Eric in the Land of the Insects [Hardcover]

Godfried Bomans (Author), Scott Russell Sanders (Illustrator), Regina Kornblith (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 28, 1994 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

In this humorous fantasy, nine-year-old Eric enters the landscape painting that hangs on his wall and he discovers a world of meadow insects that is stunningly similar to the world of humans.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Originally published in the Netherlands more than 50 years ago, this newly translated fantasy appears in English for the first time. Eric, a third grader cramming for a test on insects, magically enters a painting that shows "every possible insect that one could think of." The wasps, bees, butterflies and others are satirically drawn as inhabitants of a kind of parallel world, allowing Bomans sly but essentially genial observations about class structure and snobberies. " 'We are always delighted to entertain a gentleman ,' a wasp said, in a tone that could be taken as a warning." The resolution gently pokes fun at Eric's own world when he does miserably on his insect test. A sturdy whimsicality prevails, with the tale fairly exuding an old-fashioned charm. Finely wrought black-and-white illustrations bolster the antique appeal. Ages 8-up.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-As Eric lies in bed one night contemplating the next day's quiz on insects, his gaze is drawn to a painting on the wall that depicts the tiny creatures at work. He muses aloud that he would like to live among insects, since then he would not have to take tests about them. His wish is overheard by the portraits of his grandparents, and his grandmother inexplicably grants it. He shrinks and jumps into the frame of Industrious Valley, where he encounters a host of beings whose thoughts and actions parody those of humans. At first this society fascinates Eric, and he gains celebrity status by constantly quoting his natural history book. But homesickness sets in, and he begins seeking a way out of the painting. He awakens in his own bed after taking part in a battle between two ant armies. This is a translation of a Dutch novel originally published in 1941. The premise is a little hard to swallow, and the formal style makes the story seem dated and smug. Eric's speeches suffer from the same problem; no modern boy sounds so prissy, nor would one blush with such frequency. Perhaps this fantasy would have appealed 50 years ago, but today it's a bit tiresome.
Mary Jo Drungil, Niles Public Library District, IL
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 196 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (March 28, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395652316
• ISBN-13: 978-0395652312
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,476,901 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read-aloud book for parent and child., August 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Eric in the Land of the Insects (Hardcover)

This book is absolutely delightful! I am afraid that the targetted audience (ages 9-12, grades 5-8) are just that segment of the population that will, temporarily, not really appreciate it. I read it aloud to my five year old daughter and I would be hard pressed to say who enjoyed it more. She loved the fantasy and adventure. I was charmed by the quaint language and usage and amused by the satire. My husband is now reading it and says it's a great way to relax at the end of the day - it puts all the quotidian nonsence into perspective! I suggest getting this book to read to your toddlers and then putting it away until they are ready for a bit of fun to unwind while studying for college finals: it will awaken fond memories, and be something they can continue to go back to for a pleasant "time out" from "fast-paced modern-day living".

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully old-fashioned fable, July 16, 2006

By 

Geert Daelemans (Leuven Belgium) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eric in the Land of the Insects (Hardcover)

One evening in bed Eric, a third grader studying for a test on insects, magically enters grandfather's painting that depicts a meadow filled to the brim with insects. When Erik understands what actually has happened, he decides to start his search for the frame of the painting, so that he can jump back to his room. This quest will get him in contact with a colorful world of friendly and sometimes not so friendly insects. The wasps, bees, butterflies and other critters are all intrigued by that strange creature that calls himself Erik. As he gets invited to their homes, Erik discovers that in the end the difference between man en insect is not that big. You can indeed learn a lot from the insects, although they themselves have also quite a lot to learn.

Godfried Bomans published this Dutch novel (Erik of het klein insectenboek) originally in 1941. Meanwhile it has been translated in English as Eric in the Land of the Insects. Although the style is a bit outdated, most obvious in the old-fashioned dialogues, it still is an enjoyable read. The comparison with Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll is easily made, because the undertone of absurdity is present throughout the whole story. Nevertheless Erik is less forceful in advertising a certain sense of morality and good behavior. After reading the story you get more the impression that Godfried wanted to us to more enjoy the little things of life. A message that can never get outdated anyway.

5.0 out of 5 stars Eric in the land of the Insects, March 25, 2004

By 

Antonio Wang (Cerritos, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eric in the Land of the Insects (Hardcover)

Eric was going to sleep for the Insect test the next day. When Eric was about to fall asleep he saw his grandfathers picture come to life and started talking to Eric. Then eric got out of his bed and went to see his grandmothers picture and she wasn't there. Eric then touched the corner of one of the grassy places of the picture and got sucked into the frame. There he landed on a petal and was sitting next to a wasp. the wasp invited eric to his house, the inside of the flower. Then the wasp asked Eric to stay but Eric knew he couldn't. So then the waso called for a taxi bee that took him to a snail apartment villige. There he lift the bee and met a snail that took him around showing his apartments. The daddy longleg, caterpiller, horsefly, and etc. then one day the caterpiller didn't come to eat so they all went in his room and saw a cacoon. Then the snail wanted to kick the cacoon out but Eric said that it was okay and he will pay the bills. A few weeks later a butterfly came in and said "where am I?" Eric then payed the bill by taking a piece of his paper and giving it th the snail. That night eric and the butterfly flew off together untill the butterfly saw another female butterfly. The two butterflys got engaged and then Eric was by himself again doing his journey to get out of this world. Then Eric met a gigantic spider and in a few moment it was about to stike. then Eric woke up and saw the spider dead and three beetles standing in front of him. The leader beetle then asked eric to come with him and Eric did so. they went underground and then Eric ran away into a maze of tunnels. Then Eric met a group of ants that needed to hatch the larvas. Then Eric told the ants too take it outside and Eric went with them. Then the ants called Eric to go to a meeting about a great battle. Eric wanted to and went to battle withe the ants. Then another tribe of ant went into battle with them and just when the ants were going to kill Eric. He woke up and went to take his test at school. He failed it and had to sleep an hour early that day. When he was growing up he never told anyone about that experience. From that day forward he cared for the insects and always wandered that if that dream was real.

This book was very interesting and exiting. It takes yoou on an adventure that you will never go in you life. It makes you want to read on and has interesting details that you might catch. I can't describe this book well enough because it's too good of an adventure book.

My favorite part is when he runs away from everyone that he meets and how it ended. These parts are my favorite because first he has to run from everyone because he isn't an insect and the ending summarized the story.