The Swoose - Hardcover

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 wrote mostly about animals: farmyard fantasy, as he likes to call it, often about pigs, his special favorites. He enjoyed 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 are Babe: The Gallant Pig, which was made into a major motion picture and was nominated for an Academy Award.

Grade 3-5?In this spin-off on the Ugly Duckling theme, a swoose (the love-child of a swan and a goose) becomes Queen Victoria's favorite pet. Although the queen may never have said "We are not amused," as she often does in this story, she certainly was a bit cranky after her husband Albert died, and here it is Fitzherbert, the swoose, who finally succeeds in making her happier. Many American children will lack the background to appreciate the temperamental monarch, her transformation, or the courtly swoose, but they will enjoy Fitzherbert's plucky individualism and King-Smith's wordplay. Some of the vocabulary and a passage involving a French chef with a thick accent may be a bit daunting for beginning or reluctant readers, but add nicely to a read-aloud. The occasional feathery pen-and-ink illustrations seem a bit anemic, but such simplicity supports without overwhelming the text. King-Smith's fans will enjoy this new offering with its charm and chuckles.?Jody McCoy, Casady School, Oklahoma City
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.