Customer Reviews

Danny the Champion of the World

5 star:		(100)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I loved this book when I was a child. It was one of my all-time favorites and I couldn't wait to read it to my daughter when she was old enough...We just finished it today and it is as wonderful as it was 30+ years ago.

This is the story about the love between a father and a son. Danny and his father run a filling station and live in a very modest "gypsie" caravan next to the station's workshop, Danny's mother died when he was a baby. Danny's father adores him, one night he takes him into his confidence and tells him that he been out poaching pheasants from the rich and unlikable Victor Hazell's property. Well, of course, Danny wants to be included and masterminds a wonderful scheme to poach a record number of Hazell's pheasants.

My daughter and I certainly talked about the fact that poaching is stealing and stealing is wrong and that it would never be okay for someone to steal in real life...

But that certainly didn't stop us from rooting for Danny and his father and enjoying their triumph over the hated Victor Hazell.

We loved the wonderful story telling, the sweetness of the love between a parent and a child and the good old fashioned triumphing of the underdog.

If you are looking for a special book to read with your child I would urge you to try this. I loved it when I was a child and I loved reading it to my daughter, I can't wait to read it to my son.

Update July 2011: I recently read this with my son and it was just as wonderful as I remembered it. He loved listening to the story, every night we read it he begged for me to read more. He says it's his favorite book. I still highly recommend this book, reading it is presents opportunities to talk about your values with your children.

"Danny the Champion of the World" is a masterpiece. For my money it is Dahl's best book, (though "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Fantastic Mister Fox" come close.) I think that although the intended audience of kids is sure to enjoy it, adults too would appreciate the tale. It is not only a ripping good adventure story, about a boy and his father who attempt to poach pheasants from a wicked landowner, but an atmospheric one as well - we can feel the palpable thrills in the early fall air as the characters plot the fine art of poaching for the pure private pleasure of it, like any great artists. As with all of Dahl, this book has moments of great comedy as well as a love for food and freedom, all of which appeal to its audience. There is also the subtly tender relationship between Danny and his father that add depth to the story. Well, we could go on. All I can say is that anyone who can read, adult or child, will thank themselves for reading this one.

I just want to chime in here and express what a fantastic book this was for me growing up. It was the first full book I read as a child that had a real, engaging plot and wasn't a comic book.
The primary reason for my review is to share with potential parents that the only thing I ever remembered about this book (keep in mind that I only read it once) was the relationship the son had with the father and that poaching is bad. I've seen a few reviews that make mention of this ethical topic in the story and I feel THAT is what keeps it from being one of Dahl's more popular stories. So, from my inner child's mind, I assure you that the story is stronger than the message. And that if you're a good parent you can be there to answer any questions that the child may have. But, like I said, I read it without supervision from my school's book club over 30 yeas ago and I never poached any pheasants nor judged rich people as being evil along the way. I am looking forward to reading it again. Maybe to my own child someday.
That is all.

"Danny Champion of the world" was a great book. If you like Rold Dahl, you will like this a lot. This book is about a boy and his father who live in a gas station in England, with their land bordering Mr.Victor Hazel's, a mean rich man who owns a beer brewery and is a rotton mean old man. Danny finds out about his father's deepest secret-he is a poacher. He does this to get back at Victor Hazel. Danny discovers the spectacular world of poaching, and he and his father have a blast together. You should read this book!

by: Hannah Age 11

Danny, the champion of the world is an awesome book. The book leaves you hanging at the end of chapters. It is full of suspense. It's about a boy whose mother died, and lives with his dad in a old gypsy wagon. His dad is a nice guy. He and Danny do lots of things together. Danny lives a good life until school comes and worst of all he finds out his dads deep dark secret. Then comes Hazels woods. Danny gets an ides that is very good. Then his father and him go on an adventure. Read the book to find out if his dads secret is good or bad? I really enjoyed the book. I've read it 8 times. I think you should read it because it has a little bit of humor a little bit of sadness and a little bit of action. So READ THE BOOK!!!!!!!

