Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic journey for all children, October 1, 1999
By A Customer
I read this book as a child several times (in German) and later I read it to my children (now 13 + 16). It is just wonderful, the journey of Jim and Lukas. Traveling through the desert, the Dragon City, their dragon friend. Have you ever tried the Tur-Tur The Giant's recipe for fried bananas? I did when I was 12 and I still love it. I have not found the book in its English version yet but I hope to get it soon to read it to my son in the US (7 years).
|
|
|
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic, fun and deeper than it seems, January 20, 2006
I love this book, I mean, my little daughter, 6, loves it :-)
Michael Ende was a master, perhaps "the" master would be more accurate, at crafting children's books that give the parents something to think about as well.
The most important thing about Jim Knopf (I've only read it in the original German) is of course that it's FUN. I can't imagine any kid not being totally engrossed in the story once it starts. Chapter for chapter, the story moves very quickly from one adventure to the next, always building up just the right amount of tension and suspense without ever becomming gratuitously shocking.
The story itself is about as original possible, it's all Michael Ende's imagination and there are no clichés, no "been there, done that" material. Of course, I can't speak for the english translation, but the language used by Ende in the original is a little advanced for really small kids. Personally, I see it a chance to "smarten up" as opposed to the usual "dumbing down" found in most (all?) modern children's books.
Like I said above, there's more to Jim Button than is first apparent. One example, among many: the Dragon City. I don't know how it's expressed in the English version but in the original, the dragons are mean and cruel and dirty and... UNHAPPY. Their secret wish is to be "saved" from the evil of their city and to become re-born as the "Golden Drangon of Wisdom". They are literally awaiting a "Saviour" and Frau Mahlzahn (the dragon that held the children captive, don't know her english name) is not so much "captured" in the way a superficial reading of the book would suggest but rather saved. She is transported through the cleansing waters of the Yellow River where her fire goes out and her evil spirit is extinguished. This is a baptism, and on a very grand scale.
Another: The "Scheinriese", the Giant who apears bigger and scarier the further away you are from him. When I read this part to my daughter, she said, "It's sort of like my swimming class". I thought, "Huh, how'd you get so smart?". She made the connection herself. Her first two swimming lesson have been horrifying for her, even though they're really completely harmless fun and the instructors are wonderfully gentle and patient. So, she recognized that sometimes things seem a lot scarier before we actually confront them and that most fear exists in our imagination and it can overcome. Rarely is anything as bad as we think it's going to be.
Michael Ende was in a class by himself. He wrote serious literature that also appeals to children. He invented a genre and he was the master. Although his other books are more "mature" than this one, Jim Button and Luke remain my, yes, my :-) favorite.
|
|
|
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Children's fantasy, August 21, 2002
Ask readers what they connect with fantasy books for children, and most will come up with the answer Harry Potter. But there were fantasy books before Harry came. The German writer Michael Ende is one of the many writers who have written wonderful stories, both for children and for grown ups. The story about Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver is one of them.Luke lives on a tiny, tiny island together with just a handful of other people. One day the postman arrives with a very special delivery, a small packet containing an even smaller little boy. The boy remains at the island and gets the name Jim Button. Everybody loves Jim, but when he growns bigger the island becomes too small for the people living there. Luke decides that he is the one who has to go, toether with his tank engine. Jim goes with him, in secret, and from here on the adventures of the two friends starts. The book is a wonderful tale of friendship and love, and also a story to teach children to overcome their fears, to believe in their own strength, and still be allowed to show your weakness. I have read the book together with my six years old daughter, and it has given us many great reading hours. Actually we are still enjoying being together with Jim and Luke, now reading the sequel to the book. Britt Arnhild Lindland
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
by Michael Ende
by Peter S. Beagle
by Astrid Lindgren
by Michael Ende
See all Editorial Reviews
