Dick King-Smith always wanted to be a farmer. As soon as he left school he went to work on a farm. Not long after, he joined the Grenadier Guards and went to fight in Italy in the Second World War. He was injured and returned home to run his own farm.

Dick has always loved animals and he loved being a farmer. But he was never any good at the business side of farming so he gave it up and trained to be a teacher instead. Dick taught in a primary school for a few years near his home outside Bath before he discovered what he enjoyed doing best - writing.

Dick has written over 50 books, mostly about animals, including The Sheep Pig that became the box office hit, Babe. His extensive knowledge of animals means he can create characters that are convincing both as animals and as humans.

His favourite animals are pigs!