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li13eo's review against another edition
3.0
Terrifying 😂 seriously, the characters are straight out of an asylum
laurenbaggy's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
grace_hogg's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
davidcottington's review against another edition
5.0
CLASSIC.
My nana was nice but for some reason I always wanted to do this to her.
My nana was nice but for some reason I always wanted to do this to her.
knivesgf's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
this book is for all the kids that made options from plants and muds.
katykelly's review
5.0
I thought maybe my son was a little young, at only just 5, to be reading many of our Roald Dahl collection. This, though, was always one of the most accessible, and after reading him the blurb, he was very keen.
It is appropriate (and also sets children up for the devilish subversion, wordplay and childish havoc of longer Dahl books), with short chapters, pictures on almost every page, and a plot that catches them from the very beginning.
It was always one of my favourites - I DESPERATELY wanted to make the medicine, even if I knew I didn't have all of the ingredients George finds.
George is a good little boy, if a teeny bit mischievous, though it's quite obvious, even to my son, that his Grandma really is horrible and deserves everything she gets. The descriptions of her are marvellous, from her teeth to her puckered-up mouth. I gave her a bit of a witch's voice, which seemed to work. I did wonder if the section where she does start to speak as though she is magic was a little scary, but he seemed nonplussed. George himself makes the medicine but doesn't really himself change or grow in the story, he sparks it off and watches it take over. The ingredients are great (the names! the descriptions! a little over my son's head but I laughed as I read).
Of course, the scene of the 'medicine taking' is brilliant, he grinned from start to finish and loved the results. The short chapters work very well here, each leading to more exciting things ahead (this took us three bedtimes, though he would have had it in one if I could have managed it!).
I find Mr Kranky hard to read - he 'cries' or 'shouts' everything with excitement and agitation, so pitching his voice and volume right was very difficult, as he is a bundle of energy, and I had to purposely slow down so my son could keep up. Mrs Kranky is barely there, a stereotype mum 'washing up' or telling them all to calm down. It's all about Grandma.
My boy LOVED the end, just loved watching what happened to the animals and to Grandma and instantly asked to make a medicine himself (not for his own lovely Grandmas of course "for other children's horrid Grandmas, Mummy!"). It's one he's talked about since finishing last night, and I know we will read it again, and hopefully in a couple of years, he will want to try it by himself.
A feast for the imagination (if not the stomach!), a glorious triumph of clever child over revolting adult. Very enjoyable to read aloud, with just enough illustrations for younger listeners, and plenty of motivation for solo readers to want to try it without an adult.
Classic Dahl I hope to read with a grandchild someday.
It is appropriate (and also sets children up for the devilish subversion, wordplay and childish havoc of longer Dahl books), with short chapters, pictures on almost every page, and a plot that catches them from the very beginning.
It was always one of my favourites - I DESPERATELY wanted to make the medicine, even if I knew I didn't have all of the ingredients George finds.
George is a good little boy, if a teeny bit mischievous, though it's quite obvious, even to my son, that his Grandma really is horrible and deserves everything she gets. The descriptions of her are marvellous, from her teeth to her puckered-up mouth. I gave her a bit of a witch's voice, which seemed to work. I did wonder if the section where she does start to speak as though she is magic was a little scary, but he seemed nonplussed. George himself makes the medicine but doesn't really himself change or grow in the story, he sparks it off and watches it take over. The ingredients are great (the names! the descriptions! a little over my son's head but I laughed as I read).
Of course, the scene of the 'medicine taking' is brilliant, he grinned from start to finish and loved the results. The short chapters work very well here, each leading to more exciting things ahead (this took us three bedtimes, though he would have had it in one if I could have managed it!).
I find Mr Kranky hard to read - he 'cries' or 'shouts' everything with excitement and agitation, so pitching his voice and volume right was very difficult, as he is a bundle of energy, and I had to purposely slow down so my son could keep up. Mrs Kranky is barely there, a stereotype mum 'washing up' or telling them all to calm down. It's all about Grandma.
My boy LOVED the end, just loved watching what happened to the animals and to Grandma and instantly asked to make a medicine himself (not for his own lovely Grandmas of course "for other children's horrid Grandmas, Mummy!"). It's one he's talked about since finishing last night, and I know we will read it again, and hopefully in a couple of years, he will want to try it by himself.
A feast for the imagination (if not the stomach!), a glorious triumph of clever child over revolting adult. Very enjoyable to read aloud, with just enough illustrations for younger listeners, and plenty of motivation for solo readers to want to try it without an adult.
Classic Dahl I hope to read with a grandchild someday.
lorettaandbooks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
protoman21's review against another edition
4.0
A cute story that plays out like an old cautionary fairy tale. There is a cranky grandmother, a curious boy and an experiment with wild and unpredictable results. Kids should get a kick out of the silly parts of this one note story.