Customer Reviews

Peter and the Wolf

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book and CD are great for several reasons. As a lifelong U2 fan, I would of course buy it because Bono illustrated it, but that alone doesn't being to cover how cool this. "Peter and the Wolf" is a great children's story to begin with. Add in some great and very interesting illustrations done by Bono, Gavin Friday reading the story, as well as assembling a great arrangement for the music and you have a sure-fire, can't miss edition.

The edition is well packaged and would make a great gift. It comes in a box, which includes the CD and book. The music is amazing. Different instruments are used that you normally wouldn't find and I found myself wishing that this had been around when I was a kid. Then maybe I would have enjoyed it more! As it is, it makes me smile. Bono's illustrations are extremely unique. They are deceptively plain and simple. I personally wouldn't expect anything less from him. Although, a warning, there are a couple of illustrations that may be slightly questionable for children. The real star with this is Gavin Friday, most famous, (perhaps unfortunately for such a talented guy) for being Bono's friend. Friday's voice is perfect for this telling. He has a unique voice in his music and he has applied it here. I could listen to it over and over again. The CD also has an enhanced feature with a behind-scenes documentary and gallery for PCs.

If you paid attention to nothing else, this is the bottom line. "Peter and the Wolf" extremely good all around, and it is even for a good cause, benefiting the Irish Hospice program. Can't beat that!

This boasts the most stunningly original musical arrangement of "Peter & the Wolf" I have ever heard. The narration is compelling. My son adores it, he hung on every word. The drawings are appealing as well. Another reviewer complains that the drawings (particularly of the cat) are not 'appropriate' for children. I strongly disagree. I had no problem sharing this book with my son. I also gave the book as a gift to several friends with young children this holiday season, and everyone enjoyed the entire project thoroughly--no complaints about the kitty. These drawings are TAME compared with what children see on television and in film, and in the music directly marketed to them these days. I'd rather have my son look at this book than see images of Britney or Christina Aguilera plastered in the media. I recommend this version to anyone interested in introducing (or re-introducing) their children to the story of Peter & the Wolf.

Being a Gavin Friday fan (so much so that we named our son Gavin) I had to get this boxed set when it came out and I was not dissapointed. The illustrations were wonderful, Gavin's reading of the story (and the music) was simply amazing.

Perhaps the more American puritanical parents will have issues with bare breasts illustrated, however most of the world would find nothing objectionable to even younger than the "recommended" age. I found it simply refreshing that illustrations in a children's geared book are not devoid of body parts which everyone has and what most (thankfully) associate with feeding children and not sex.

A box set well worth purchasing.

When I was a little girl I loved to listen to the story of Peter and the Wolf. As an adult, I have grown to love celtic music and traditional Irish instruments. So when this set came out I was eager to purchase it -- and I was thrilled with what I got.

The music is beautifully performed by the Friday-Seezer ensemble. Each instrument comes alive as the animal it is supposed to represent. While the music is definitely Prokofiev (no doubt about that) it has an Irish flavor that is just enchanting.

Although I wasn't too keen on the pictures when I viewed them on a website, I thought they worked wonderfully in this book accompanied by the music.

And last, but not least, Gavin Friday cannot get enough credit for his wonderful narration of the story.

All in all, the story is whimsical and fun, just like I remembered it to be. I agree with the other reviewer that it would be nice if the book were larger, but aside from that I have nothing but praise for this set.

Buy this book! As a librarian, and mother of three, I highly reccomend this book and CD for both children and adults. This initiative by the Irish Hospice Foundation joins the considerable musical talents of Gavin Friday and Maurice Seezer with spirited illustrations by Bono to create a richly rewarding sensory experience.
The narration and orchestration are novel and pure listening pleasure for children and adults. The practice of enriching text with thoughtful art and quality music has the well-documented effect of promoting literacy and improving cognitive skills in children. This project does that, and does it extremely well.
My only complaint with the book is that the size is too small to share easily with large groups of children.

"Beware... for wolves come in many disquises."

Peter lives with his grandfather in a cottage surrounded by a high stone wall near a deep, dark forest. In the story we meet a number of animals. The story is read by Irish musician, Gavin Friday, who has a very enjoyable sensuous voice.

To make this book kid friendly (from my teacherish perspective), I'd recommend glueing the first cat picture page shut. You could buy one for the kids and one as a collector item - so if you object, the problem can be easily remedied. I just think it is a little too suggestive for younger children (unless they are used to art museums, then they won't blink an eye), although adults will easily see the double meaning of the book's contents that seems to deal with temptation and being swallowed up by darkness. The other pictures seem fine.

The duck with the bill that extends out like a cross seems to be in contrast with the first bird that looks more like a dove. I took it to mean you should live your beliefs instead of just making them a show. Pretty clever to show that in an illustration so subtely. The dove and the cat also contrast sharply and the meaning is very clear.

Bono's illustrations are beautiful and he drew the pictures with the help of his children. I purchased this for a collector friend and couldn't help myself, I read it first and listened to the CD. For some reason, I thought Bono would be reading the story.

My dad heard me listening to this in the office and thought it would be fun to listen to on Halloween. There are fun elements of suspense throughout the music and now and then it gets a "little" scarry.

For adults who heard the music as children, the combination of the music and the story makes the story much more meaningful.

~The Rebecca Review

I checked the drawings in the book accompanying this great CD to see whether any of them would be damaging to children. There's one cute drawing of a cat. It's not lewd in any way. It's just a charming picture of a cat that happens to have breasts. Breasts aren't particularly harmful to children if you ask me.

Never mind the book, keep it away from your toddler if you absolutely must, but don't deny them the delightful interpretation of Prokofiev's classic by Ireland's finest, Gavin Friday and Maurice Seezer. The instrumentation's inspired and Gavin's voice is wickedly playful.

Keep an eye out for the upcoming animated film of this production!

Wonderful! A delightful story with interesting illustrations. A fresh change from the typical children's book. Accompanying CD brilliant. Highly recommended.

My husband bought this to share with our seven year old and he had fun following along while his dad turned the pages.
I took it to my preschool class and shared it during storytime one day and they loved it. It held their attention and was entertaining to them.

The illustrations are not too wild for children. They are very child-like.
Anything that has double enterder is for adult minds, not theirs.

I recommend it as a wonderfully narrated, musically accompanied and interestingly illustrated adventure.

This CD and book set is absolutely wonderful. Maurice Seezer and Gavin Friday have done a fantastic job of the musical arrangements and Gavin's voice is perfect. The illustrations by Bono and his two girls are perfect, it just shows how talented they all are. I have purchased this as a gift that my 18 month old daughter will hopefully have forever and I will make sure that I also get a copy for my soon-to-be-born son.