Mr. Ape - Hardcover

King-Smith, Dick

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0517709864 ISBN 13: 9780517709863

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 1998

Synopsis

Dick King-Smith, beloved author of Babe: The Gallant Pig,  returns with a witty and touching tale about the different shapes and sizes a family can take. When Archibald Peregrine Edmund Spring-Russell (Ape, for short) finds himself living alone for the first time in his life, he's finally free to do exactly as he pleases. And nothing pleases this wealthy old English gentleman with an enormous estate and a Rolls-Royce more than buying twelve big, beautiful brown hens to keep in the living room. But Ape doesn't stop there. Soon there are rabbits and guinea pigs in the dining room, canaries in the music room, a noisy talking parrot in the kitchen, and a puppy who seems to be everywhere! Just when Ape's house is about to burst with little beasties, Joe and Jake--father and son Gypsies--lend a helping hand. But it takes a household disaster for Ape to realize he finally has the family he never had. With trademark Dick King-Smith humor, short chapters, and large type, this easy-to-read story is perfect for independent readers.  

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 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 School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-Archibald Peregrine Edmund Spring-Russell, otherwise known as Ape, is fed up. For years, he's been ignored by his children and bullied by his disagreeable wife. Penny Royal, his ancestral mansion, is about as homey as your typical museum. Now his family has cleared out and he's left alone with 15 empty bedrooms. Ape promptly moves into the kitchen and contemplates buying a pet. Soon there are hens laying eggs in the living room, rabbits and guinea pigs in the dining room, canaries in the music room, and, thanks to some traveling gypsies, a donkey in the garden. Ape soon discovers that he needs help taking care of all of these animals. The two gypsies, Joe Hart and his son, Jake, offer their services, and before he knows it, the elderly man has another family, this one much more to his liking. When Penny Royal accidentally burns to the ground and the Harts are blamed, Ape is forced to decide whether to stay where his ancestors put him or follow his new family to their next stopping place. King-Smith explores several themes in this warm story: prejudice, acceptance, family life, and, above all, the need to be yourself. The soft pencil sketches lend depth to the narrative and bring the characters to life. Peppered with good advice on how to care for and about pets, this book is a winner.
Linda Bindner, Athens Clarke County Library, GA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0517709864
• ISBN 13: 9780517709863
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 128