Tuesday, October 18, 2011

The Minpins by Roald Dahl

genre: children's literature

Little Billy was told to NEVER go into the Forest of Sin.  It was full of terrible creatures that could stomp you flat or eat you right up.  So of course, it's the most tempting place EVER, right?  What could a little boy do but sneak out the window and make his way into that terrfying place?

What he finds there will shock, frighten and amaze him.  Because not only are there beasties that do really want to eat you, but there is also a civilization of tiny people who live in trees.  Once Little Billy makes their acquaintance, his life will never be the same.

Dahl is the king of awesome word choice.  My six year old made me read this to him MULTIPLE times:  Terrible Bloodsuckling Toothpluckling Stonechuckling SPITTLER.  Seriously.  That is just fun to read aloud.  This is a short book, too long for one sitting (we did it in maybe 5 shortish ones) but not a chapter book either.  The action ebbs and flows a bit for my boys, they got restless sometimes, although they were always happy to sit down and listen (I'd give it maybe 3.5 stars).  It is delightful, though, the way that Dahl always allows the child to be the hero of the day, it even makes me as an adult reader wonder if maybe magic is really out there and I just can't see it.

note: if you're interested in the content of the books I read, please go to http://ratedreads.com

1 comment:

bermudaonion said...

That sounds like a delightful book. I do think kids see and feel magic and, as we age, we forget how, which is kind of sad.

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