The Little Gentleman (Book and Audio Cassette) [Hardcover]

Philippa Pearce (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Recorded Books (2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419336010
• ISBN-13: 978-1419336010
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Richie's Picks: THE LITTLE GENTLEMAN, October 12, 2004

By 

Richie Partington "Richie's Picks" (Sebastopol, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Little Gentleman (Hardcover)

The mole I've known the longest is the funky-looking critter who makes a very brief appearance in Shel Silverstein's A GIRAFFE AND A HALF. The mole whose story has meant the most to me is the hopeful and persistent character in David McPhail's MOLE MUSIC. Then there is that most gracious host to tired little bunnies in the Barbara Cooney-illustrated SEVEN LITTLE RABBITS. (The music cassette accompanying that book is forever imprinted on my brain after my having played it as part of several thousand naptimes during my former preschool career.)

There is, in fact, a whole delightful assortment of moles in children's literature. But I'm seeing the mole (Condylura cristata) in a whole new light after being enchanted by the subterranean-dwelling "little gentleman in black velvet" who is at the center of Philippa Pearce's latest book.

"...Mole he is burrowing

his way to the sunlight

He knows there's someone there so strong..."

--Moody Blues, "Watching and Waiting"

Bet lives with her grandparents. Her grandmother tends to Mr. Franklin and to Mr. Franklin's home, and Bet frequently accompanies her grandmother there when not at school. When Mr. Franklin becomes indisposed--having fallen from a ladder and broken his leg--he enlists Bet to sit at the log out on the riverbank by herself and read aloud. Thus the girl comes to meet that most unique mole who is not only well-spoken in the King's English, but is also inadvertently responsible for a pivotal incident in the annals of the British monarchy and, thereby, the subject of a well-known historic toast.

But despite all of that, he is still a most down-to-earth fellow:

"The mole spoke as if indeed in mid-flow of neighborly chat:'...And you probably have little idea of how delicious--how scrumptious--they are when eaten fresh. Of course, I have my worm larder--' He corrected himself. 'Worm larders, well stocked, but the prey pursued, or promptly pounced upon, and eaten fresh--as I've said--Ah! the earthworm, there's nothing like it! You can have your wireworms and your leatherjackets and as many ground beetles as you like to eat--snap! crackle! crunch! You can have them all! Even the toothsome slug has nothing to equal the near liquefaction of worm meat as I pass its length through my fingers sieving out the earth granules from its incessant feeding. Or alternatively tear it to eat it at once in great guzzling, gulping chunks.' "

And as surely as Bet comes to learn the twists and turns that mark the mole's jawdropping personal tale of history, sorcery, and happenstance, readers come to realize that the story of Bet and the mole is an intense tale of friendship and selflessness and choices. And while this is a book that is quite accessible to third and fourth graders, the questions THE LITTLE GENTLEMAN poses, in regard to what one would do for a friend, makes this story also fit in quite nicely alongside any number of YAs that probe similar ground, albeit in a more edgy and mature fashion.

" 'Now,' said Bet with satisfaction, 'we're going to go the whole hog.'

" 'More accurately,' said the mole, 'the whole mole!' "

Philippa Pearce, skillfully digging into British historic trivia, has mined a rich vein with THE LITTLE GENTLEMAN. The book arrived here just in the nick of time--it becomes my read aloud for our family vacation this coming week--and it is sure to be received with similar enthusiasm by all those who somewhere, down deep, are "watching and waiting for a friend to play with."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book rocks!!!, January 22, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Little Gentleman (Hardcover)

This book rocks!!! I think this is the best book I have read all year. My favorite part was when Moon was chasing Mole. Moon was trying to catch Mole so he could eat him. Then, Bet threw a book at Moon and he ran away like a scaredy cat. That's why I liked this book.

Maura W.

5.0 out of 5 stars awsome, love it!, June 7, 2006

By 

mike jones "mj" (los angeles,ca,usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Little Gentleman (Hardcover)

The book that I read was called The Little Gentleman. The book was about a man called "Mr. Franklin" that has broken his leg and a lady named "Ms. Miller" she took her granddaughter to help her clean the mans house. Then he tells the girl one day that she should go to the meadow to read out loud. After a couple of days a beaver comes and listens to her read. They become friends and he tells her that if any intruder comes to yell a word. After the man has heal his leg he stars to read to himself out loud.