Dick King-Smith's Animal Friends: Thirty-one True Life Stories - Hardcover

King-Smith, Dick

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1564029603 ISBN 13: 9781564029607

Publisher: Candlewick, 1996

Synopsis

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.

About this title

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.

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

About this edition

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 1564029603
• ISBN 13: 9781564029607
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 96
• Illustrator: Jeram Anita