Babe, The Gallant Pig (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

Dick King-Smith’s classic story of Babe the sheep-herding pig is back with a charming new cover to win over a new generation of readers!
 
When Babe arrives at Hogget Farm, Mrs. Hogget’s thoughts turn to sizzling bacon and juicy pork chops. But before long, Babe reveals a talent no one could have expected: he can handle Farmer Hogget’s stubborn flock better than any sheepdog ever could! When Farmer Hogget enters Babe in the Grand Challenge Sheepdog Trials, everyone, including his wife, thinks he is a fool. But he believes in Babe. Now it’s just up to Babe to convince everyone else to believe in a sheep-pig!

An ALA Notable Book
 
A Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Book
 
A Horn Book Fanfare Honor Book
 
An IRA-CBC Children’s Choice
 
An NCTE Teachers’ Choice
 
“A hilarious fantasy about a plucky piglet that learns how to tend sheep, Babe is a barnyard charmer.” —The Washington Post on the film adaptation
 
“An animal fantasy which will inevitably be compared to Charlotte’s Web. . . . A splendid book.” —The Horn Book, starred review
 
“Impossible to resist.” —Booklist, starred review 
 
“One of the most delightful children’s authors.” —The Guardian on Dick King-Smith

Babe is a sensitive soul, deeply loyal to those who are kind to him. So when he is taken in by Farmer Hogget's sheepdog, Fly, it's only natural that he would want to follow in his foster mum's paw-steps. Even with Babe's considerable handicaps as a sheepdog--namely, that he's a pig--he manages to overcome all with his earnestly polite and soft-spoken ways, proving once again that might doesn't always make right. After saving the sheep from rustlers and wild dogs, Babe convinces Hogget that his idea of becoming a sheep-pig "b'aint so stupid" as it might look. But neither Hogget nor Babe, nor anyone else, could have predicted what follows.

As utterly charming as Charlotte's Web, this book is bound to pluck even the tightest heartstrings. Masterful characterization brings every personality to vibrant life, while Mary Rayner's lively line illustrations only elucidate images Dick King-Smith has already planted in the reader's mind. Herd the whole farmyard together: readers of all ages, ambitions, and antecedents will love this one. --Emilie Coulter