Synopses & Reviews
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.
Synopsis
Dick 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." --The Washington Post on the film adaptation
"Well-written, fast-paced . . . with appealing, distinctive characters, humor, and drama. King-Smith's imaginative spin on an old myth makes the outrageous possible." --Booklist
"One of the most delightful children's authors." --The Guardian on Dick King-Smith
Synopsis
MONSTER MADNESS
When eight-year-old Kirstie brings home a strange egg from the Scottish shore, her family never expects it to hatch. But the next day, Kirstie discovers a baby sea monster swimming in her bathtub! Part horse, part toad, part turtle, and part crocodile, he's the oddest-looking creature Kirstie's family has ever seen. Only Kirstie's grandfather knows what the beastie really is -- a Water Horse!
This lovable creature is the perfect pet. The only trouble is, he can't stop growing! He gets bigger. And BIGGER. And BIGGER. Before long, he's outgrown nearly every loch in sight. Will they ever find a home that's large enough for their Water Horse?
About the Author
*Dick King-Smith was born and raised in Gloucestershire, England, surrounded by pet animals. After twenty years as a farmer, he turned to teaching and then to writing children's books.
*Dick writes mostly about animals: farmyard fantasy, as he likes to call it, often about pigs, his special favorites. He enjoys writing for children, meeting the children who read his books, and knowing that they get enjoyment from what he does.
*Among his well-loved books is Babe, The Gallant Pig , which was recently made into a major motion picture, and was nominated for an Academy Award.
*Dick currently lives with his wife in a small 17th-century cottage, about three miles from the house where he was born.
From the Hardcover edition.