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Amazing illustrations by Jules Feiffer (illustrator of the iconic Phantom Tollbooth) and interesting characters that break gender stereotypes. Feiffer often steps out of or across traditional narrative boundaries, which would probably blow a child's mind and isn't even done enough in literature (similar to Italo Calvino's "If On A Winter's Night A Traveler"). Fun to read aloud. It could be repetitive or slow for adults at times, but highly recommended for kids!
Meh. We listened to 2/3 of the audiobook and gave up. Too much laughing in the story and not enough by us. It also had a convoluted, slow plot. In other words, BORING!!! Sorry to those who loved it.
I got two recommendations and a loan of this book, so I figured it was time to read it. It’s a lot of fun for a quick read, even if it doesn’t have quite the same magic as The Phantom Tollbooth, to which it must inevitably be compared. Tom the Hunter had me in stitches a few times, and I thought the ending was very sweet.
Had this as an audiobook while we went on vacation, it was okay.
Fondly known to my friends and me as the "Roger Book," this book has quickly become a favorite not only with me, but also with my friends, my family and my sixth grade students. It follows Prince Roger through his quest to find he doesn't know what, he doesn't know where, and he'll only know he has found it when neither of them are laughing. However, even if Roger is not laughing, the reader definitely will be. This book is a delightfully engaging story which works amazingly well as a read-aloud...
Loved it! Got slow in the middle but kept going and glad I did.
I enjoyed reading this book and found the line illustrations illustrative 🐴 Okay. The cartoons emphasized what need to be emphasized and movement was well conveyed every time. This is unusual for most other illustrators and very often well done by Feiffer and well done here. I feel better about that description. Btw, did you catch that? Feiffer engages in metaliterature and that I have engaged in a bit of metacritique.Becoming a bit more serious now. Feiffer engages in metaliterature, talking so...
Interesting book written and illustrated by the fellow who illustrated The Phantom Tollbooth. A fun read, which humorously breaks the fourth wall throughout to good effect. Main character goes through growth and transformation in a way that facilitates discussion with children, and the end of the book is poignant without being overly sappy. Good quick read recommended 11 or 12 year old or older probably.
This was my boyfriend's favorite book from childhood, and I've been swearing I would read it for years. Now I finally have! The book was silly and sweet, just like him. I feel like it explains a lot about his sense of humor.
This is one of my favorite books of all time. When I was little, it always made me laugh out loud so I wanted to be sure I read it to Hattie. It was the first proper book I ever read to her and we started it the day we came home from the hospital. The lessons it teaches touched me even as an adult. I'm sure this is one we'll read many times over. (Started 11.18.11 w/Hattie)
Delightfully farcical and cleverly contrived, I found the absurdities of each character and plot twist to layer richness and depth to this wonderful tale. Things such as King Whatchamacallit's jumbled phraseology are thoroughly enjoyable, but the author was wise in keeping it limited to sparing doses. The simple means used to escape the Forever Forest that no one would ever expect is another example of the creativity of the author.
A review on the back cover says, “for certain people, I think it may become a special, personal book - they’ll take it along when they go to college and resort to it as comfort reading. As adults, they’ll share it with best friends and children. Not a bad fate for a book.”Well, I’m certain people. This book blew my mind in elementary school and was delightful to read again.
I reread this book, and then realized that I've never once put it on Goodreads. Silly Keels. Anyway, it was delightful as always. Doesn't take itself seriously in the slightest, which is what makes it such a great read to begin with. I always loved the idea of fantasy tales, but have never really gotten addicted to high fantasy like most. Sure, I like specific renditions such as Tolkein's, Edding's, and the like, but the overly serious sorts with the thousands of names and races and peculiaritie...
A perfect children's book, but it will equally touch the hearts of an adult! It makes you laugh and laugh and laugh and the illustrations and choice of words=Hilarious! A riot!
One of my childhood favorites—delightfully silly! This book has always stuck with me as one of the two books that introduced me to breaking the fourth wall and other metafiction techniques. ("The Stinky Cheese Man" is the other.) Upon rereading, I'm also tickled by how well the illustrations complement the writing. Jules Feiffer, whom most will recognize as the illustrator of "The Phantom Tollbooth," is in top form here using his loose and doodly style to portray all manner of wonderfully expres...
this was a fun blast from the past.the story in and of itself is somewhat unorthodox, but the voice of the narrator takes it to the next level. even with all of the silliness this book brings to the table, it still has moments that are heartfelt in a special way.I’m very glad I re-read this book.
This has got to be one of my favorite childhood books. I've read it dozens of times, and it never fails to make me howl with laughter. It's surprisingly adult, cleverly written and it has morale that appeals to young readers. I recommend this to every pre-teen - and, not surprisingly at all, it keeps pleasing audiences.
I read this with my 10 & 8 year olds and we all loved it. It is a very fun book. It is unique in that the author is a presence in the book. It will make you laugh.
Another of Feiffer's children's books, and it's a delight. Roger is a prince, and he's never had to do anything or decide anything in his life. So he's sent on a quest, to gain experience, to become a man. Feiffer's clearly inspired by friend Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth, as this book's filled with playful language and whimsical humor (even a metatextual joke about the sloppy art in Tollbooth!) The characters are crafted some solid archetypes, but always given a surprising twist. Highly...
I'm hard pressed to call this a children's book since it's so hilarious to an adult, but that's what it's supposed to be. If you have a somewhat advanced child of age 8+ with a well-developed sense of humor, she'll get it. If not, read it for yourself. It's inventive and clever, and I loved it. With life as it is today, we can all use a laugh!