The Water Horse [Paperback]

Dick King-Smith (Author), David Parkins (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Now in paperback! From the award-winning author of Babe: The Gallant Pig comes the story of how the Loch Ness monster finds his home, thanks to the human family that raises him.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"The cozy domestic formula that has worked well for the author in other venues translates smoothly to this setting," said PW of this legend of the Loch Ness monster's origins. Ages 8-10. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5-Set in the 1930s, this story tells of a young Scottish girl, Kirstie, and her brother, Angus, who find a mysterious egg capsule washed up on shore after a storm and take it home. To their delight, this "mermaid's purse" hatches into a lovable sea monster they call Crusoe. It keeps growing and growing, until finally it is too big to live anywhere but in nearby Loch Ness. Children who enjoy animal stories will welcome one about this unusual creature. The characters are believable and, since King-Smith relates events from the point of view of the water horse as well as those of Kirstie and her family, readers get to know the friendly, not-at-all-fearsome monster. Occasional black-and-white illustrations effectively complement the text. Crusoe is bound to make a splash with children everywhere.
Linda W. Tilden, Cherry Hill Library, NJ
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (November 13, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375842314
• ISBN-13: 978-0375842313
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.3 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #75,473 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( K ) > King-Smith, Dick
  • #36 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Obsessions > Monsters
  • #81 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Pets > Fiction

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

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a cute book on 'Nessie', January 5, 2008

By 

ellen "ellen in atlanta" (Atlanta, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Water Horse (Paperback)

I have to say the advertisements for the movie of The Water Horse prompted me to look to the book it was based on and what a cutie of a book it is -
Set in 1930's Scotland, after a huge storm a family goes to the shore to see what has washed up - and they found something very strange -
maybe something alive? an egg? what is it?
Well the kids take it inside and place it in the tub with water - to their surprise when they go to the tub the next morning, the container is open! And there is a cute creature that 'chirrups' at them - the grandfather tells them it is a water horse - the kind of creature that is of legend in the lochs of Scotland -
They feed the little fella and call him Crusoe and soon he needs to be placed in a pond, then a larger pond and when he is almost too big, the family takes him to a large loch to spend his life -
The family loves him and he loves them and learns that all humans aren't like them -
It is a story of love for the family and love of an innocent animal that has charmed the world with its legendary existence -
I plan to see the movie, but my imagination soared as I imagined the tiny water horse in the bathtub eating sardines...
Charming!!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Water Horse by: Dick king-Smith, December 2, 2004

By 

Mason 5th_Grade (Roxbury, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Water Horse (Paperback)

If you're into exitement, adventure, & mystery then read The Water Horse by Dick King-Smith. In this book you will find that a girl named Kirstie finds an egg on the beach and keeps it for a pet. But, Kirstie doesn't know that the egg she has is really a ferocious monster. Kirstie finds out that every day when she checks on the monster it never stops growing. I would recommend this book to anyone that's into adventure and mystery because this book is very interesting in a weird sort of way!

Sincerely,
Luis

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the best one yet!!!!!!!!!, January 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Water Horse (Hardcover)

When Kirstie finds an egg on the beach, she takes it home. It hatches in her bathtub. It turns out to be a kelpie or better known as the Water Horse. They keep it in a goldfish pond and feed it fish when it gets to big they move it to a big loch. When the Water Horse gets to big for the loch they don't know what to do!! what will happen to the Water Horse??!? Read this book to find out the rest of this fun, exciting story!!!