The Sheep-Pig facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Dick King-Smith |
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| Illustrator | Mary Rayner |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Gollancz |
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Publication date
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12 November 1983 |
| Media type | Print (hardback and paperback) |
| Pages | 118 pp (first edition) |
| ISBN | 0575033754 |
| OCLC | 59194695 |
| LC Class | PZ7.K5893 Sh 1984 PZ7.K5893 Bab 1985 |
The Sheep-Pig, also known as Babe, the Gallant Pig in the US, is a popular children's novel. It was written by Dick King-Smith and first published in 1983. The book features a brave pig living on a sheep farm in rural England.
Dick King-Smith himself was a farmer for twenty years. This experience helped him write such a realistic and charming story. The book later became the famous 1995 movie Babe, which was a huge success worldwide. King-Smith even won the 1984 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize for his amazing book.
Contents
The Story of Babe the Pig
The story begins when a young piglet named Babe is won at a fair. A sheep farmer, Farmer Hogget, wins him. Farmer Hogget doesn't really need a pig. His wife plans to fatten Babe up for Christmas dinner.
Babe's New Home
Babe feels scared in his new surroundings. Luckily, he meets Fly, a kind sheepdog. Fly feels sorry for Babe and comforts him. She asks his name, and Babe says his mother called all her children Babe.
Fly and her puppies teach Babe about life on the farm. Babe tries to learn how to herd sheep. He first practices with the ducks, but he doesn't do very well.
A Different Way to Herd
Babe then has a clever idea. Instead of barking and ordering sheep around like sheepdogs do, he decides to ask them politely. This new method works surprisingly well!
Soon, Fly's puppies are sold, which makes her very sad. Babe asks Fly if he could be her son, and she agrees.
Babe Saves the Sheep
One day, Farmer Hogget and Fly bring a sick ewe named Maa back to the farm. Babe meets Maa in the stable. Maa helps Babe understand that sheep are not as silly as Fly had told him. Babe promises to visit Maa when she feels better.
Later, Babe visits Maa in the fields. He sees sheep rustlers trying to steal the sheep. Babe bravely saves the flock. He herds them away from the rustlers' truck. He even bites one rustler's leg and squeals loudly. Mrs. Hogget hears him and calls the police. The rustlers drive away without any sheep. Babe has saved the day! Mrs. Hogget decides to reward him by letting him live.
Training for the Trials
After this, Farmer Hogget takes Babe to the fields every day. One day, just for fun, he asks Babe to round up the sheep. Babe politely asks the sheep to move. Maa, who is in the middle of the herd, tells the other sheep about Babe. Farmer Hogget is amazed! The sheep walk in perfect straight lines.
Hogget starts to think Babe is very special. He believes Babe could enter the sheepdog trials. He begins to train the pig for the competition.
A Dangerous Attack
One morning, Babe goes to the fields alone. He finds the sheep panicking. Wild dogs are attacking them! Babe runs back to the farm to warn Fly.
However, Babe discovers that Maa is badly hurt. She dies before anyone can help her. Farmer Hogget arrives and sees Babe with the dead sheep. He thinks Babe might have killed her. He prepares to shoot Babe, fearing he is dangerous.
Babe's Innocence Proven
But Mrs. Hogget tells Farmer Hogget about the wild dogs. Fly, who can't believe Babe would do such a thing, goes to ask the sheep what really happened. She even forces herself to be polite to them. The sheep willingly tell her that Babe saved their lives. Babe is proven innocent! Farmer Hogget continues his training and enters Babe into the county sheepdog trials.
The Big Day
Before the trials, Fly gets a secret "password" from the sheep. This password will help Babe speak to the sheep he'll be herding. On the day of the trials, Babe, Fly, and Farmer Hogget go to the grounds. Farmer Hogget appears with Fly, but then swaps her for Babe.
Babe performs perfectly, without any commands from Farmer Hogget. He says the password to the sheep. At the end of his trial, Babe and Farmer Hogget score full marks. Farmer Hogget looks down at his amazing sheep-pig and says, "That'll do, Pig."
Book Chapters
The Sheep-Pig has twelve short chapters. Each chapter title is written like a quote:
- "Guess my weight"
- "There. Is that nice?"
- "Why can't I learn?"
- "You'm a polite young chap"
- "Keep yelling, young un"
- "Good Pig"
- "What's trials?"
- "Oh, Maa!"
- "Was it Babe?"
- "Memorize it"
- "Today is the day"
- "That'll do"
Movie and Stage Versions
The Movie Babe
The popular movie Babe was based on this book. It was directed by Chris Noonan. He wrote the screenplay with George Miller, who was also one of the producers. It took Miller ten years to bring the book to the big screen! The movie was filmed in Australia. It used amazing creature effects from Jim Henson's company and from Hollywood.
The Stage Play
The novel was also turned into a stage play. David Wood, a children's playwright, adapted it. The stage version uses actors and life-sized puppets. It is made for young children to enjoy.