In this book Danny lives with his father in a caravan. They spend time together building flaming balloons, fixing cars, and walking to and from school. Danny loves his father so much that it never crosses his mind that his father might be hiding something from him. It turns out, Danny's father has an exciting secret-- he sneaks out at night to poach pheasants on the land of his wealthy neighbors! Once Danny figures out this secret, his father teaches him to poach pheasants with the best of them. The book culminates with Danny and his father's attempt to spoil the pheasant-hunting event of the mean Mr. Hazel, their neighbor. If they can get all the pheasants on Mr. Hazel's land before the event, they'll exact revenge on Mr. Hazel. But danger lurks around every corner on this exciting mission!
This is a work of fiction that runs between 220-250 pages, depending on the edition. It's a wonderful book that shows a deep and moving love between father and son. I have read it to my 6th grade students, my own nephews, and my nieces. Every child I have ever read it to loved it for its wholesome excitement and vivid detail. This book is probably best for 8-12 year old children depending on their reading ability. Although so many children love this book, some may find that its plot is too simple. There are very few sub-plots, so the book is there's not a lot to stretch a child's capacity to understand complex plot structure.
All in all, this is a wonderful book full of suspense, love, and excitement.
Danny, Champion of the World. Puffin. Roald Dahl, Illustrated by Quentin Blake. This most recent version was published in August, 2007.

When I was a kid, I found this book in a pile in my house and started reading it. Very quickly, I found that I was unable to put it down and have since read it three or four times.

Recently, I had the opportunity to read this book to my daughter, and it was a true thrill for for me to see the excitement on her face at each new twist and turn in the story. This is most certainly not a suspense thriller, but there are almost no other children's books out that can make the things we experience every day sound so magical and incredible.

If I had to select the greatest children's story of all time, this would be one of the top contenders for sure.

twenty years (or so) after first touching this book, i am buying it again. maybe its because i lost my father to cancer when i was young, but to this day, this book affects my life. when i was much younger i marveled at the events that took place (the balloons, the kites, the school teacher), and wished i was there to experience it.

today, the child in me still wishes to be there, but the adult in me sees a stronger message beyond the events (which possibly explains what happens with the pheasants). what i realize now, is the events are incidental to the lessons, the love and bond between not just father and son, but people in general.

maybe i am going off the deep end a bit, but i believe everyone should read this book at least once in their life. to miss it would be crime.

Danny, the Champion of the World
By Roald Dahl

Are two heads better than one? Find out in Danny, the Champion of the World.

Danny and his father live in a small caravan next to his father's business, the filling station. Mr. Hazzel is rude, greedy and rich; he owns all the property except one little piece. One night Danny and his father go out to take all the pheasants from Mr. Hazzel's property before Mr. Hazzel's shooting party can begin. Will Danny and his father catch all the pheasants in time? Find out in Danny, the Champion of the World.

I like this book because it shows caring between Danny and his father. Danny and his father stick together like true friends. The pictures I see are in my mind; they're black and white but very detailed.

The author tries to teach you that by sticking together, anything is possible. You should really read this book.

Danny the champion of the world is about Danny and his dad.
They are going on an expedition to catch lots of pheasants. When Danny dad was gone for a long time Danny stayed in the caravan after a long time Danny's dad came home told him his deep dark secret. The deep dark secret was his dad poaches. Danny had a plan to catch 200 pheasants. He used his dad capsule and cuts it up to little pieces and put them in the raisin. Then Danny goes poaching with his dad.

I like Danny champion of the world because it is a good book and it's about Danny and his dad. There are many people in this book like Danny, his dad, Doc. Spencer caption Lancaster, Charlie, Sergeant Samway, Mrs. Clipstone and the evil Mr. Victor Hazell. There are many surprises and advancers in Danny champion of the world. I would give this a 4 out of 5. ‹› ‹›