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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
We started reading to our daughter Ellie in utero. After she was born, I had no plan of stopping.
I had never read this book before. We had bought the complete Roald Dahl box set a while back in preparation of eventually having children that would appreciate it, since both of us enjoyed all of his books we had read as kids ourselves. Once Ellie was born, I needed something I could read her by myself while Laura slept. I was reading two books at the time, but one was a religious history book that contained far too many gigantic and ancient words to be convenient for reading out loud and the other was a David Sedaris book I was reading with with Laura so I couldn't very well continue it while she slept.
Instead, I decided to grab the first book in the Roald Dahl collection and just begin working my way through. Obviously as a newborn Ellie still wouldn't understand a word of what was being said, but the hope was that maybe my voice would help keep her soothed and asleep regardless and a chapter children's book was certain to be easy out-loud reading. One of my favorite moments actually occurred the first time I ever read to her (though this was actually a chapter of Naked by David Sedaris since Laura was still awake). Ellie was throwing a complete hissy fit in the hospital room, but she didn't want to eat.
I took her on my bare chest for some skin to skin time and pulled out a book to test the theory. She became quiet almost immediately, but after nearly a page of reading I felt her pushing on my chest. I looked down at her. She still wasn't crying. In fact, she seemed to be trying with the few muscles she had to cock her head in a way that she could see where that voice was coming from. It felt like she was saying "Who's that voice? I know that voice." I kept reading, and she kept pushing against my chest, struggling to see to whom this voice belonged. Finally, she worked her way into the crook of my arm and just looked at me, both eyes wide open. I kept reading so as not to spoil it, but it will always be one of my favorite memories.
Maybe I'm romanticizing the encounter to be what I want to believe, but several others I've told this story to have said they also believe babies do actually recognize voices they heard in utero, so my feeling on it may not be far off. Maybe she was just uncomfortable and was moving to get more comfortable, but that's not a very fun story.
Once we got home and needed something neutral to read that Laura would necessarily miss out on, Danny the Champion of the World just happened to be first in the set, and couldn't have been a more fitting coincidence. The book actually revolves around the adventures of a father and his child (a 9 year old boy, but still), and focuses strongly on the importance of teaching children, learning from your parents, being emotionally available and honest, and nearly every important virtue that could be applied to the journey I found myself starting. Clearly, I'm a little biased due to all these factors, but I absolutely loved the book from beginning to end. The main plot about stealing pheasants from the rich is a little morally ambiguous and will probably call for some important discussion once she's old enough to actually follow and understand the plot, but it certainly wasn't enough to hurt it for me.
The Afterword of the book kind of sums it all up nicely:
"A message to children who have read this book:
When you grow up and have children of your own do please remember something important. A stodgy parent is no fun at all. What a child wants and deserves is a parent who is sparky."
I hope I can be sparky enough for her. I couldn't have accidentally picked a better first book to share with her just the two of us, with no skin or placenta to separate us.
I had never read this book before. We had bought the complete Roald Dahl box set a while back in preparation of eventually having children that would appreciate it, since both of us enjoyed all of his books we had read as kids ourselves. Once Ellie was born, I needed something I could read her by myself while Laura slept. I was reading two books at the time, but one was a religious history book that contained far too many gigantic and ancient words to be convenient for reading out loud and the other was a David Sedaris book I was reading with with Laura so I couldn't very well continue it while she slept.
Instead, I decided to grab the first book in the Roald Dahl collection and just begin working my way through. Obviously as a newborn Ellie still wouldn't understand a word of what was being said, but the hope was that maybe my voice would help keep her soothed and asleep regardless and a chapter children's book was certain to be easy out-loud reading. One of my favorite moments actually occurred the first time I ever read to her (though this was actually a chapter of Naked by David Sedaris since Laura was still awake). Ellie was throwing a complete hissy fit in the hospital room, but she didn't want to eat.
I took her on my bare chest for some skin to skin time and pulled out a book to test the theory. She became quiet almost immediately, but after nearly a page of reading I felt her pushing on my chest. I looked down at her. She still wasn't crying. In fact, she seemed to be trying with the few muscles she had to cock her head in a way that she could see where that voice was coming from. It felt like she was saying "Who's that voice? I know that voice." I kept reading, and she kept pushing against my chest, struggling to see to whom this voice belonged. Finally, she worked her way into the crook of my arm and just looked at me, both eyes wide open. I kept reading so as not to spoil it, but it will always be one of my favorite memories.
