Customer Reviews

The Magical Land of Noom (Books of Wonder)

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I was thrilled to discover The Magical Land of Noom back in print. I was given a copy by my grandparents in 1944 when I was five years old. I read it and reread it as a child. I read and reread it to my children. Our copy is now just loose pages kept in a binder. I have now ordered two copies of the book, one for me and one for my grandchildren. Thank you, thank you to the folks who have made this book available. I hope many people are made aware of the beauty of the illustrations and the gentle goodness which the story imparts. I will certainly spread the word to my friends and acquaintances.

I am so thrilled that this book is available again!! My twin sister and two brothers have commented many times about our fond memories of bedtime when our parents would read to us about the Magical Land of Noom. Even today, some 30 years later, we each look at the moon and think of Johnny and Janey and laugh with amazement that our innocent children thoughts remain so sharp in our adult imaginations. I have an old copy of the original publication, somewhat torn, tattered and crayoned, which has reminded me periodically to try to find this book. Together with the help of my siblings, we have searched bookstores from Chicago to Cleveland to NYC to Salt Lake City, and have been disappointed to learn that it was not in publication. So, today, I just happened to log onto Amazon.com, and here it is!!!! I have ordered six copies for my family and expect to be reordering for many years to come when I need a gift for special friends with little ones. The Land of Noom shoul! d be a standard for all children, along side such classics as Pooh and Christopher Robin, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, Charlotte's Web, The Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 101 Balloons, and so many others. I am looking forward to sharing the enchantment with my niece and nephews, and hope this book remains forever in publication.

While doing an out of print book search on Internet for one of my favorite childhood books, The Magical Land of Noom, I discovered to my great surprise and joy that it was reissued this year! Born in 1938, I was given the book at about age 5 and I still have that much read copy which was also much loved by my children.Wanting to give a copy to my grandchild,I was seriously considering spending upwards of $250 for a used copy.This book is singularly magical in the English tradition of such classics as The Princess and the Goblin and The Phoenix and the Carpet and appeals to the very imaginative child. Like the Wizard of Oz, it foll- ows a sort of "quest" type plot in which the char- acters must succeed in getting through many scary adventures and surmounting many obstacles to reach their goal of returning a long imprisoned princess to her throne. There are molasses candy bogs,ink rains, and a wicked magician, but there are also pleasant adventures involving such delights as lemonade springs, mushrooms that taste like cake, and a wonderful meal served by invisible hands.The illustrations,including fascinating black line drawings in addition to full color plates, are gorgeous and bear the imprint of the design trad- itions of that era.The reading level is set at 9- 12 but I think the book can be introduced to a certain sort of child even as early as 5. I rejoice in this reissue and was pleased to read of the delight of other Amazon customers at this re- view site. It seems that I wasn't the only one to have such vivid,striking memories of this special book. I have purchased 6 copies for special friends and relatives,young and old. Now a new generation can explore the Magical Land of Noom.

I couldn't believe it when I saw this book was being published again. I must have read it three times -- once all in one day when I was only about 10. That was more than three decades ago, and I will definitely be getting this edition for my own children, now 10 and 12. It painted such vivid pictures in my mind that I can still see the flying machine (which I believe was made of an orange crate with spools for dials). Bravo!

Forty-five years ago they didn't know a lot about dyzlexia and other learning disabilties and my little first-grader brother really had problems learning to read. He even got held back in first grade which made him sad and he actually started to hate reading and books in general. The teachers and our parents treated him like he was dumb and school was turning in to a nightmare for him. Then in second grade he had an angel for a teacher. She was patient and she loved her students and she read THIS special story book to them. My little brother came home every night and at the dinner table he would tell us all about the adventures from the magical land of Noom which is "moon" spelled backward. His eyes sparkled and his speech became animated. He couldn't wait to get to school the next day to hear more. He did so much better that year and he kept trying with books because of that kind teacher and this enchanting story book. Johnny Gruelle, who created Raggedy Ann and Andy, knew how to reach children with his light-hearted, funny adventures and his utterly charming illustrations. Please share this magical book with children you love. I bought a brand new copy for my "little" brother even though he's all grown up now and tons more successful than I am, and I'm the "genious" of the family.

My mother had a copy of this book as a child, and she bought one for her children years later. We own two copies of the rare first edition, and I am thrilled to death to see it in print once again after all these years.

All the beloved characters of my childhood can now be shared with countless new readers: the Soft-Voiced Cow; the Princess in the Green Jar; Tiptoe, the Dancing Master; Jingles the Magician. I have always said my brother and I were named after the children who flew to the far side of the moon and had the most wonderful adventures. Where else would you find Kneebud ice cream or popcorn with mustard on it to keep it hot, but Noom? Or chocolate mushrooms growing beside a lemonade spring?

This is a timeless tale, told with such imagination and downright glee, that it should be a part of every home and public library's collection. Huzzahs to all who arranged for this new addition after more than 70 years!

This is a children's book, but it is also a book for world weary adults wishing to refresh their spirits by traveling back a few decades to a much more innocent and optimistic era.

This book is the product of a time when modern juggernauts such as global warming, ozone depletion, deforestation, acid rain, habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, nuclear weapons, nuclear waste, biochemical weapons, toxic pesticide poisoning of birds, bees, butterflies, and children, etc. were, for the most part, undreamed of.

It is doubtful that most writers of our decade could write and illustrate for children with such unburdened imagination and innocence as Johnny Gruelle did in The Magical Land of Noom. (How could Neil Armstrong's cramped and complicated space capsule ever compare with the simplicity and beauty of Johnny and Janey's flying machine?)

One can only hope that the current Kali Yuga will eventually give way to another golden age in which innocence, imagination, the beauty and integrity of nature, and human goodness can once again be supported on this planet. Until then, books like this one help to keep hope and imagination alive.

Forty-five years ago they didn't know a lot about dyzlexia and other learning disabilties and my little first-grader brother really had problems learning to read. He even got held back in first grade which made him sad and he actually started to hate reading and books in general. The teachers and our parents treated him like he was dumb and school was turning in to a nightmare for him. Then in second grade he had an angel for a teacher. She was patient and she loved her students and she read THIS special story book to them. My little brother came home every night and at the dinner table he would tell us all about the adventures from the magical land of Noom which is "moon" spelled backward. His eyes sparkled and his speech became animated. He couldn't wait to get to school the next day to hear more. He did so much better that year and he kept trying with books because of that kind teacher and this enchanting story book. Johnny Gruelle, who created Raggedy Ann and Andy, knew how to reach children with his light-hearted, funny adventures and his utterly charming illustrations. Please share this magical book with children you love. I bought a brand new copy for my "little" brother even though he's all grown up now and tons more successful than I, the "genious" of the family.

The Magical Land of Noom is the only book I have ever read to my children and grandchildren that fascinated ALL of them without fail. Building one's own flying machine and going to the moon appears to strike a universal five year old chord!!

I read this book approximately 40 years ago. The story and concept made such an impression on me that I have searched for the book through-out my adult life. The details have grown fuzzy except for the cow, the dark side of the moon, and the flying machine. The overall concept, however, is still fresh in my mind. Children really can accomplish good things. They are important and have a place in the world. I felt very brave and adventurous when I read this book, and it gave me hope for the possibilities somewhere for me. It helped me escape and it brought me wonderful dreams. I'm so grateful it is being published again.