Books by Dick King-Smith

Book SynopsisThe 35th anniversary of The Hodgeheg - a timeless classic tale for young children from the master of animal stories, Dick King-Smith. Includes an author profile and interview, and fun facts.''Sparkling humour and wonderful characters are Dick King-Smith''s trademarks'' - Books for Your ChildrenMax is a hedgehog who lives with his family in a nice little home, but it''s on the wrong side of the road from the Park where there''s a beautiful lily pond and plenty of juicy slugs, worms and snails!The busy road is dangerous but Max is determined to make his way across. If humans can do it, why can''t hedgehogs? His first attempt ends in a nasty bump on the head and, when Max tries to speak, he realises his words are all mixed up. He is no longer a hedgehog but a hodgeheg! Still determined to fulfil his mission, Max discovers the best way to cross the road - with the help of the lollipop lady and some careful detective work . . .

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Book SynopsisA tale loved by many from one of Britain''s best-known authors, this wonderful new edition of The Sheep-Pig comes with a delightful introduction by Michael Morpurgo.The Sheep-Pig is one of Dick King-Smith''s most famous tales. It shot to further fame when the film adaptation, Babe, was released in 1995.''Why can''t I learn to be a Sheep-Pig?''When Babe, the little orphaned piglet, is won at a fair by Farmer Hogget, he is adopted by Fly, the kind-hearted sheep-dog. Babe is determined to learn everything he can from Fly. He knows he can''t be a sheep-dog. But maybe, just maybe, he might be a sheep-pig.''An unexpectedly thrilling, funny charmer of a book'' - Guardian''Dick King-Smith is a huge favourite with children'' - Observer***Winner of the Guardian Fiction Award***Dick King-Smith served in the Grenadier Guards during the Second World War, and afterwards spent twenty years as a farmer in Gloucestershire, the country of his birth. Many of his stories are inspired by his farming experiences. He wrote a great number of children''s books, including The Sheep-Pig (winner of the Guardian Award and filmed as Babe), Harry''s Mad, Noah''s Brother, The Queen''s Nose, Martin''s Mice, Ace, The Cuckoo Child and Harriet''s Hare (winner of the Children''s Book Award in 1995). In 2009 he was made an OBE for services to children''s literature. Dick King-Smith died in 2011 at the age of eighty-eight.

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Book SynopsisHarmony''s uncle sends her on a treasure trail - which disappointingly ends in her finding a 50p piece. But the coin is a magic one, and when you rub the queen''s nose, your wishes will come true!From the bestselling master of funny animal stories, Dick King-Smith, author of The Sheep-Pig, The Hodgeheg, The Invisible Dog and many more much-loved adventures.

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Book SynopsisA little girl tries to satisfy her yearning for a dog by introducing an imaginary Great Dane called Henry to the house. Then her wish comes true and she is allowed a real Henry - but there's more than a hint that old Mrs Garrow, with her cackling laugh and black cat, may have had something to do with it...

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Book SynopsisFive-year-old Sophie finds that going to school and making friends is more difficult than running a farm! The ups and downs of Dick King-Smith's stoic, determined heroine will appeal to children and parents alike.A classic story for young readers by the beloved author of Babe.

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Book SynopsisOut of the way, Titch!Omnibombulator is a very small beetle - so small that his parents give him a really long name to make him feel important. It doesn''t seem to help. Earwigs and woodlice still push poor Omnibombulator around, and snails walk across him, making him all slimy. Then, one day, Omnibombulator sets out to see the world - and discovers just how useful being really small can be.Trade ReviewSparkling humour and wonderful characters are Dick King-Smith's trademarks * Books For Your Children *Dick King-Smith's familiar blend of humour and animals makes easy and pleasing reading * Children's Books of the Year *

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Book SynopsisA little girl who desperately wants a dog introduces an imaginary Great Dane called Henry into her home. Her wish comes true when she is allowed a real Henry. Was neighbour Mrs Garrow, with her cackling laugh and black cat, responsible for her wish coming true?From the number one author for animal magic comes a wonderful new edition of this much loved classic.

