Books with author Smith Dick King

A beautiful story for older readers written almost twenty years ago in which bestselling author Dick King-Smith creates a fascinating picture of rural life at the time of the Second World War. Discovered as a foundling in a lambing pen, Spider Sparrow grows up surrounded by animals. From sheep and horses to wild otters and foxes, Spider loves them all, even the crows he must scare away from the newly sown wheat. Crowstarving was the idea job for Spider - he was on his own, yet never alone for all around him were animals of one sort or another. Amazingly, every animal who meets Spider implicitly trusts the young boy. This magical rapport is Spider's unique gift, but nothing else in his tough life is so easy.

Max is a hedgehog who lives with his family in a nice little home, but unfortunately on the wrong side of the road from the Park, with its beautiful lily pond, and more importantly its juicy slugs, worms and snails! The busy road is a dangerous barrier but Max notices that humans seem to cross it quite easily. If they can, why can't hedgehogs? So Max sets out on a quest to find a safe way to reach the Park. His first attempt ends in a nasty bump on the head, and Max finds when he tries to speak his words are all mixed up. He is now a Hodgeheg, not a hedgehog, but he is still determined to fulfil his mission. After some careful detective work, Max eventually discovers the best way to cross the road - with the help of the lollipop lady, of course!

Farmer Skint and his family have fallen on hard times at Woebegone Farm until their goose lays a golden egg. With the birth of Joy the Golden Goose, the fortune of the Skint family begins to change. But what will happen when people find out about their golden-feathered friend? How long can they keep Joy a secret?From beloved author Dick King-Smith comes the heartwarming story of a magical golden goose perfect for beginning readers.

An ALA Booklist “Best of the Decade” and an ALA Notable Book, from the author of Babe: The Gallant Pig.Daggie may be the runt of the litter, but he’s destined for greatness. Daggie Dogfoot, the runt of Mrs. Barleylove’s litter, is in danger. Not even Mrs. Barleylove knows what the Pigman does with runts when he takes them away from the pen. But Daggie is a pig of remarkable qualities, and he’s not about to let the Pigman get him. Instead, Daggie runs away and decides to learn how to fly. But when he tries leaping off a cliff, he discovers another talent—a talent he’ll need to save the entire farm . . . “It’s impossible to remain unmoved . . . a soaring, heartening fantasy.”—Publishers Weekly

A little girl who desperately wants a dog introduces an imaginary Great Dane called Henry into her home. But then, to her great surprise, she is allowed a real Henry! Was old Mrs Garrow, with her cackling laugh and black cat, responsible for her wish coming true?From the number one author for animal magic comes a wonderful new edition of this much loved classic.

Flightless, helpless and often, frankly, more than a little silly, chickens are no match for the cunning, merciless foxes stalking their coop. Or are they? Thanks to a careless farmer and generations of determined foxes, the chickens on Foxearth Farm have evolved into quick-witted, long-legged, high flying fox dodgers. Then, just a week after a vicious fox ambush in the water trough, three sisters are hatched. And Ransome, Sims and Jefferies are no ordinary chicks: they grow up determined to fight back. They are the legendary Fox Busters …