Maybe I'm romanticizing the encounter to be what I want to believe, but several others I've told this story to have said they also believe babies do actually recognize voices they heard in utero, so my feeling on it may not be far off. Maybe she was just uncomfortable and was moving to get more comfortable, but that's not a very fun story.
Once we got home and needed something neutral to read that Laura would necessarily miss out on, Danny the Champion of the World just happened to be first in the set, and couldn't have been a more fitting coincidence. The book actually revolves around the adventures of a father and his child (a 9 year old boy, but still), and focuses strongly on the importance of teaching children, learning from your parents, being emotionally available and honest, and nearly every important virtue that could be applied to the journey I found myself starting. Clearly, I'm a little biased due to all these factors, but I absolutely loved the book from beginning to end. The main plot about stealing pheasants from the rich is a little morally ambiguous and will probably call for some important discussion once she's old enough to actually follow and understand the plot, but it certainly wasn't enough to hurt it for me.
The Afterword of the book kind of sums it all up nicely:
"A message to children who have read this book:
When you grow up and have children of your own do please remember something important. A stodgy parent is no fun at all. What a child wants and deserves is a parent who is sparky."
I hope I can be sparky enough for her. I couldn't have accidentally picked a better first book to share with her just the two of us, with no skin or placenta to separate us.
i'm always on the lookout for books that might appeal to my students. this one doesn't seem to be one of roald dahl's best...
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Charlie discovers a secret about his father. His father reluctantly decides to share the wonder of this well-kept secret. Eventually it becomes something both father and son enjoys, despite the questionable integrity it holds.
*Review ini diikutsertakan dalam 13 days Reading Children & YA Literature
Tadinya aku mau ngasih bintang 4 kepada buku ini, namun setelah dipiki-pikir lagi mengajarkan mencuri itu sangatlah tidak baik kepada anak-anak. Walau mencuri demi kebaikan, apalagi dikarenakan ingin balas dendam. Well, jadi cukup bintang 3 saja.
Danny, anak lelaki berumur 9 tahun yang hanya tinggal berdua dengan ayahnya. Ibunya meninggal sewaktu melahirkan Danny. Jadi semua keperluan Danny diurus oleh Ayahnya.
Danny sangat mencintai ayahnya. Ia merasa ayahnya sempurna dan sangat baik hati. Ayah Danny menghidupi mereka berdua dengan membuka bengkel mobil. Jadi sedari Danny kecil, ia sudah berkutat dan bermain dengan mesin dan oli. Mereka berdua tinggal di karavan Gypsi yang sangat kecil.
Namun, ternyata ayah Danny menyimpan rahasia terkelam dalam hidupnya. Selama ini ayah Danny sering berburu burung pegar secara gelap di wilayah hutan Mr. Hazell. Hal ini ia rahasiakan dari Danny, sampai suatu saat Danny terbangun suatu malam dan mendapati ayahnya tidak berada di tempat tidurnya.
Ayah Danny pun mengakui pencurian burung Pegar kepada Danny dengan dalih ingin membalas dendam pada Mr.Hazell.
Danny menerima ucapan ayahnya begitu saja dan menerima ayahnya pergi berburu gelap lagi. Suatu ketika Ayah Danny melakukan perburuan gelap di hutan Mr.Hazell dan meminta izin kepada Danny untuk pergi selama 4 jam saja. Danny pun menyetujui nya dan pergi tidur.
Namun, tengah malam ia bangun, ayahnya masih belum pulang juga. Ayah Danny tidak pernah ingkar janji kepadanya, maka Danny punya firasat buruk terjadi sesuatu pada ayahnya.
Tanpa pikir panjang, ia menyusul ayahnya ke hutan Mr.Hazell menggunakan mobil tua, dan ini pertama baginya menyetir mobil. Kontan saja firasat Danny benar, ayahnya terluka parah dalam perburuan kali ini.
Danny pun segera membawa ayahnya pulang dan mengobati lukanya.
