In Memoriam - Dick King-Smith

Ronald Gordon King-Smith OBE (27 March 1922 – 4 January 2011), better known by his pen name Dick King-Smith, was a prolific English children's author, best known for writing The Sheep-Pig, retitled in the United States as Babe the Gallant Pig, on which the movie Babe was based. He was awarded an Honorary Master of Education degree by the University of the West of England in 1999 and appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours.

King-Smith was a soldier in World War II and a farmer for 20 years before he became a teacher and author. King-Smith's first book was The Fox Busters, published in 1978. He was one of Britain's most prolific authors and wrote over a hundred books, which have been translated into twelve languages. In later life he lived in Queen Charlton, a small farming village near Bristol, contributing to the maintenance and conservation of the local area as the vice-president of the Avon Wildlife Trust. He married his first wife, Myrle, in 1943. They had 3 children and 14 grandchildren. Myrle died in 2000, and King-Smith subsequently married Zona Bedding, a family friend.

He had many pets including rats, mice, ornamental pheasants, dachshunds, geese and guinea fowl, and bred guinea pigs and English rabbits.

He presented a feature on animals on TV-AM's children's programme Rub a Dub Dub.

King-Smith died on 4 January 2011 at the age of 88. You can find out more about Dick King-Smith and his books by visiting the the Dick King-Smith page on the Puffin Books website. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Ten

Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman have created several wonderful picture books for young children. They have given us the Bear books - an enormously popular series of books that have charmed readers of all ages - and also the books about a penguin who is called Little Pip. Here is one of the Little Pip books.

Don’t be afraid, Little Pip?

Karma Wilson

Illustrated by Jane Chapman

Picture book

Ages 4 to 6

Simon and Schuster, 2008, 978-0-689-85987-8

   Today is a big day for Little Pip and all the other young penguins. Today is the day when they are going to have their first swimming lesson. Little Pip thinks that the ocean looks “awfully dark and deep,” whereas the sky looks “bright and cheerful.” Surely, as she is a bird, she should be learning how to fly and not how to swim?

   Little Pip’s parents reassure her. “Penguins don’t fly, they swim. That’s what makes us special,” they say. Little Pip is not convinced, and while the other little penguins are embarking on their first swimming lesson, Little Pip decides that she is going to learn how to fly. All she needs to do is to find someone who can teach her how to do it. After all, she has wings and feathers, so why can’t she fly like the other birds?

   In this sweet picture book Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman bring back the little penguin who has delighted so many young penguin fans. Children will see that there are times when you just have to conquer your fears. When you do, you might just discover all kinds of new and wondrous things.

   With a meaningful story and wonderful illustrations, this is a picture book that children will appreciate and enjoy. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Nine

Many of us spend our lives constantly on the run. We are always doing something, and rarely take the time to be still and enjoy a moment of quiet. This splendid picture book explores the idea that quiet moments are good moments.

The Quiet Book

Deborah Underwood

Illustrated by Renata Liwska

Picture Book

Ages 5 to 7

Houghton Mifflin, 2010, 978-0-547-21567-9

As you go about your day, there are times when all the hustle and bustle around you seems to fade away. There are quiet moments when you can take in the world around you, enjoy the peace, or contemplate what is coming.

   This very special picture book looks at all the different kinds of quiet that a collection of animal children experience during a normal day. The little rabbit begins its day with the quiet that you experience when you are the “first one awake.” In school, a little bear enjoys that “coloring in the lines quiet” that children enjoy. The little moose experiences an altogether different sort of quiet when someone discovers the drawing on the wall that he created. The little mouse shares a moment of quiet with the rabbit when they suck on lollipops. Later the rabbit takes a quiet moment while he contemplates whether or not Aunt Tillie’s iguana is the kind of animal who might bite.

   With beautifully atmospheric pictures throughout, this book perfectly captures those moments when there is a pause in the day, and when little people (and big people) are able to experience a little scrap of quietness. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Eight

Chris Wormell is an author and illustrator whom I am particularly fond of. Here is one of his newest books. 

Scruffy Bear and the six white mice

Chris Wormell

Picture Book

Ages 4 to 6

Random House UK, 2011, 978-0-224-08394-2

One evening a small and rather scruffy bear is out walking when he comes to the edge of a “dark and gloomy” wood. Scruffy Bear is just about to begin walking around the wood, when he hears a squeaking noise that suggests that there are animals in distress somewhere in the wood. Into the wood the bear goes, and sure enough in the middle of the wood he encounters six terrified white mice that are lost. They beg Scruffy Bear to help them because they are sure that “now that night is coming we’ll be gobbled up by owls – or foxes – or snakes for certain.”

   No sooner have they said these words, than Scruffy Bear and the mice hear the hoot of an owl. They have to do something before the six mice end up inside the owl’s stomach. With no time to lose, Scruffy bear tells the mice to “curl up tight” and “tuck in your tails.” Scruffy Bear has an idea that might just work.

   With his wonderful illustrations and charming characters, Chris Wormell honors everyone who has had to be brave and quick thinking under difficult circumstances. Though Scruffy Bear is not very big or strong, he uses his wits to help animals that are small and defenseless. 

Poetry Friday - A review of Zombies! Evacuate the school

Here is a poetry book that is not only full of funny poems, but that also will help young readers to write their own poems. 

Zombies! Evacuate the school

Sara Holbrook

Illustrated by Karen Sandstrom

Poetry

For ages 8 to 11

Boyds Mills Press, 2010, 978-1-59078-820-2

   Do you remember reading sing songy poems in an old Mother Goose book? Perhaps you had a copy of Robert Louis Stevenson’s A child’s garden of verses? I am willing to guess that you think writing poetry is easy. Sure it is, all you have to do is to make words rhyme. Actually, it is not easy at all, which is what Sara Holbrook discovered when one of her middle school teachers told her to write a poem. Not knowing how to even begin to write a poem, Sara ‘borrowed’ a poem from a book of poetry that she had at home. Needless to say, she was “busted” and told to write her own poem.

   Thankfully, Sara has come a long way since she was in middle school. For this book, she explores school days and experiences using various poetry forms. What makes this book unique is that she is determined to help would-be poets to find their own voice. Mixed in with the poems are tips to help writers who want to try writing poems of their own. Prompts, questions, and suggestions will help readers to begin their own journey into poetry writing.

   The third poem in the book is about a journey on a big yellow school bus. Full of onomatopoeic words, it perfectly captures the noise and discomfort that comes with riding on a bumpy school bus. A note next to the poem talks about how Sara Holbrook used her own remembered bus rides to “write this bumpin,’ thumpin,’ omopatopeia-jumpin’” poem.

   Later on in the book, she shows readers how imagery and “sensory details” can be used to great effect. In Oh No! a child sees two girls carrying a tray of delicious cupcakes walking by. Of course, the child hopes that he or she will get to taste the delicious treats, but unfortunately, the birthday party is in another class.

   In this book, Sara Holbrook uses humor, sensitivity, and creativity to help readers to appreciate poetry on a new level.