Customer Reviews

Once There Were Giants

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Oh my, the first time I read this delightful but touching story to my 18 month old daughter I sobbed so hard she turned around to look at me - but she was smiling. As if she understood that I was "crying for happy." Any parent will be touched by the first person story of the Giants (adults) in this growing girl's life. As I read it I even think of my own childhood and how my mother must have been amazed at how fast it happened. Like all of Martin Waddell's books this one is well written and enjoyable for both the children for whom it is intended and their parents. The illustrations are charming; fun and colorful. Thanks for touching our hearts.

This book is one of my favorites to give to families that have large extended families like the one depicted in the story. Just as the other reviewers have said, it is more for adults in many ways than young children. That makes the beer on dad's head very irrelevant. It is very sweet, and does show how fast time goes - the baby girl on the first page becomes a giant on the last page too fast. I've given it to many of my friends' daughters and everyone has loved it!

We discovered this book years ago at the library and instantly loved it. I have to admit that *I* probably love it more that my children. It is so sweet and touching how it portrays the circle of life. I love the illustrations of the little girl growing up in all of her phases. I decided that we need to have it in our personal library so I can continue to read it to my children and hopefully one day read it to my grandchildren as well!

Charles Gross uses "Once There Were Giants" as an argument for picture books on "Common Sense." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUEyoce-aoY

I read this book to my daughters when they were little. They liked it then; they even like it now.

I recieved this as a gift, and I too cried on the first reading, in a good way. One of our bedtime favourites, with its gentle rhythems and sweet illustrations. My two year old duaghter loves to look at the baby, and talk about how the later pictures are the baby "all grown up." It's lovely. Highly recommend!

I received this book from a family member when I became a mother. My daughter enjoyed it so much that she searched everywhere for it when she became pregnant. I found it on Amazon, and she loved the gift.
The story is wonderfully told. It incorporates the circle of life into the love of family. It's such a short story that covers so much. You grow into parenthood with the main character, and you enjoy every milestone.

My daughter loved this book, we wore it out over the years; I bought it again, on Amazon, and keep it with my treasures. My daughter is a giant herself now and it seems that that happened as fast as the turning of the book's pages. It reads like 'Once there were little people', but it takes me back to those years with as much pleasure as it used to take my daughter forward.

Once There Were Giants is the charming story of a little girl growing up in a supportive, loving family. Fabulous illustrations compliment the short, lyrical prose for the main events of the girl's life. You'll want to read this book WITH your children (if you can get through it without crying). It is a good opportunity to discuss family, life changes, and special days or events that mark a person's "coming of age." The pictures are quite appropriate; they reflect real life situations such as the fights between siblings and the first time a child beats her parents in a race (as well as the beverages served at grown-up parties.) If you have a daughter, this is a book you'll want to keep forever.

If you were ever a little girl, or if you were ever the parent of a little girl, this book is guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes. If you know someone expecting a baby girl, give them a copy.

The book was very good at the beginning. However, I did not appreciate hearing my 6 year old reading about "Dad with a beer on his head." The picture even further illustrated the point. Don't get me wrong, "beer" isn't a bad word, but I for one thought that the author's choice of beverage added nothing to the story - especially for a 6 year old reading aloud.