The Water Horse - Hardcover

King-Smith, Dick

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0517800276 ISBN 13: 9780517800270

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 1998

Synopsis

When eight-year-old Kirstie and her family go beach coming near their home in Scotland, she finds something that looks like a giant fish egg, and is just too interesting to leave on the beach. So she brings it home and sneaks it into the bathtub overnight. The next morning, she is surprised to find that the egg has hatched, but the newborn is unlike anything anyone has seen before. With a long neck, head like a horse, skin like a toad's, flippers like a turtle, and a tail like a crocodile, her brother Angus declares it a monster. Grandfather knows better and tells them it's a kelpie, or what he calls a water horse. The family keeps the baby and names it Crusoe. But as Crusoe grows, he becomes a bigger and bigger problem--literally. They are forced to find him a new home, away from people and boats.  They settle on a beautiful Loch, now known as Loch Ness. From the author of beloved Babe comes the soon-to-be-classic story of how--thanks to the love and kindness of the human family that raises him--the Loch Ness Monster found his home.  

About this title

From the Back Cover:

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.  

About this edition

• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0517800276
• ISBN 13: 9780517800270
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 118