Spotlight On... Dick King-Smith

--by Hanje Richards

Ronald Gordon King-Smith (born March 27, 1922, in Bitton, Gloucestershire) better known by his pen name Dick King-Smith, is a prolific English children's author, best known for writing The Sheep-Pig, retitled in the United States as Babe the Gallant Pig, upon which the movie Babe was based. He is one of the UK's most prolific authors and has written over a hundred books. He has had many pets, including rats, mice, ornamental pheasants, dachshunds, geese and guinea fowl, and bred guinea pigs and English rabbits.

Babe: The Gallant Pig - When Babe arrives at Hogget Farm, Mrs. Hogget’s thoughts turn to sizzling bacon and juicy pork chops — until he reveals a surprising talent for sheep herding, that is. Before long, Babe is handling Farmer Hogget’s flock better than any sheepdog ever could. Babe is so good, in fact, that the farmer enters him into the .Grand Challenge Sheepdog Trials. Will it take a miracle for Babe to win?
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Charlie Muffin’s Miracle Mouse - This is the story of Charlie Muffin, a quiet man who works as a taxidermist and mouse breeder. When he tells his friend Merry that it would be impossible to breed a green mouse, she challenges him to try, implying that she'll marry him if he can do it. Charlie tries, succeeds, and marries Merry. Together they care for the famous green mouse, Adam Muffin, and raise a daughter, Cherry Muffin.
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Dick King-Smith’s Animal Friends: Thirty-One True Life Stories - King-Smith reminisces about animals he has met in his life. Some critters he merely encountered along his way as a soldier, farmer, entertainer, and author. Many of these receive brief but affectionate one-page treatment, as does the duckling he and his family rescued from the road, giving it chocolate cake and a lift to the ocean. Such animals as Dodo, the family's wirehaired dachshund, which became a television celebrity along with the author, are remembered at greater length. Whether taking up a single page or several, each anecdote is highlighted watercolor-and-ink interpretations of the joy, adventure, and playfulness.


Godhanger - There is terror in Godhanger Wood. With each passing day, another animal falls prey to the bloodthirsty gamekeeper, and another corpse is nailed to his gibbet. As the death toll rises, it seems that nothing can save the creatures of Godhanger. But there is one who brings new hope: the Skymaster, a mysterious and mighty bird who appears suddenly on a winter's day. His followers speak of his strange powers and listen faithfully to his wise words. Gentle yet formidable, the Skymaster is determined to stop the gamekeeper for good. But to do so, he may have to make the greatest sacrifice of all.



I Love Guinea Pigs - An affectionate guide to the most charming of very small animals. Did you know, for instance, that guinea pigs rarely get sick and love to eat? Or that they love one another and have adorable children, too? Portrayed in all their amiable chunkiness, guinea pigs finally receive the tribute they so richly deserve.
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The Merman - While vacationing in Scotland, Zeta meets a rather unusual fellow. He's a terrific swimmer. He chats with seals. And he has a fish tail. Marinus is a merman — definitely not your average summer friend. Who else could teach Zeta everything from swimming to astronomy to French? Everything's an adventure when Marinus is around, and as the summer ends, Zeta knows she'll miss her new friend terribly. Luckily, Marinus has one last surprise in store for her — one that will last a lifetime...

A Mouse Called Wolf - Wolfgang Amadeus Mouse ("Wolf," for short) has a big name for such a little mouse. But the name fits. His favorite pastime is listening to Mrs. Honeybee, the lady of the house, play the piano. If only he could sing along to the music! One day, Wolf decides to try — and to his surprise, out of his mouth comes a perfect melody. It's not long before Wolf is singing everything from "Three Blind Mice" to Chopin to the Beatles, all to Mrs. Honeybee's accompaniment. Then, an accident leaves Mrs. Honeybee in danger, and it's up to Wolf to save her... the only way he knows how.
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Mysterious Miss Slade - All the village children think Miss Slade is a witch. Perhaps it’s the patch on her eye. Or maybe it’s the ancient caravan she lives in, surrounded by six dogs, six cats, several goats, and a lot of chickens. But Jim and Patsy Reader know better. To them, Miss Slade is the eccentric neighbor who lets them ride her donkey, shares her lunch of chips and cookies, and makes them laugh out loud.

But Miss Slade is still a mystery to Jim and Patsy. Why does she speak like an aristocrat? And where did she get that gold sovereign? It turns out Miss Slade does have a secret after all — one that brings trouble when discovered. Luckily, she has some friends — human and canine —who can help.
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The Queen’s Nose - The story of Harmony Parker, a 10 year old girl who wants an animal of her own but is not allowed by her parents, who think they are dirty. Harmony has a 15 year old sister, Melody, who spends most of her time looking in a mirror. Harmony's best friend is a toy dog, Rex Ruff Monty.
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The School Mouse - Everyone has heard of house mice and field mice and church mice. But Flora is determined to become the first-ever school mouse. Being the first anything is hard, and Flora quickly discovers that being the first school mouse is no exception. When she learns to read, no one — her parents in particular — can see the use in it. She must convince them reading is tremendously important — especially after she finds a bag marked POISON.
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The Water Horse - "When eight-year-old Kirstie finds a mysterious egg on the beach after a big storm, no one in the family expects it to hatch. But the next day, after a night in the bathtub, a mysterious little creature is born: part turtle, part horse, part frog, with an alligator tail. Only Kirstie's grandpa knows its true identity: a Water Horse, the sea monster of Scottish legend. The creature becomes a family pet, tamable and lovable, though with a huge appetite. As he grows and grows, the family must decide where to place him, somewhere away from those who would exploit him or, worse, accidentally become his dinner; perhaps Loch Ness would be safest. This well-written, fast-paced fantasy combines a popular subject with appealing, distinctive characters, humor, and drama."