Buy New

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
or
Amazon Prime Free Trial required. Sign up when you check out. Learn More
Buy Used
Used - Good See details
$3.84 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Humpty Dumpty
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Humpty Dumpty [Hardcover]

Etienne Delessert (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

Price: $17.00 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Only 1 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).
Want it delivered Thursday, February 2? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Hardcover $17.00  
Paperback --  

Book Description

5 and upK and up
For hundreds of years, children have delighted in reciting the classic nursery rhyme of Humpty Dumpty’s fall. Over the centuries there have been many different interpretations, but some speculate that it was originally a riddle: “What could fall and break, but could not ever be repaired?” An egg is certainly one possible answer.

Renowned artist Etienne Delessert considers instead the wall, and how walls can become a division between society’s “haves” and “have-nots.” In his haunting and beautiful rendition, Delessert tells the story of King Humpty Dumpty and his lavish paradise, raising questions about the walls we build between each other and the perils they pose, not only to those excluded, but often to the wall-builders themselves.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought


Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4–King Humpty Dumpty surrounds his world with a fence, thereby separating his colorful kingdom from the dim, dusty domain of the peasants. He spends his days smelling the flowers, enjoying the songs of birds, eating elegant meals, admiring artwork (paintings of himself), and reading by the light of the setting sun reflecting off diamonds. When a curious peasant peeks over the fence, the enraged king fires all of his staff and begins building a higher barrier out of heavy stones. However, the pampered monarch is unused to such work and has a terrible fall, landing on the other side of the wall. The peasants bury him with little fanfare, and the book concludes with the traditional nursery rhyme. Delessert's gray-and-brown peasants resemble the whimsical mice and rabbitlike creatures in A Was an Apple Pie (Creative Editions, 2005). Humpty has an egg-shaped head with a large protruding nose and wears a golden half-circle crown. The surreal landscape is embellished with realistic-looking birds and flowers. The illustrations are the real strength of the book. Unfortunately, this interpretation of Humpty Dumpty is too bleak and heavy-handed and lacks child appeal.–Robin L. Gibson, Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"A fascinating exercise in imagination." Publishers Weekly

King Humpty's bright world -- rendered in watercolor and Prismacolor pencils -- is mesmerizing.
The New York Times Book Review

Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  • Hardcover: 32 pages
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; First Edition edition (April 10, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0618569871
  • ISBN-13: 978-0618569878
  • Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,658,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

 

Customer Reviews

1 Review
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Humpty, July 27, 2010
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Humpty Dumpty (Hardcover)
Delessert's illustrations are, of course, bright and whimsical and delightful. I bought this book for my granddaughter. When she came to see me recently, we went to an exhibit of Delessert's illustrations for his children's books. I wanted her to read some of the books before we went, so she could "meet" Delessert before seeing the exhibit. She loved the books and was totally enchanted with the exhibit, reading each book on display beside the original illustrations. Not only are the drawings bright and appealing, but Delessert makes of Humpty a story of selfishness set against gentle graciousness.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews



Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
Humpty Dumpty surrounded his vast kingdom with a high fence. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Humpty Dumpty
New!
Concordance | Text Stats
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
 
(2)
(1)
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums



So You'd Like to...


Create a guide


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject