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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
Strong character development:
No
The illustrations were the best part — loved Ratty and Mole and Badger but could have done less with MR TOAD
p.14 The rat hummed a tune, and the mole recollected that animal etiquette forbade any sort of comment on the sudden disappearance of one's friends at any moment, for any reason or for no reason whatever.
p. 56 No animal, according to the rules of animal etiquette, is ever expected to do anything strenuous or heroic, or even moderately active, during the off-season of winter.
p. 56 No animal, according to the rules of animal etiquette, is ever expected to do anything strenuous or heroic, or even moderately active, during the off-season of winter.
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DID Toad really learn his lesson? I disagree. He's got some tolerant friends, that's for sure.
I audiobooked the Patrick Wymark version. It seemed as if it was an audio recording of a stage play and is 1 hour and 40 minutes long. Unsure if that's the same as the written book?
I audiobooked the Patrick Wymark version. It seemed as if it was an audio recording of a stage play and is 1 hour and 40 minutes long. Unsure if that's the same as the written book?
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have mixed feelings about this book. I've been meaning to read this book in its entirety for some time now, and now that I have, I am underwhelmed. In case you don't know what the story is about, it's about a mole, a rat, a badger, and a toad who are friends and end up having adventures together. Toad is a troublemaker and is forever crashing things, breaking things, stealing things, and ends up in jail at one point. Which brings me to my next point.
I realize this is a children's book, but there are some aspects which are maybe less child-friendly. For example, in one scene, Rat buys everyone a beer. There's also references to tobacco use. The ending was kind of strange, I thought, in that the author failed to resolve a really big problem with Toad. Another thing about this book is that the author plays around with magical realism in that the animals are personified and walk and talk like humans and wear clothing. But he takes it a step further by forcing the reader to look at the characters through funhouse glass.... in one chapter, the rat is the size of a rat. In another chapter, Rat is described as walking through a field of wheat and feeling it on his knees. Um. That won't work. Toad is even worse as he disguises himself as a washer-woman and one illustration shows him the same size as the woman.
I liked the story overall. I think it's a good book to read with children.
I realize this is a children's book, but there are some aspects which are maybe less child-friendly. For example, in one scene, Rat buys everyone a beer. There's also references to tobacco use. The ending was kind of strange, I thought, in that the author failed to resolve a really big problem with Toad. Another thing about this book is that the author plays around with magical realism in that the animals are personified and walk and talk like humans and wear clothing. But he takes it a step further by forcing the reader to look at the characters through funhouse glass.... in one chapter, the rat is the size of a rat. In another chapter, Rat is described as walking through a field of wheat and feeling it on his knees. Um. That won't work. Toad is even worse as he disguises himself as a washer-woman and one illustration shows him the same size as the woman.
I liked the story overall. I think it's a good book to read with children.