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Book SynopsisA BBC radio full-cast dramatisation of Dick King-Smith’s enchanting children’s story about Harmony Parker and her magical 50p coin.Harmony Parker is ten years old and loves animals. She longs for a pet of her very own, but her parents won’t allow it. All she can do is keep hoping, dreaming and wishing. Then Uncle Ginger comes to visit from India. He and Harmony become friends, and he gives her a very special present. Not a puppy, but something even better: a magical 50 pence piece with the power to grant seven wishes. All she has to do is rub the point of the coin opposite the Queen’s nose. Harmony starts wishing right away, and is soon the proud owner of some of the things she wants most in the world. But she discovers that you have to be careful what you wish for, as the Queen’s nose doesn’t always grant wishes in quite the way you might expect...This fantastic tale from the bestselling author of Babe, The Sheep-Pig starsLauren Mote as Harmony and Rupert Graves as Uncle Ginger.

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Book SynopsisThe great thing about being 75 years old is that you can wear your slippers everywhere - Percy Sloggett wears his in the garden and to the shops as well as in the house. In time his battered old slippers need to be replaced and he gets something of a surprise when he discovers that his new pair are magic. They make him feel years younger and also make him strong and clever. Percy is desperate to tell someone his secret and so tells his friend''s grand-daughter, Lollie - for of course children understand magic better than adults do. Percy''s slippers turn out to be life-savers as they enable him to leap across the road to save Lollie from being knocked over by a car.

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Book SynopsisWhen Ned helps his grandmother clear out her attic, he finds a very unusual Victorian doll - she speaks! Ned and Lady Daisy soon become fast friends, even though he''s teased at school for owning a doll. Ned learns to stand up to his father and the school bully in order to protect Lady Daisy. But then the doll is stolen - will Ned ever find her again?

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Book SynopsisThe story begins with a mysterious egg washed up on a Scottish beach, the morning after a great storm. Kirstie and her brother Angus find the egg and take it home. The next day it has hatched into a tiny greeny-grey creature with a horse''s head, warty skin, four flippers and a crocodile''s tail. The baby sea monster soon becomes the family pet - but the trouble is, it just doesn''t stop growing!

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Book SynopsisFrom the king of animal stories for children and one of the national''s most beloved writers, a very funny and heart-warming story. Harry isn''t very pleased when he inherits a parrot from Great-Uncle George, but Maddison is no ordinary parrot. Not only can he talk, but you can have conversations with him and he and Harry quickly become great friends - but then Maddison is stolen ... Will he and Harry ever be reunited?

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Book SynopsisPoppet is a little African elephant. When he is born, his mother warns him against mice because they run up elephants'' trunks. Poppet spends some time asking various creatures if they are mice and then, to his horror, one of them says ''Yes''. However, Momo the mouse persuades Poppet that he''s been told an old wives'' tale and the two become friends. Poppet''s mother is horrified but is won over in the end by Momo''s eloquence.

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Book SynopsisLaurence Higgins, an enormously fat black cat, has breakfast with Mrs Higgins, lunch with the Normans, tea with old Mr Mason and supper with the Barclay-Lloyds. None of them know why he is so fat on just one meal a day! Lawrence is happy until he finds the walking from house to house tiring and begins to get indigestion. His friends tell him to lose weight if he wants a girl friend so he begins to spend one day in four with all his owners. He gets thinner but the cat he fancies down the road tells him she doesn''t like slim boys - she''s lost her heart to an enormously fat black cat she used to see up the road! Triumphantly Lawrence returns to his four meals a day, spurred on by the thought of meeting Bella when he''s back to his normal size.

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Book SynopsisDick King-Smith, creator of ''Babe the Sheep-Pig'', presents the cleverest guinea pig in the world!Judy''s classmates snigger when she claims guinea pigs are brainy. But, when her guinea pigs have a baby son, she decides to call him Jenius and train him to prove her point. Soon he can do all kinds of clever tricks, and Judy can''t wait to show him off at school. After all, what could possibly go wrong?

