Customer Reviews

Pingo

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Reviewed by: Wayne Walker

When you were younger, did you ever have an imaginary friend? Like many other kids his age, Chad has one named Pingo. They fight ninjas, brew magical potions, and float in zero gravity. But as Chad grows older, his "real" friends begin to tease him about having an imaginary friend, and one day Chad decides that he is too old for Pingo. From that day forward, Chad no longer has an imaginary friend. He has an imaginary enemy! What will Pingo do as Chad becomes a teenager, an adult, and finally an old man? And what will Chad do?

Brandon Mull is also the author of the New York Times bestselling Fablehaven series. Brandon Dorman is also the illustrator of the No. 1 New York Times bestseller The Wizard. Together, they have produced a touching story that children will think is great fun and adults will find a little bit nostalgic. I certainly agree with the observation on the inside jacket flap that "Pingo is a delightful read-a-loud picture book about the importance of imagination and friendship." Kids may laugh at the antics of Pingo and Chad, but at the end those of us who are a little older may have to wipe a slight tear out of our eyes. A great children's book!

Pingo by Brandon Mull and illustrated by Brandon Dorman is sure to be the next best selling children's book. It is packed with creativity, imagination, and mischief. The book is geared toward children in grades K-3, but I think younger would enjoy having it read to them and it makes a great book for older children to share with siblings or school reading buddies.

Have you ever had an imaginary friend, or have you known someone who did? It still makes me smile to see a child chatting excitedly and running around an imaginary world with friends unseen to anyone else. In Pingo, Brandon Mull asks an interesting question. What happens when your imaginary friend becomes your imaginary enemy? Mull's creative humor, combined with Brandon Dorman's artistic talent, answer this question perfectly. This is the children's literacy equivalence to the classic imaginary friend gone bad movie, Drop Dead Fred.

Chad and Pingo are the best of friends. The exciting adventures they share are limitless. But when Chad thinks he is too old for an imaginary friend he finds the trouble Pingo can cause is just as limitless. This is a cute, laugh out loud story about the importance of friendship and imagination.

I loved this book as an Adult, and my little girl loves it as well. I think it can be enjoyed by all ages. We are big fans of Brandon Mulls other work, but we hope he makes more picture books like this one. Another seller for me are the illustrations, they are fabulous. The pictures have so much detail and fun to them, it brings the story to life. Brandon Dorman is truly a gifted artist.

I have enjoyed reading Brandon Mull's other books, the Candy Shop War and the Fablehaven series. I purchased this for my grandchildren, and they love it as much as I do the above mentioned novels. It has become one of their favorite bedtime stories.

My son loves Pingo! He wants his Daddy to read this terribly clever tale to him every night at bed. Pingo is cute and fun and more than a little mischievous. The illustrations are hilarious. Any kid, and any grown up for that matter, will get a kick out of what happens when your imagination runs away with you, without your consent!

My older kids were already huge Brandon Mull fans due to the Fablehaven series and The Candy Shop War, so when we saw this picture book we thought we'd give it a try. I've got to say that my kids love this book. My 3- and 5-year-olds love to have the book read to them and my older kids don't mind doing it. The pictures are fantastic--filled with subtle humor that even adults can enjoy--and the story is entertaining. I'd certainly recommend this book.

Description from Deseret Book.com "What happens when your imaginary friend turns into your imaginary enemy? New York Times bestselling author Brandon Mull and No.1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Brandon Dorman team up in this new children's picture book that explores the meaning of friendship and imagination. Like many kids his age, Chad has an imaginary friend. His friend was Pingo. The two would fight ninjas, brew magical potions, and float in zero gravity. Each day was a fun-filled adventure, until Chad decided he was too old to have an imaginary friend. But Pingo wasn't ready to leave Chad alone, and started tormenting him and causing all kinds of mischief. Can this once inseparable duo ever be friends again? Paired with charming illustrations, Pingo is a delightful read-out-loud picture book for children ages 3 and up.

Meet Pingo... complete with devil horns and polka dotted boxers. And get used to him because he's not about to leave. He's an imaginary friend turned to the dark side after being unsuccessfully dismissed by his owner. Pingo comes back playing pranks and leading Pirate raids in nighttime dreams. As Chad grows into an old man, he misses his side kick and they begin a whole new set of travels together. You'll be giggling along with your children as the mischief is never ending!

Pingo has swiftly become a family favorite. How clever it is to see the floating Fablehaven book in Chad's room during Zero gravity fun. Brandon Dorman's illustrations are out of this world! Pair his talent with Brandon Mull's writing and you have a winning combination. My children were entranced with this little troll and his bright yellow cover.

I shared this book with the second graders at the school where I work, and they went wild over it. The fun story and charming illustrations sparked their imagination, prompting them to write their own stories and draw their own depictions of their own imaginary friends and their adventures together. No higher praise can be given to a children's book than to say it inspires kids to use their imaginations and expand on the story they've just heard!

This book was cute about an imaginary friend. It doesn't work well as a picture book, it would work well I think as a chapter book when Mull could expand the ideas. The pictures just don't carry it. Cute, but it feels empty...