver your pies. When he got to the fair it was really a pig. He guessed on the pig's weight 33 pounds and a guarter pound. A day later he figured that he won the pig. His name was Babe. Fly the female dog taught him with the puppies. The puppies left soon. The puppies left to explore Boston. Babe met a sheep named Maaa. One day she was released back to the flock. Babe went to meet the flock. When he got there, there were rustlers. He politely asked the sheep to scramble! The rustlers ran away! Mrs. Hogget is not going to butcher Babe. The trials are coming up soon. I recommend this book to all readers, because it's suspenseful.

Babe The Gallant Pig is an inspiring book about a pig named Babe who was separated from his family.
On June 18, 1998, Mrs. Hogget said, "What's that noise?"
Mr. Hogget said, "Sounds like a squealing pig to me." He took her preserves down to the Produce Stall at the fair. Down at the fair, Mr. Hogget saw the pig. He was at the "Guess my Weight" station. Whenever someone picked him up, he, squealed blue murder, but when Mr. Hogget tried, he stayed perfectly calm. Mr. Hogget estimated his weight and walked away. Later that day, the phone rang, and it was the guy from the "Guess my Weight" station. He had won the pig. He had guessed right. Fly, Farmer Hogget's black and white female collie adopted the pig now named Babe, while keeping the secret of Babe getting butchered for Christmas to be eaten for supper. He'll be made into two nice hams, two sides of bacon, pork chops, kidneys, liver, chitterlings, trotters, and black pudding. In sheep country, you've got to have a sheepdog and sheep. Fly was a sheepdog. She herded the sheep where Farmer Hogget wanted them to be. Babe wanted to be a "sheep-pig." He practiced on ducks until one day when sheep rustlers came to steal the flock. When they came, Babe was talking to a sheep named Maaa. Babe ran between one of the men's legs and he fell over; he hit a dog as it came to help. The rustlers ran away in fright. Babe had saved the flock! Mr. and Mrs. Hogget decided not to kill Babe for he saved their flock. Mr. Hogget saw how Babe was doing so well that he decided to try Babe out as a sheep pig. Babe was a nice boy. He didn't like being mean. He was always polite. When it was time to herd the sheep, Babe went up the hill and asked politely if the sheep could nicely walk down the hill and into the pen. Farmer Hogget had an idea that he would enter Babe in the National Sheep Trials. Babe was better than any dog he has ever owned. Farmer Hogget decided to make a practice course in his pasture. Babe did it over and over again and every time perfect. Today is the day of the National Sheep Trials, Fly told Babe that morning. Babe was washed and made a bed in the back of the Land Rover with nice, clean, dry hay. It is their turn. Will they win? Read Babe to find out! I recommend this book to all readers, because it is inspiring and heartwarming.