x"King-Smith has written another engaging animal fantasy with plenty of humorous insight into the human condition. Martin, a kitten, is branded 'wimp' by his siblings and 'stupid' by other farm animals for his friendly interest in mice. When he captures the pregnant mouse Drusilla, he makes her and her eventual brood his pets. He loves caring for them and can't understand their desire for freedom. Only when he becomes the pet of a big city apartment dweller does he realize why his pets deserted him. Martin bravely jumps to freedom, and a fox helps him find his way back home, where he is content to be just a friend to mice. King-Smith's story has humor and a fast pace which will appeal to younger readers. Characterization is deftly conveyed for the various farm animals. Pug, Martin's father, is a standout as a ratcatcher with respect for his son's friends. When down-trodden Martin finally stands up for his rights, readers will cheer and also absorb the gentle lessons of being different, owning others, and self-respect...a lively read-aloud". School Library Journal (starred review)

An engaging animal fantasy with plenty of humorous insight into the human condition--written by the author of "Babe: The Gallant Pig". A kitten loves caring for his friends, the mice, and it's not until he becomes the pet of an apartment dweller that he realizes why his siblings have made fun of him for it.

"Martin, a kitten, is branded a `wimp' by his siblings for his friendly interest in mice. He loves caring for them and can't understand their desire for freedom. Only when he becomes the pet of a big city apartment dweller does he realize why his pets deserted him. An engaging animal fantasy with plenty of humorous insight into the human condition, King-Smith's story has humor and a fast pace which will appeal to younger readers."--School Library Journal (starred review)

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.