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Book SynopsisDumpling wishes she was long and sausage-shaped like her two brothers and other dachshunds, instead of being short and stumpy. One day she goes to the woods and meets a witch''s cat who grants Dumpling her wish, but the spell goes wrong and Dumpling gets longer and longer! She''s very happy to return to her own shape again.

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Book SynopsisWhen Farmer Buzzard''s collie, Kay, has four puppies, he doesn''t know what to do. Three are fine puppies which he can sell, but the fourth is the ugliest puppy ever. No one wants to buy him and, as he grows, it becomes clear he''ll never make a sheepdog - and he certainly isn''t house-trained! Farmer Buzzard is too kind-hearted to get rid of Smasher, and eventually, when a burglar calls, the big dog has a chance to prove his worth.

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Book SynopsisA very funny family story written by one of the nation''s most beloved writers for childrenLaura is amazed when her baby brother George starts talking to her when he''s only four weeks old, particularly as he sounds like a grown-up! It''s a big secret to keep from their parents and the rest of the family and leads to all sorts of comic confusion until George''s first birthday - when he makes a speech to his startled family.''Dick King-Smith is a huge favourite with children'' - Observer

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Book SynopsisA heart-warming animal story from the master storyteller, Dick King-Smith.Flora was born on the first day of term in the new school year, which might be why she''s a very special mouse indeed - a mouse who has taught herself to read!Flora lives in a classroom, and is determined to learn all sorts of things that no mouse has ever learned before. Her family is horrified at first, but then Flora''s reading saves their lives ...

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Book SynopsisA very funny animal story by one of the nation''s most beloved children''s writers.Magnus is so big and so hungry that his parents have to find extra food for him. But perhaps pig-fattening pills weren''t quite the right thing as Magnus grows and grows and becomes a huge, fearless mouse, a real Power Mouse! But as Magnus grows, so do the problems he faces...

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Book SynopsisFitzherbert''s mother is a goose, but his father was a swan - which makes him a swoose! As Fitzherbert grows up he decisdes he wants to fly and he wants to meet his father. His search begins, but what he finds is fame and fortune of a most unexpected kind.

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Book Synopsis''T. rex! T. rex! Run!''The terrible Tyrannosaurus rex is scaring all the dinosaur families that live on the Great Plain. Nosy, the little pterodactyl, and his great friend Banty, the apatosaurus, agree that T. rex has got to be stopped. But how?Luckily Nosy has a plan ...

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Book Synopsis''If only that horrible cat didn''t live here!''When Beaumont Robinson, an inquisitive young mouse, is nearly killed by the cat, his family decide there is only one thing to do. They must emigrate! And so they all set out on a midnight adventure to find a new house.A delightful story with a truly engaging mouse hero - just right for new readers of 7+. Ben Cort''s illustrations are tremendous fun.Trade ReviewHis animal stories never descend to fluffiness * Independent on Sunday *Dick King-Smith is a huge favourite with children * Observer *Dick King-Smith is a huge favourite with children * Observer *

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Book SynopsisDick King-Smith served in the Grenadier Guards during the Second World War, and afterwards spent twenty years as a farmer in Gloucestershire, the county of his birth. Many of his stories are inspired by his farming experiences. Later he taught at a village primary school. His first book, The Fox Busters, was published in 1978. He wrote a great number of children's books, including The Sheep-Pig (winner of the Guardian Award and filmed as Babe), Harry's Mad, Noah's Brother, The Hodgeheg, Martin's Mice, Ace, The Cuckoo Child and Harriet's Hare (winner of the Children's Book Award in 1995). At the British Book Awards in 1991 he was voted Children's Author of the Year. In 2009 he was made OBE for services to children's literature. Dick King-Smith died in 2011 at the age of eighty-eight.

