Sophie's Snail [Hardcover]

Dick King-Smith (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

Follows the humorous adventures of four-year-old Sophie as she pursues her dream of becoming a farmer.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in Great Britain, this delightful story relates the daily antics of a lively four-year-old girl. Sophie likes cornflakes, sunglasses, card games and great-great-aunt Alice. She is less fond of dresses, sardines in tomato sauce, plastic ponies and Dawn, her young neighbor. The discovery of a yellow snail sparks Sophie's interest in the animal kingdom. Someday, she decides, she would like to buy her own farm, and she starts a fund for the cause. In the meantime, Sophie is content to use the potting shed as a barn for a wide assortment of tiny creatures. Charming illustrations complement King-Smith's ( Babe the Gallant Pig ; Harry's Mad ) down-to-earth style and gentle wit. From a cast of engaging characters, Sophie emerges as a rugged, uncompromising heroine who will win readers' hearts. Ages 5-9.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-- Four-year-old Sophie is very fond of animals. In fact, her life's ambition is to become a lady farmer, as she explains to her family in great detail, including the names of the cow, hens, pony, and spotted pig she plans to buy when she saves enough "munny." In the meantime, she is honing her skills by keeping flocks and herds of wood lice, earwigs, and her favorite animals--snails. In this wonderful, easy reading, first chapter book, King-Smith introduces a determined and quite special heroine who will capture the hearts of all who come to know her. Her humorous antics, her dealings with her rambunctious six-year-old twin brothers, and her unique philosophies of life all ring pure and true and will leave their mark on readers. Minter-Kemp's numerous black-and-white line drawings capture the family's warmth and highlight the fun. For those children with an appreciation for the small wonders in life, add Sophie to your lists.
-Luann Toth, "School Library Journal"
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 65 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (September 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385298242
• ISBN-13: 978-0385298247
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,268,049 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

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hurray! Sophie the future lady farmer is back in print., August 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sophie's Snail (Sophie Books) (Paperback)

Sophie's Snail, one of several "Sophie" books by Dick King-Smith of Babe fame is back in print after an American hiatus. Sophie, a non-traditional British girl wants to grow up to be a lady farmer. The rough and tumble Sophie who's hair looks like "went through a hedgerow backwards" is a girl who knows her own mind. Sophie's antics are wholesome and humorous. She loves mud, jeans, farm animals and following closely in her older brothers' footsteps. She abhors pretense, dolls and personal hygeine. The presence of a kindred spirited elderly aunt gives the limited series a delightful continuing story line filled with British wit and ultimately a poignant sense of growing up. I also found the series to be a great early chapter book series for the reader that has gone beyond picture books and likes the satisfaction of reading a well read shorter chapter book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great kid's book from the author of 'Babe', April 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sophie's Snail (Hardcover)

This was a very charming book about a young girl who aspires to be a farmer. She keeps herds of insects as practice and is saving to buy a cow named blossom, two hens named April and May, a pony named Shorty and a pig named Measels. I think that this was a wonderful book about a determined child with a large imagination, and you should buy it for the determined child with a large imagination in your life.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shannon A., "Thumb" of MI, August 10, 2007

By 

S. Allen "theruralartist" (Thumb of MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sophie's Snail (Paperback)

I read this book to my daughter, Sophia, when she was 3. -- We still laugh and talk about this little girl today, and my Sophia is now 6 years old! We both fell in love with Sophie's Snail and are working on acquiring all of the Sophie books, as well as other Dick King-Smith titles. Sophia is now reading on her own and it won't be much longer before she can handle these wonderful and charming stories. They'll be a terrific addition to our children's library. True keepsakes.