Namun, ayah Danny jadi sangat pendiam dan semakin ingin membalas dendam pada Mr.Hazell untuk mencuri semua burung pegar nya dan mengacaukan pameran burung pegar Mr.Hazell yang dilakukannya setiap tahun.
Kali ini Danny yang mencari cara dan ide agar mereka bisa menangkap burung pegar Mr.Hazell tanpa tertangkap penjaga hutan.
Disinilah yang aku kurang setuju seakan ayah Danny mengajarkan Danny mencuri dan membalas dendam itu legal.
Taoi yang aku suka dari ayah Danny, ia ayah yang sangay penyayang dan sabar kepada Danny serta menjadi sahabat yang baik bagi anaknya :)
Tadinya aku mau ngasih bintang 4 kepada buku ini, namun setelah dipiki-pikir lagi mengajarkan mencuri itu sangatlah tidak baik kepada anak-anak. Walau mencuri demi kebaikan, apalagi dikarenakan ingin balas dendam. Well, jadi cukup bintang 3 saja.
Danny, anak lelaki berumur 9 tahun yang hanya tinggal berdua dengan ayahnya. Ibunya meninggal sewaktu melahirkan Danny. Jadi semua keperluan Danny diurus oleh Ayahnya.
Danny sangat mencintai ayahnya. Ia merasa ayahnya sempurna dan sangat baik hati. Ayah Danny menghidupi mereka berdua dengan membuka bengkel mobil. Jadi sedari Danny kecil, ia sudah berkutat dan bermain dengan mesin dan oli. Mereka berdua tinggal di karavan Gypsi yang sangat kecil.
Namun, ternyata ayah Danny menyimpan rahasia terkelam dalam hidupnya. Selama ini ayah Danny sering berburu burung pegar secara gelap di wilayah hutan Mr. Hazell. Hal ini ia rahasiakan dari Danny, sampai suatu saat Danny terbangun suatu malam dan mendapati ayahnya tidak berada di tempat tidurnya.
Ayah Danny pun mengakui pencurian burung Pegar kepada Danny dengan dalih ingin membalas dendam pada Mr.Hazell.
Danny menerima ucapan ayahnya begitu saja dan menerima ayahnya pergi berburu gelap lagi. Suatu ketika Ayah Danny melakukan perburuan gelap di hutan Mr.Hazell dan meminta izin kepada Danny untuk pergi selama 4 jam saja. Danny pun menyetujui nya dan pergi tidur.
Namun, tengah malam ia bangun, ayahnya masih belum pulang juga. Ayah Danny tidak pernah ingkar janji kepadanya, maka Danny punya firasat buruk terjadi sesuatu pada ayahnya.
Tanpa pikir panjang, ia menyusul ayahnya ke hutan Mr.Hazell menggunakan mobil tua, dan ini pertama baginya menyetir mobil. Kontan saja firasat Danny benar, ayahnya terluka parah dalam perburuan kali ini.
Danny pun segera membawa ayahnya pulang dan mengobati lukanya.
Namun, ayah Danny jadi sangat pendiam dan semakin ingin membalas dendam pada Mr.Hazell untuk mencuri semua burung pegar nya dan mengacaukan pameran burung pegar Mr.Hazell yang dilakukannya setiap tahun.
Kali ini Danny yang mencari cara dan ide agar mereka bisa menangkap burung pegar Mr.Hazell tanpa tertangkap penjaga hutan.
Disinilah yang aku kurang setuju seakan ayah Danny mengajarkan Danny mencuri dan membalas dendam itu legal.
Taoi yang aku suka dari ayah Danny, ia ayah yang sangay penyayang dan sabar kepada Danny serta menjadi sahabat yang baik bagi anaknya :)
i’ve been meaning to reread this ever since it was read to me in the third grade :)))) ten years later & it did not disappoint!
My youngest gave this 4.5 stars and that’s probably about right. This was my favourite of Racist Uncle Roald’s when I was a kid and I still enjoyed it this third time through, but I’d probably agree with knocking off half a star, in my case for the outdated sexism.
Such a special book - hadn't re-read it in years but it was one of my favourite Roald Dahl books as a child - mostly because of the thought of being able to drive an Austin in an emergency, hah!