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Book Synopsis''This book demonstrates everything that is good about writing for children. It is a book of love, trust and wonder thoroughly recommended to adults and young people alike'' - Carousel Bestselling author Dick King-Smith creates a fascinating picture of rural life at the time of the Second World War. Discovered as a foundling in a lambing pen, Spider Sparrow grows up surrounded by animals. From sheep and horses to wild otters and foxes, Spider loves them all, even the crows he must scare away from the newly sown wheat. Crowstarving is the ideal job for Spider - he is on his own, yet never alone for all around him are animals of one sort or another. Amazingly, every animal who meets Spider implicitly trusts the young boy. This magical rapport is Spider''s unique gift, but nothing else in his tough life is so easy.Trade ReviewA powerful and heartwarming story... one of those children's books much enjoyed by adults * Times Educational Supplement *This book demonstrates everything that is good about writing for children. It is a book of love, trust and wonder thoroughly recommended to adults and young people alike * Carousel children's book magazine *

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Book SynopsisFlightless, helpless and often, more than a little silly, chickens are no match for the cunning, merciless foxes stalking their coop. Or are they?Thanks to a careless farmer and generations of determined foxes, the chickens on Foxearth Farm have evolved into quick-witted, long-legged, high flying fox dodgers. Then, just a week after a vicious fox ambush in the water trough, three sisters are hatched. And Ransome, Sims and Jefferies are no ordinary chicks: they grow up determined to fight back. They are the legendary Fox Busters . . .From the number one author for animal magic comes this wonderful new edition of a much-loved classic.

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Book SynopsisUnlike most kittens, Martin doesn''t like eating mice - let alone catching them. When he catches one by mistake he decides to keep it as a pet and soon Drusilla the mouse is established in an old bath tub in the attic. Martin is kept busy getting food, water, bedding - and then Drusilla''s babies start to arrive. How can Martin cope with all his mice?From the number one author of animal magic comes this wonderful new edition of Martin''s Mice.

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Book SynopsisIn this collection of stories you will meet a guinea-pig that can do clever tricks, the Queen''s favourite Corgi pup, a secret mouse hiding in a tree-house, a chick that wants to be a duck AND you''ll learn how to look after all kinds of pets!A delightful anthology from the master of animal adventures Dick King-Smith, featuring a never-before-published story.

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Book Synopsis''Sparkling humour and wonderful characters are Dick King-Smith''s trademarks'' - Books for Your ChildrenAn exciting new publication in celebration of the centenary of his birth, a recently discovered funny and poignant animal story by Dick King-Smith, completed by his great granddaughter, Josie Rogers.Ambrose may seem like an ordinary rabbit but he has the most extraordinary sense of smell. He can detect any aroma from sweets to kittens - and even niffy foxes!He lives with his family in a hutch and is visited every day by Biddy, who is desperate to take him home to be her pet - if only her mum and dad would let her. Biddy trains Ambrose to become a tracker rabbit - which comes in very handy when Ambrose''s little sister Roly goes missing. But when Biddy''s family find themselves in real danger, can Ambrose''s sensitive nose save the day?

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Book SynopsisPuffin Classics: the definitive collection of timeless stories, for every child.Rediscover the Puffin Classics collection and bring the best-loved classics to a new generation - including this special 30th anniversary edition of Harriet''s Hare.Hares don''t talk. Everyone knows that. But the hare Harriet meets in a corn circle on Longhanger Farm is a very unusual hare.''He''s a wizard, that''s what he is. ''Wiz,'' she said.'' Wiz is a Partian, native to the distant planet Pars, and not only can he talk, he can speak any language, change into any shape, and even dance! Harriet and Wiz spend the summer galloping around the Farm together, but as his holiday on Earth comes to an end . . .Will Wiz want to go home?

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Book SynopsisDick King-Smith’s classic story about a very unusual pet—a water horse!—returns with a charming new cover to win over a new generation of readers!  When eight-year-old Kirstie finds a strange egg near her home, she has no idea what will come out. Part horse, part toad, part turtle, and part crocodile? Only Kirstie’s grandfather knows what it is: a water horse! While it is certainly the oddest-looking creature Kirstie has ever seen, it is also the gentlest. But soon, the unusual pet gets bigger. And bigger. And BIGGER. Will Kirstie and her family be able to keep their new pet or will he have to make a splash in someone else’s home?   “A rich, mostly tender fairy tale that combines elements of such children’s classics as The Secret of Roan Inish, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, and Born Free. . . . Combining the best of fantasy and somber reflection, The Water Horse is a lovely ride.” —Th

