Babe -- The Gallant Pig
Plot! Plot!
So, what happens in the book?
When Farmer Hogget wins Babe, the Hoggets had all intention of having him for Christmas dinner. Slowly, Babe is 'adopted' by Fly, a nurturing collie, and becomes fascinated with the business of herding sheep. Babe practices and finally comes up with a way of herding that works for both him and the sheep, asking them politely to do what they're told. Farmer Hogget finally realizes Babe's keen talent for sheep herding when Babe happens to be visiting Ma, his ewe friend, and comes to find sheep rustlers trying to steal the sheep. Babe talks to the sheep and scares off the rustlers' dogs, saving the entire flock from getting stolen, and taking him off the menu for Christmas.

Farmer Hogget follows up on Babe's talent and starts training him to go to the National Sheepdog Championships. Although Babe is a pig, Farmer Hogget finds ways around that 'rule.' The bond between 'Pig,' as Farmer Hogget calls Babe, and Farmer Hogget grows closer. The bond is almost interrupted when Babe is falsely accused of killing Ma, but when Farmer Hogget was about to shoot Babe, Mrs. Hogget stops him and informs him of the fact that there had been dogs around that had recently killed sheep. Those dogs were the ones that had killed Ma.

Fly gets worried that Babe won't be able to gain respect of the sheep when he competes at the National Championships, so she goes and tries to talk civilly to the sheep at her farm, something she never does and doesn't believe in. She comes back with a password for Babe to learn in order to get respect from any sheep.

"I may be ewe, I may be ram,
I may be mutton, may be lamb,
But on the hoof or on the hook,
I bain't as stupid as I look."

Finally the day comes when Farmer Hogget brings Babe to the trials. The weather's horrible and most dogs aren't doing very well. When it's time for Babe's turn, Farmer Hogget comes out with Fly, but sends her back and calls Babe to his side. Amidst the laughter of the crowd, Babe does a perfect run, doing everything by himself and needing Farmer Hogget to give go-ahead on certain things and to shut the gate on the pen. At the very end, the sun starts to come out and Farmer Hogget turns to Babe and says, "That'll do."

What's the conflict or problem?
Babe wants to be a sheep-pig. Slight problem. Babe is a pig and according to most people, pigs are stupid animals.

How did this problem resolve?
Babe ended up saving the flock from sheep rustlers and Farmer Hogget saw that talent in Babe, so he began training him to compete in the Nationals. When the day comes to go to the Nationals, Babe does a spectacular job, despite the increasing odds against him.