Showing results by author "Dick Smith" in All Categories

Dick Smith is a remarkable and proud Australian. He has been part of our national consciousness for over 50 years as an innovative and astute businessman, a groundbreaking adventurer, a generous philanthropist and a provocateur for the causes he feels deeply about. Yet, despite his great successes and achievements, Dick has remained down to earth and close to his roots.

When Babe, the little orphaned piglet, is won at a fair by Farmer Hogget, he is adopted by Fly, the kind-hearted sheep-dog. Babe is determined to learn everything he can from Fly. He knows he can't be a sheep-dog. But maybe, just maybe, he might be a sheep-pig.

Farmer Hoggett wins a piglet at the fair. It should fatten up nicely. However Fly, the sheep-dog trains Babe, the piglet, to herd sheep, making Babe an indispensable sheep-pig.

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.

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.

Sophie's cat, Tom, has surprised them all by producing four kittens. There are more animals to come in the year that Sophie hits six, finds a new farming ally, and makes a triumphant entrance into the sporting arena. A charming story about Sophie, her animals, and her life on the farm.

Henrietta Hickthrift decided to run away from home - the Old People's Home. Packing just one small suitcase, she sets off on the train to the seaside. But Henry doesn't have much money. In fact, by the end of her first day she has exactly one penny. That is when she meets the Goods - Angela, Barney, Eleanor, Rosie and Rowley - who decide to adopt this unusual stray. But will their parents let them keep her?

Sophie is small but very determined. She loves animals and is going to be a lady farmer when she grows up. On her fifth birthday, she gets a model farm and lots of toy animals. What she wants most of all, though, is a real animal - like a cat.

Small but very determined Sophie wants to be a lady farmer when she grows up. Down in the potting shed, she has made a start and keeps flocks of free-range wood lice and herds of snails.

Harmony Parker thought animals much nicer than people, and saw everyone she knew as some non-human species. Her father, for example, was most definitely a bald-headed Sea Lion, her mother a tubby, fussy Pouter Pigeon, and her tiresome older sister a Siamese cat. But Harmony's parents would not allow her to have real pets of any kind – not even a harmless gerbil. Then Uncle Ginger arrived from India and gave Harmony a very special present ...

The Invisible Dog is the story of a girl who tries to satisfy her yearning for a dog by introducing an imaginary Great Dane called Henry to the house. Her wish comes true, and she is allowed a real Henry - but there's more than a hint that old Mrs Garrow, with her cackling laugh and black cat, may have been involved.

Lubber the dog and Squintum the cat join forces with a racing pigeon and a pretty young Irish setter to search for Lubber's home. All he can remember is that he lives in a cottage below a hillside on which is carved a white horse.

Sophie already has a rabbit and a cat and a dog, but what she'd really love is a pony. Good fortune comes Sophie's way when she's invited to spend her summer holiday in Scotland with Great Aunt Al.

Ever since she was four years old, Sophie has wanted to be a lady farmer. She has been collecting animals, and so far her menagerie consists of snails, centipedes, a white rabbit, a black cat, and a puppy named Puddle. Now Sophie is saving money in her piggy bank to buy her own farm, but when she adds it up she only has #12.60. She must think of ways to raise more funds!

All pterodactyls know that flying dinosaurs are superior, and all apatosauruses know that any dinosaur with only two legs is surely second-class. Nosy, a pterodactyl, and Banty, an apatosaurus, become great friends even though their parents have forbidden them to play together. With Nosy’s fast flying and Banty’s smarts, the two take on the biggest predator on the Great Plain, and conquer their parents’ prejudices in one great adventure.

Sophie is small but very determined. She loves animals and is going to be a lady farmer when she grows up. She already has herds of insects, a rabbit and a cat, and now she has a puppy too. She befriends a pony called Bumblebee and a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig.

There are six of the Bone children and, when their parents are drowned on the Titanic, everyone wonders what will become of them. But Binnie is determined not to let the family be split up, and she stands up to all the well-meaning offers from relatives to take charge. Her love holds the family together through its ups and downs. Then the First World War starts - and Binnie's brothers are desperate to go and fight for their country.

Flora was born on the first day of term in the new school year, which might be why she's a very special mouse indeed – a mouse who has taught herself to read! Flora lives in a classroom, and is determined to learn all sorts of things that no mouse has ever learned before. Her family is horrified at first, but then Flora's reading saves their lives.

Harry Holdsworth had never heard of his Great-Uncle George until he inherited the old man’s most cherished possession: an African Grey parrot named Madison. Harry’s first reaction was one of dismay. Who wants a big pet bird – one that could live for another 40 years? But when Mad introduces himself in perfect American, Harry discovers he has found a friend – and more.

This wonderfully funny audio collection contains eight adventures from the master of animal tales, Dick King-Smith. Perfect for young listeners, this magical collection features one of Dick King-Smith's most loved stories: The Hodgeheg. Other timeless classics included in this collection are: Poppet, E.S.P, The Mousebutcher, The Merrythought, Lightning Strikes Twice, A Narrow Squeak, and Under the Mishmash Tree.