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Book SynopsisAbandoned by his bossy wife and children, old Mr Ape finds himself living all alone in his huge and rambling house. But pets have a habit of increasing and increasing and soon every room is stuffed to the brim with animals.Trade ReviewMr Ape fits the mould of The Sheep-Pig, Daggie Dogfoot and Dick King-Smith's other enduring stories * Aldershot News *

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Book SynopsisWhoever heard of a singing mouse? But Wolfgang Amadeus Mouse (named after the beginning of a name found on a scrap of sheet music) has a truly wonderful voice - a voice that thrills old Mrs Honeybee. Soon Mouse is singing daily while the lonely old woman plays the piano. But then - disaster strikes! Can Wolf''s voice save the day?Trade ReviewAn admirable lack of sentimentality to the story; King-Smith knows how to make his mousearia credible * Observer *A flight of pure fantasy and an intriguing way of developing children's curiosity about music * TES *Sparkling humour and wonderful characters are Dick King-Smith's trademarks * Books for Your Children *Dick King-Smith has brought magic into the lives of millions of children * Parents Magazine *

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Book SynopsisYou are NOT keeping a mouse in this house!Every Saturday - or Mouseday, as Pete calls it - Pete asks his mum and dad if he can have a pet mouse. And every week, the answer is the same. No. Then Pete gets a terrific idea. He could secretly keep a mouse in his tree-house...Trade ReviewGood for someone who has just learned to read and wants to tackle a real book * The Spectator *An affectionate, lively adventure . . . Will appeal to any child who's ever nagged for a pet * Mail on Sunday *A delightful story which is not too demanding yet not too repetitive * Junior Bookshelf *A delightful story with pace and good characterisation. Corgi Pups are perfect for those readers just embarking on "real" books * Books in Schools *

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Book SynopsisDICK KING-SMITH was a Gloucestershire farmer until the age of 45, when he gave up farming to become a primary school teacher. As a bestselling full-time author, his work received many awards including a Bronze Medal for the Smarties Prize of l997 for All Because of Jackson and the Children's Book Award in l995 for Harriet's Hare. In l992, he was also voted Children's Author of the Year. In l995, his top-selling title The Sheep-Pig was developed into a box-office movie, BABE, introducing hundreds of thousands of youngsters to his work. He died in 2011.Trade ReviewUnflinching realism . . . A darkly atmospheric thriller * Guardian *A finely crafted book . . . Revelling in description and imagery . . . Dick King-Smith is an exceptional writer * Books for Keeps *A powerful and heartwarming story * TES *This book demonstrates everything everything that is good avout writing for children. It is a book of love and wonder thoroughly recommended to adults and young people alike * Carousel *

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Book SynopsisHezekiah is a very hairy camel. He lives a quiet life in his enclosure at the zoo and seems to be the only animal without a friend. So Hezekiah decides to escape from the zoo and go on the run - crashing through hedges, hiding in toilets and breaking into a safari park! There he meets another hairy character - and finally makes a friend . . .Trade ReviewThe master of animal adventures * Independent on Sunday *This deliciously funny tale will have readers of all ages laughing out loud. Dick King-Smith is a master at giving his animal characters wonderful personalities complete with amusing accents and colourful language * Through the Looking Glass *A hilariously hairy tale . . . Perfect for 6+ -- Amanda Craig * The Times *King-Smith is an established talent for making beasts into believable characters which makes his tales funny and exciting * Junior *Sparkling humour and wonderful characters are Dick King-Smith's trademarks * Books for Your Children *

