From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-In the third book about Sophie and her suburban British family, the six-year-old, determined would-be farmer, raises a kitten, gets a rabbit from a beloved great-great aunt, and attends her first livestock show. The probably already dated references to royalty, Diana as "queen someday" and a pun on "Furgie," will go right by the intended audience. As usual, King-Smith creates a strong central character, tells the story with humor, and gives animal lovers plenty to enjoy. Large print, short vignettes set off with plenty of white space, and Parkins's frequent black-line drawings give this novel an inviting look. A solid choice for readers who are making the transistion to longer books.
Susan Hepler, Alexandria City Public Schools, VA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Gr. 2-4. King-Smith has a gift for creating memorable characters, whether animal or human, and Sophie is no exception. She is a sturdy, serious, determined five-year-old, whose stated ambition is to be a "lady farmer" and who goes about preparing for her career with a single-mindedness that many an adult might envy. She takes good care of her pets, a cat and a rabbit, cultivates the friendship of Andrew because he lives on a farm, and feels about agriculture shows the way most five-year-olds feel about carnivals. The plot deals with believable, everyday events in Sophie's life. For example, pragmatic Sophie decides that since she has to participate in field-day events, she may as well win one and has the sense to go to her superathletic brothers for advice. When carefully rehearsed Plan A comes a cropper, she returns to her twin coaches for Plan B, follows their advice carefully, and carries the day. Parkins' engaging pen-and-ink drawings show a stalwart, often mussed little girl and her world filled with action, animals, and people. This is a delightful book to help bridge the gap between picture books and longer fiction. Sheilamae O'Hara --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.