George Speaks - Softcover

King-Smith, Dick

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0439521769 ISBN 13: 9780439521765

Publisher: Scholastic Inc., 1948

About this title

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 wrote mostly about animals: farmyard fantasy, as he likes to call it, often about pigs, his special favorites. He enjoyed 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 are Babe: The Gallant Pig, which was made into a major motion picture and was nominated for an Academy Award.

Review:

Publishers Weekly King-Smith provides frothy fun with this blithe tale about a precocious baby.  Four-week-old George shocks his sister, seven-year-old Laura, when he begins to converse in full sentences. . . . King-Smith mines his entertaining premise, delivering a steady stream of droll observations and snappy comebacks. Brown’s impish line drawings of the round-headed family provide the icing on the cake. . . . Beginning readers will eat it up.”—   Kirkus Reviews  “[A]  whimsical account of a child prodigy. . . Good choice.  Booklist  Laced with delightfully dry humor, a hint of cynicism, and subtle pokes at the silly ways adults behave around infants. Trust King-Smith to steer clear of the overly cutesy, too. George is no sweet kid: he is totally self-centered and annoyingly bossy. But the setup is great, and kids will relish both the freshness and the idea that usually all-powerful grownups have met their match in a little kid that still wears diapers. Judy Brown’s plentiful sketches add even more sparkle.  School Library Journal The story moves smoothly . . . and the humor is consistent. Kids will enjoy being in the know as the fawning relatives continue to babble in baby talk at him. Brown'’ pen-and-ink drawings (one on every page) keep up with the humor of the story. This amusing first chapter book would also be an entertaining read-aloud.  Bulletin, Center for Children's Books The premise here has distinct possibilities, but the humor is adult and the action, by necessity, is minimal. George is tyrannical little windbag, without the charm babies need to keep their caregivers caring. . . .

About this edition

• Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
• Publication date: 1948
• ISBN 10: 0439521769
• ISBN 13: 9780439521765
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 96