Product Description

A personal account of one man's experience with animals, from his first elephant ride at the zoo to his experiences while working on a dairy farm, is complemented with amusing, colorful illustrations.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #439780 in Books
• Published on: 1996-10-07
• Released on: 1996-10-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 96 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4-King-Smith offers readers a tender "recall" of his pets and encounters with wild creatures, ranging from tree frogs to crows. In 31 personal short stories (none longer than 6 pages), he shares the joys, fears, and lessons he has learned from his animal friends. Watercolor illustrations are playful characterizations of the numerous beasts; some black-and-white photographs of the author are included as well. King-Smith's engaging storytelling style helps readers identify with him, so fans of the movie Babe will be immediately attracted to these tales.
Kathy East, Wood County District Public Library, OH
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 3^-5. In this delightful gift to his fans, beloved children's author 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 by Jeram's watercolor-and-ink interpretations of the joy, adventure, and playfulness. The joining of lighthearted illustrations with King-Smith's tongue-in-cheek humor and tenderness makes this an irresistible choice. Ellen Mandel

From Kirkus Reviews
In 31 anecdotes about animals he has known, King-Smith (The Stray, p. 1237, etc.) once again proves his worth as a born storyteller. The book opens with an introduction that includes photos of King-Smith, as a child and now; the stories themselves are accompanied by absolutely charming pictures by Jeram, no newcomer to King-Smith's world (I Love Guinea Pigs, 1995). They have the appeal of cartoons while being true-to-life, whether the subject is a guinea pig, golden pheasant, chameleon, or giant tortoise. Some of the pieces in this collection are very brief--no more than a paragraph--while others run a few pages in length. Whether the stories are poignant or funny, each leaves readers satisfied--and ready for more. The volume is long enough for readers who have left picture books behind, but still manageable for younger readers who are feeling adventurous. It's classified as animal anecdotes, but don't bury it in the 590s with assignment material. (Nonfiction. 5- 10) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

A collection of heart-warming tales from a well-loved author
Dick King-Smith has done it again. This time it is a series of homespun tales, perfect as bedtime read aloud stories. Each jewel is carefully carved to create that warm fuzzy feeling.

The stories are about the author's personal experiences with animals; from turtles to cats and beyond. I recomend this book for ALL ages, especially for the parents of small children. It is a collection of short stories, and is thus very good for children who like to be read aloud to, but who don't have a very long attention span. Hey, I'm twelve, and I still enjoy being read aloud to, and this is one of my favorites. [For all of you out there looking for good animal stories, I would also reccomend "Magnus Power Mouse" by the same author].

Over all, I would like to say that this is certainly one of King-Smith's best!

Very well-written with cute illustrations for kids
This book is my kid's favorites. Very well written. He speaks very admiringly, lovingly, and affectionately about animals he has met all over the world. Adorable illustrations! Best book I've seen in a while!