Customer Reviews

Bedknob and Broomstick (Puffin Books)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

So, having seen the Disney movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks, you know the whole story, right? Wrong! Being a fan of that movie, I picked up this book expecting some minor discrepancies, but was amazed to find a story that had practically nothing in common with the movie.

This is the story of Carey, Charles and Paul Wilson who, while staying with their aunt in Bedfordshire, suddenly discover that a neighbor, Miss Price is a witch! Not your stereotypical witch, Miss Price is a prim and proper lady who is willing to buy the children's silence with the gift of a magic bed knob that will allow the children to travel through space and time. Seeking to visit their mother, the children find themselves scooped up by the London police. Next, Miss Price takes them to an isolated tropical island, only to discover that cannibals inhabit the island. Their final adventure takes them to Restoration England, where they meet a forlorn (and inept) necromancer, Emelius Jones.

This story (actually two books combined into one) is quite charming. In a gentle and freewheeling fashion, Mary Norton draws the reader along on a fantastic adventure. This book is just right for the young reader, with a few nice illustrations, and a wonderful storyline.

I first read this book as a child, and it was one that I read again and again. Using a magical bedknob, the children in this story travel through time and space to ancient England, a desert island and more. I just bought this for my nine year old niece, who is a "Harry Potter" fan, but too young for most of the scarier titles that are sometimes suggested for fans of the series. Like all of the author's books, this one is exciting, but not scary, and is clearly the product of a gentler time.

Our class enjoyed hearing our teacher read this story. She thought we might like it because we enjoyed "Harry Potter" last year. We liked it when the children travelled back into the past. It was good when Miss Price and Emelius fell in love and travelled back to Emelius's time

I've always found the Borrower books to be boring and somewhat of a sluggish read, but this book by Mary Norton is superb and I'm surprised that more people don't know of it. The writing is witty and fast-paced. Erik Blegvad's illustrations are a joy to look at and compliment the writing beautifully.

So, having seen the Disney movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks, you know the whole story, right? Wrong! Being a fan of that movie, I picked up this book expecting some minor discrepancies, but was amazed to find a story that had practically nothing in common with the movie.

This is the story of Carey, Charles and Paul Wilson who, while staying with their aunt in Bedfordshire, suddenly discover that a neighbor, Miss Price is a witch! Not your stereotypical witch, Miss Price is a prim and proper lady who is willing to buy the children's silence with the gift of a magic bed knob that will allow the children to travel through space and time. Seeking to visit their mother, the children find themselves scooped up by the London police. Next, Miss Price takes them to an isolated tropical island, only to discover that cannibals inhabit the island. Their final adventure takes them to Restoration England, where they meet a forlorn (and inept) necromancer, Emelius Jones.

This story (actually two books combined into one) is quite charming. In a gentle and freewheeling fashion, Mary Norton draws the reader along on a fantastic adventure. This book is just right for the young reader, with a few nice illustrations, and a wonderful storyline.

Bedknob and Broomstick is the inspiration for the movie "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" but is quite a different story. This book is a charming and simple fantasy. It is not set in WWII as the film is and there are no soldiers or armies.
This book describes the childrens' encounters with the village's secret witch and their adventuring together in space and time. The manners and relationships are very English pre-war. It is a little reminiscent of the tone of Wind in the Willows.
The book is divided into two parts as it was originally two books, however the characters and situations are the same so it can easily be read as a single book.

Mary Norton wrote the two books which now make up Bedknob and Broomstick in the 1940s, but they are as fresh and delightful as ever some sixty years later. Carey, Charles, and Paul Wilson are three children sent to stay with an elderly aunt in a small Bedfordshire village. There they meet the very proper spinster Miss Eglantine Price. The holiday is nice but dull until Paul makes a discovery: Miss Price is a witch! In the first segment of the book the three children with Miss Price in tow use magic to have some exciting adventures that nearly end in calamity. In the second segment, set about one year later, the three children spend their holiday with Miss Price herself, and adventures ensue again.

Mary Norton wrote beautifully about the English countryside. She had a fresh wit and a sparkling sense of humor that will enchant children of all ages. In the 1970s there was a remarkably inferior Disney production of Bedknob and Broomstick, but if you've been so unfortunate as to see it don't let it poison the books for you, they are far, far better.

Once I saw the Bedknobs and Broomsticks movie I wanted to read the book. At once I fell in love that Ms. Price, prim and proper, is a witch. I recommend this book to anyone who likes witches, magic, adventure and flying beds.

Mary Norton's 1940 children's classic remains as fresh and delightful today as when first published. While on summer holidays at the home of an elderly aunt in the country, Carey, Charles and young Paul make the acquaintance of a neighbor lady who is secretly studying witchcraft--only for "white" purposes of course--on her own. To ensure the siblings' silence re her unusual hobby Miss Price provides them with a spell as her part of the bargain: she bewitches one of four bed knobs on Paul's bed, so that the kids can travel to other terrestrial places. Sounds great, huh?

After a miserable trial run to visit their empty London house the children seek Miss Price's help; this responsible student witch insists on accompanying them on a real adventure: to an uninhabited (?) south sea island. After near disaster and a battle of will and sorcery, the four barely make it back hone, to stern consequences. The kids' only souvenir is the bed knob which Paul sneaks out and back to London, where his older siblings try to convince him that it was just a dream.

Following the success of this short story Norton wrote a charming sequel, BED KNOB AND BONFIRE, set two years later, in which the three children and later Miss Price travel back in time--to the mid 17th century. This was a dangerous age to be alive, what with the great fire of London and the impending Black Plague. As you know, Time Travel can work both ways--within literary limitations; Miss Price is surprised to find Emelius, a down-at-heals necromancer, as her houseguest. But in which Time will he (and she as well) be most content? A joy ride for kids of all ages!

"Bed Knobs and Broomsticks" is one of my favorite movies. I always loved slapstick scene with the animated suits of armor taking down the German army.

But the movie is only loosely based on the book. The book takes its own, completely different direction. While many of the characters are similar, I would consider the book and the movie different stories altogether.

While I was disappointed the book had no German army and no suits of armor, I enjoyed this version of Miss Price, Carey, Charles, and Paul's adventures very much.