Preview

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Water Horse

By: Dick King-Smith
Narrated by: Nathaniel Parker
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $7.01

Buy for $7.01

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

When eight-year-old Kirstie brings home a strange egg from the Scottish shore, her family never expects it to hatch. But the next day, Kirstie discovers a baby sea monster swimming in her bathtub!

Part horse, part toad, part turtle, and part crocodile, he's the oddest-looking creature Kirstie's family has ever seen. Only Kirstie's grandfather knows what the beastie really is: a Water Horse!

This lovable creature is the perfect pet. The only trouble is, he can't stop growing. He gets bigger. And Bigger. And BIGGER. Before long, he's outgrown every loch in sight. Will they ever find a home that's large enough for their Water Horse?

©1990 Foxbusters Ltd (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

'It's an ideal family read-aloud.' (The Horn Book Magazine)
'This well-written, fast-paced fantasy combines a popular subject with appealing, distinctive characters, humour, and drama. King-Smith's imaginative spin on an old myth makes the outrageous possible.' (Booklist)
'King-Smith's obvious belief in the power of care and compassion informs this genial tale told from both the human and sea monster's perspectives; it's not one of his strongest stories, but will capture the fancies of his many fans.' (Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about The Water Horse

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    476
  • 4 Stars
    175
  • 3 Stars
    55
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    15
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    446
  • 4 Stars
    116
  • 3 Stars
    33
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    10
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    377
  • 4 Stars
    150
  • 3 Stars
    58
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    11

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful short story

What a great story! Well written, touching, enchanting and it left me wanting to find out what happened next to Cruso.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

This original book is best.

the movie version was quite different and stunk in comparison. very glad I read book first, movie was lousy and quite a bit altered.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

My 5 year old daughter and I loved it

This book was excellent, we listened to 2-3 chapters a night at bed time.

We only wish it was longer!

The Scottish narration was an added treat.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

Great story to listen to my 7 year old with. easy to fallow and fun listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Nessie!

I really enjoyed this story! It's lighthearted, the characters are real (and funny), and the water horse explains a lot about the monster of the loch. Very fun!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Charming Story. Great Narration

A delightful story for kids of all ages.
Great listen for a car trip with the kids.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

100& counting

My son , who is 7 has listened to this book at bed time at close to 100 times and still loves it. Great story and wonderful performance.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Delightful!

I am an adult who loves children's books and stories, but I have not listened to many audio books, and have been sometimes disappointed in the way the ones I have heard were read. This narration of The Water Horse was completely engaging and absorbing as I listened, transporting me to faraway Scotland and into the trials and tribulations of the water horse and his human friends. My only regret is that the story did not last longer! Delightful.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A truly family friendly tale, charmingly told!

We love this audiobook! We've listened to it at least 3 times over the past year or so, usually between other longer audiobooks. It's an innocent, homey tale told with such an authentic accent and dialect that it really takes you there to experience the family's discovery and growing friendship with Crusoe, the Waterhorse. I love that we can listen to this as a family with NO worries about language or suggestive content. The kids laugh with Angus, the little boy who loves to eat, and like to hear how Grumble, the grumpy grandfather, lights up and finds joy again as they discover Crusoe and watch him grow. We listen in the car, and the kids look forward to their travel-story-time. This is one of our favorite shorter stories; Nathaniel Parker's narration is wonderful!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The After Horse

Loved this book!😘 Anyone with 9 or 10 year olds will enjoy listening to it with their kids! We followed it up with the movie...👍. Enjoyed both!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!