Harriet’s Hare
Published on Monday, July 15th, 2024
A beautiful new 30th anniversary edition of Harriet’s Hare is out on Thursday 25th July! “Everyone knows that hares don’t talk, but the hare that Harriet meets one morning in a corn circle in a wheatfield is rather different. It is a tourist from the planet Pars, who has taken the form of a talking […]
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Clawton School, Devon
Published on Friday, June 28th, 2024
By Dick’s son, Giles King-Smith. “On June 18th I went down to Clawton Primary School in mid-Devon (a few miles south of Holsworthy, if you like to look up where places are!) to talk to the children about Dick’s life and career. It’s a small rural school, with about 70 children on roll, so they […]
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Bampton Children’s Literary Afternoon
Published on Tuesday, May 28th, 2024
Earlier this month, Dick’s younger daughter Liz took part in a special event in Bampton, Oxfordshire. Here is her report from the day: “Last Saturday afternoon I took part in a Children’s Literary Afternoon for the primary school in our village: the school that both my children, two of Dad’s/Dick’s grandchildren, attended. Bampton C of […]
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Bampton Church of England Primary School
Published on Saturday, May 18th, 2024
For anyone in the Bampton, Oxfordshire area, all are welcome at Bampton Children’s Literary Afternoon today, 18th May from 2pm – 5pm. There will be a fun-packed afternoon of child-focused book talks and activities, and Liz Rose, Dick’s younger daughter will be reading some stories throughout the day. Join her at Bampton Primary School!
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London Zoo, 1928
Published on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024
In 1928, when he was 6 years old, Dick was taken to London Zoo by his parents. He drew some pictures of the animals he saw there, including Ranji the tigon (a tiger crossed with a lion), Cleopatra the python, Sam the black-maned lion and Peter Pan the baby alligator. He also drew this rather […]
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Hungerford Primary School
Published on Thursday, March 28th, 2024
When I was 10, Dick King-Smith, my great grandfather, came to visit my school! It wasn’t long after we had moved from London to a tiny village on the west coast of Scotland—it was the first time Grampa Dick visited us in Ardfern, and was in fact the only time he made the long journey […]
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Dick’s Birthday
Published on Wednesday, March 27th, 2024
102 years ago today, on 27th March 1922, Dick King-Smith was born in Bitton, Gloucestershire. Here he is, at home, with Dodo the Dachshund.
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Read Me A Story
Published on Monday, February 26th, 2024
Being read to is a great pleasure, whether you’re young, old, or somewhere in between! Did you know that well over 50 of Dick’s stories are available as audiobooks? Some stories may be familiar to you, and some might not! The stories are read by some brilliant actors, such as Andrew Sachs, June Whitfield and […]
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That’ll Do Pig
Published on Wednesday, January 31st, 2024
Did you know that the film Babe, based on Dick King-Smith’s story The Sheep-Pig was nominated for an amazing 7 Academy Awards (Oscars)?! Released in 1995, the film received widespread critical acclaim and is still fondly remembered by many. The seven Academy Awards that Babe was nominated for were Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting […]
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School Visits
Published on Wednesday, January 24th, 2024
Over the years, Dick visited a great many schools. He really enjoyed reading some of his stories to the children, answering their questions and giving away some of his books for their libraries. Although we no longer have Dick, Dick’s family have carried on this tradition, with Dick’s son Giles King-Smith, elder daughter Juliet King-Smith, […]
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