pridiansky 's review for:

The Water Horse by Dick King-Smith

4.0

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Dick King-Smith's mind was a well-oiled machine for cranking out children's books, with as many as ten in a single year!  I had a couple books of his from my childhood that I'd kept before finding this one at a book sale out of a neighbor's garage.  I've gotta say, he had writing these down to a science.  They are always so well-paced and snappy, flowing smoothly from scene to scene with never a dull moment.  As an adult reading this for the first time, I still found it thoroughly enjoyable.  It didn't bore me for a second.  There's nothing too deep going on here, but I love that about it.  It's pure-hearted fun, with no strings attached.  It doesn't need to be anything else but what it is, which is Fun, and I love the simplicity of it.  What kid wouldn't be delighted at the thought of a fantastical beast hatching in their bathtub and finding it during the night?  The magic is in the simplicity.  I think almost every kid can identify with bringing some animal or another home and begging their parents to let them keep it as a pet.  Dick King-Smith really understood children, and I believe he had a firm hold on the joys of his childhood as well.  He wrote so many whimsical stories for kids to enjoy even now and I'm glad that they're still around.  How lovely to reconnect with this author's work.  It's like younger me and older me are sitting down together under a bright, flowering tree and having a picnic while reading our books.  Thank you so much, Dick King-Smith.  <3