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Book SynopsisDICK KING-SMITH was a Gloucestershire farmer until the age of 45, when he gave up farming to become a primary school teacher. Now a bestselling full-time author, his work has received many awards including a Bronze Medal for the Smarties Prize of l997 for All Because of Jackson and the Children's Book Award in l995 for Harriet's Hare. In l992, he was also voted Children's Author of the Year. In l995, his top-selling title The Sheep-Pig was developed into a box-office movie, BABE, introducing hundreds of thousands of youngsters to his work.Trade ReviewDick King-Smith at his best . . . Don't be deceived by its apparent simplicity: it stands reading and re-reading, and each time you chuckle at something different * Independent *Larger than life characters leap from the pages of this engaging and humourous story * Junior Education *An unusual theme that gives rise to a great deal of humour . . . The illustrations are jaunty and the writing uncluttered and unsentimental * Nursery World *Told with the exuberant brand of humour we associate with Dick King-Smith . . . An excellent buy -- Jack Ousbey * Carousel *

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Book SynopsisCaptain, Ladybird and Herbert - two Shire horses and a Suffolk Punch - are not pleased when Jenny, a retired seaside donkey, arrives at the Old Horses'' Home. It''s supposed to be a home for horses, and they don''t want to share their field with a common little donkey.Then rustlers are spotted in the area: thieves who like nothing better than to steal horses and ship them abroad - to be made into horse pie! Can Jenny and her friends save the huge heavy horses?Trade ReviewAn endearing animal story . . . Language is well used in this book, which is accessible without ever condescending to the new reader * Mail on Sunday *The story has everything to delight readers in the 5-9 age range. The large print is clear and inviting, the illustrations plentiful and sympathetic and there is a happy ending. Perfect for bedtime reading * Junior Bookshelf *A well-written, warmly sensitive and entertaining tale with a lovely ending. Destined to become a firm favourite * Books for Keeps *

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Book SynopsisI''ve got a chicken that wants to be a duck!Frank is a funny chick. Unlike all his brothers and sisters, he doesn''t want to peck around at anything and everything in the dust. No, Frank wants to dabble about in the lovely duckpond, splashing himself with water. Most of all, he wants to learn to SWIM. Can Jemima, the farmer''s daughter, find a way to help Frank? And if Frank CAN swim like a duck, what will happen when he grows up to be a cockerel?Trade ReviewAnother warm, involving story * Daily Mail *A true tale of triumph against all the odds . . . Will inevitably become another well-read classic * The School Librarian *Full of humour, this story will appeal to all fans of Kick King-Smith as well as gaining him new ones * Carousel *

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Book SynopsisA super collection of five of Dick King-Smith''s most charming and hilarious animal stories. All Because of Jackson - Jackson is a very unusual rabbit - one who dreams of going to sea. So one day he stows away on the Atalanta and sails off in search of a new life . . .The Catlady - Muriel lives alone with lots and lots of cats. But Muriel''s cats are no ordinary cats - they are people she once knew reincarnated in feline form!The Guard Dog - The story of a ragged little pup with a grand ambition - to be a guard dog. The other pups laugh at him. Could such a small and scruffy dog really guard a home?Hairy Hezekiah - Hezekiah lives a quiet life, and seems to be the only animal in the zoo without a friend. So he decides to escape and go on the run!Horse Pie - Jenny the donkey finds herself unwelcome at the Old Horses'' Home, but when rustlers start looking for horses to make into pies, it''s up to Trade ReviewThe master of animal adventures * The Independent on Sunday *Dick King-Smith has brought magic into the lives of millions of children * Parents Magazine *

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Book SynopsisWhen Old Smelly the tramp mets Eric Stanley Pigeon, it''s his lucky day!Old Smelly loves to bet on the horse races, but he never has much luck - until he meets Eric Stanley Pigeon, that is. For this young bird has a very unusual talent... Old Smelly dreams of winning a fortune, but will his dreams come true?Trade ReviewDick King-Smith has brought magic into the lives of millions of children * Parents Magazine *The animal stories of Dick King-Smith have revitalised the tradition so completely that other writers who put words into animals' mouths are outclassed * Times Educational Supplement *Sparkling humour and wonderful characters are Dick King-Smith's trademarks * Books for Your Children *Remember those wonderful occasions as a child when a book gave you reassurance, warmth, humour and a cracking story? King-Smith's animal stories hit that mark every time * Oxford Times *

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