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If you enjoy stories about talking animals, these are not to be missed!
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
Spider saves pig's life!
Rat reads important words for survival!
Review
Born the runt of the litter, Wilbur is saved by the farmer's
daughter, Fern. She feeds him and pets him, but even Fern cannot
protect Wilbur from his ultimate fate. It takes his friendship with
the wise spider Charlotte, supported by the other barnyard animals
such as the geese, and the rat Templeton, to devise a plan that
will show the world that Wilbur is a very special pig who deserves
to live. Charlotte gives her life to Wilbur, weaving messages into
her web that dazzle all who see them. Will they be enough to
persuade the world that Wilbur should be saved? (8+)
Secret Passage
Wilbur liked Charlotte better and better each day. Her campaign
against insects seemed sensible and useful. Hardly anybody around
the farm had a good word to say for a fly. Flies spent their time
pestering others. The cows hated them. The horses detested them.
The sheep loathed them. Mr and Mrs Zuckerman were always
complaining about them, and putting up screens. Wilbur admired the
way Charlotte managed. He was particularly glad the way that she
always put her victim to sleep before eating it. 'It's real
thoughtful of you to do that, Charlotte,' he said. 'Yes,' she
replied in her sweet, musical voice, 'I always give them an
anaesthetic so they won't feel pain. It's a little service I
throw in.'
From 'Charlotte's Web' by E. B. White. Text copyright © Hamish
Hamilton 1952.
Published in Puffin Books 1993
Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl
Mr Fox loses his tail but revenge is sweet!
He outsmarts three smelly, greedy and cruel farmers!
Review
If ever anyone deserves to be called 'fantastic', it has to be Mr
Fox. Holed up deep under ground by the mean old farmers, Boggis and
Bunce and Bean, Mr Fox has to think quickly to save his family from
starvation. Three days without food or drink and his little
children are running out of energy. Have they got enough strength
to dig in the very particular direction that their father has
chosen? And where will it lead them? After hours of tunnelling
their destination becomes clear - and what a feast they have when
they get there! (8+)
Secret Passage
For three days and nights this waiting-game went on. 'How long can
a fox go without food or water?' Boggis asked on the third day.
'Not much longer now,' Bean told him. 'He'll make a run for it
soon. He'll have to.' Bean was right. Down in the tunnel the foxes
were slowly but surely starving to death. 'If only we could have
just a tiny sip of water,' said one of the Small Foxes. 'Oh, Dad,
can't you do something?' 'Couldn't we make a dash for it,
Dad? We'd have a little bit of a chance, wouldn't we?' 'No chance
at all,' snapped Mrs Fox. 'I refuse to let you go up there and face
those guns. I'd sooner you stay down here and die in peace.'
From 'Fantastic Mr Fox' by Roald Dahl. Text copyright © Roald
Dahl Nominee Ltd 1970.
Published in Puffin Books 2001
Redwall by Brian Jacques
Vicious, one-eyed rat orders attack on Redwall!
Hand-to-hand fighting in a battle until death!
Review
All is quite and peaceful in Redwall Abbey and the creatures relax
in the warm summer sunshine. But outside the walls all is not so
well, and danger threatens as the evil, one-eyed rat, Cluny the
Scourge, prepares his troops for a deadly battle. Cluny is out for
one thing only, and he is determined that nothing will stand in his
way! Success means nothing less than full possession of Redwall and
the defeat of the mice. Will Redwall survive the attack? Rats and
mice battle it out as the honour and future of Redwall are at
stake. (8+)
Secret Passage
A whack from the bannerstaff silenced Sela. Cluny's voice was icy
with condemnation. 'Traitors! All that he meant was that you
slipped up when you copied my plans for an attack with a battering
ram. So now you know that I intend to tunnel into Redwall.' Sela
licked dry lips. She stared pleadingly at the Warlord; but there
was no mercy in the single eye. 'You know too much, vixen. You and
your son played a dangerous game. Nobody outsmarts Cluny. I've won,
and you have both lost.' The foxes clasped their claws. They knelt,
whimpering pitifully. Cluny stood over them, enjoying his power as
judge. He signalled to Cheesethief and Darkclaw. 'Take these
miserable turncoats out of my sight. You know what to do.'
From 'Redwall' by Brian Jacques. Text copyright © Brian
Jacques 1986.
Published by Red Fox 1990
The Sheep-Pig by Dick King Smith
Pig saves sheep from terrible fate!
Pig enters Grand Challenge Sheep Dog trials!
Review
When Farmer Hogget wins a pig at the village fete he never thinks
it will be more than bacon. But Babe is adopted by the sheep-dog
Fly, and quickly picks up all the habits of a working dog - and
some more of his own besides! Babe's skill at rounding up sheep
saves his bacon and Farmer Hogget's sheep. It isn't long before
Farmer Hogget realises that he has a very special pig on his hands.
Soon, the two of them win competitions all over the country. Known
also as the film Babe, The Sheep-Pig is a funny, tender and
astonishing story. (8+)
Secret Passage
"Stay, Fly!" said Hogget. And, just for fun, "Come, Pig!"
Immediately Babe ran forward and sat at the farmer's right, his
front trotters placed neatly together, his big ears cocked for the
next command. Strange thoughts began to stir in Farmer Hogget's
mind, and unconsciously he crossed his fingers. He took a deep
breath, and, holding it... "Away to me, Pig!" he said softly.
Without a moment's hesitation Babe began the long outrun to the
right. Quite what Farmer Hogget had expected to happen, he could
never afterwards clearly remember. What he had not expected was
that the pig would run round to the rear of the flock, and turn to
face it and him, and lie down instantly without a word of further
command spoken, just as a well-trained dog would have done.
From 'The Sheep-Pig' by Dick King-Smith. Text copyright © Dick
King-Smith 1983.
Published in Puffin Books 1999
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Dangerous driver causes trouble!
Mole and friends battle against the weasels in the Wild Wood!
Review
Life on the riverbank with close friends Mole, Rat, Toad and Badger
is mostly peaceful. There's lots of entertaining as well as a great
deal of messing about on the river. Just occasionally the peace is
shattered, for example when Toad gets behind the wheel of his car
and speeds around the countryside letting rip with the horn; or,
more seriously, by brief attempts to defeat the weasels and stoats
in the Wild Wood. Friendship, hospitality and the pursuit of fun
propel these four animals on their adventures, and as they go about
their lives against the backdrop of a watery landscape. (8+)
Secret Passage
The Rat paid no heed to his doleful self-reproaches. He was running
here and there, opening doors, inspecting rooms and cupboards, and
lighting lamps and candles and sticking them up everywhere. "What a
capital little house this is!" he called out cheerily. "So compact!
So well planned! Everything here and everything in its place! We'll
make a jolly night of it. The first thing we want is a good fire;
I'll see to that - I always know where to find things. So this is
the parlour? Splendid! Your own idea, those little sleeping bunks
in the wall? Capital! Now, I'll fetch the wood and the coals, and
get a duster, Mole - you'll find one in the drawer of the kitchen
table - and try and smarten things up a bit. Bustle about, old
chap!"
From 'The Wind in the Willows' by Kenneth Grahame. Published in
Puffin Books 1994.
