Dick King-Smith. Does that author’s name ring a bell? It should.

Born on March 27th and raised in Gloucestershire, England, one of his most-loved books is Babe, the Gallant Pig, which went on to become a major motion picture, nominated for an Academy Award. Prior to writing full-time, King-Smith was a farmer and a teacher. Today, he lives near Bristol and is well-known for his books about animals.

His first book was The Fox Busters. Most recently he has published Titus Rules! about a  Pembrokeshire corgie and Chewing the Cud, a memoir which Publishers Weekly named one of the Best Children’s Books for 2002.

—Vicki Palmquist