The Water Horse

Dick King-Smith, best known for The Sheep-Pig, which became the movie Babe, delivers another winner with The Water Horse, set in Scotland in the 1930s. Young Kirstie discovers a sac-like object that she takes home and places in her water-filled bathtub. To the delight of Kirstie, her younger brother Angus and Kirstie’s grandfather (nicknamed Grumble), it hatches into a baby sea monster (called her a water-horse). The children’s mother’s less enthusiastic, but she grudgingly concedes to taking care of the creature.

Naturally, the adventures of the baby water-horse and the family’s efforts to keep it from harm (and from discovery) will delight any child who wishes that they had such a pet. But adults will find themselves surprised show more by how deeply they, too, are charmed by this slender, wonderful book. How King-Smith was able to spin such a charming tale with so few words should be taught as a lesson in MFA classes across the country.

Those fortunate enough to listen to this book on Audible will be very pleased at the wonderful job actor Nathaniel Parker does with this wistful book. show less

Una dolce, breve storia che sono certa avrei apprezzato ancor di più se solo l'avessi letta da bambina.
Il racconto riprende il famoso mito del mostro di Lochness, facendo in modo che la creatura venga scoperta da due fratellini che gli si affezionano fin da subito.
La cosa che ho apprezzato di più oltre alla semplicità della narrazione e alla tenerezza trasmessa attraverso le parole, sono stati i momenti in cui il POV (point of view) apparteneva a Crusoe (il mostro), descrivendo meravigliosamente dal suo punto di vista ciò che gli accadeva.
Ammetto che il film mi ha commossa e coinvolta maggiormente, ma la trama è stata complicata molto di più rispetto al libro, che rimane comunque un'ottima lettura per bambini.

One of my favorite fables from this author. Again, an illustrator I haven't seen in any of his other works, but one that drew pictures that work perfectly for the story. I like that the 'magic' element is plausible, and that there is plenty of humor but also just enough drama for young readers. The family story in the background is nice, too. The characters are a teeny bit shallow, but probably only noticeable to me because I write so many of these mini-reviews.

This was a really fantastic book. We saw the movie when it came out and loved it. I have to say that based on the movie, I thought the book would be much longer and frankly, more complex. What a delight that 3rd, 4th and 5th graders could read this story and really get in to it and appreciate it as fully as older children did the movie. With that said - the book and movie are VERY different elementally speaking. This would be one of those great books to assign where it would be blatantly obvious who read the book versus who watched the film. The story was well-crafted and left me wanting to read more of King-Smith's stuff (like Babe:the Gallant Pig which I haven't been interested in previously because the movie is so campy).

Well written, good characterization, fairly interesting plot, author has the rare gift of charm. I liked the idea of a book written from the point of view of the monster.

In the 1930s in rural scotland, a young girl and her brother find and hatch the egg of a mythical creature. As loved as any household pet, caring for 'Crusoe' pulls the family together as they look for ways to protect and hide the animal, eventually releasing it into Loch Ness. Parts of Eragon and shades of Free Willy, this lovely tale is about love and family and letting go. recommend for boys and girls, 3rd-5th or 6th grade.

Set in the 1930s, the story of a brother and sister who live by the sea in Scotland with their mother, her father whom they call Grumble, and their sailor father, who is often away for long periods. After a storm they find an object which turns out to be a kelpie or water-horse egg, and out of it hatches what is obviously meant to be the Loch Ness Monster as a baby. They secretly raise Crusoe (as they name it) -- which involves all kinds of problems as it gets bigger and bigger -- and they have to train him to stay hidden from other people. The book ends with a newspaper clipping dated 1933 referring to the sighting of a great monster in Loch Ness.

Fairly short -- with b&w illustrations.