Customer Reviews

The Wild Boy

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Every now and then, a parent runs across a children's book which seems to work magic on young minds. "The Wild Boy" is one such book. Based on the true story of Dr. Jean-Marc Itard's attempts to socialize...and humanize... a boy found inexplicably surviving in the woods of Southern France, this book is thoroughly engrossing.

One mark of a great book for kids is whether it encourages the exploration of broader questions than what can be immediately gleaned from the narrative. This book delivers on that score. It presents the story simply, but in such a way that the reader is encouraged to think about the moral complexity involved. Many questions are raised in the young reader's mind, such as "Is it right to treat another human, no matter how uncivilized, like a scientific object?" "Where do our feelings come from?" and ultimately "What does it mean to be human?"

If you like to discuss with young folks the books you read to them, this one is perfect for that purpose. It has a way of igniting inquisitive responses, and even ends with the vague but tantalizing words... "I wonder..."-

This is a true mystery--How did a child come to be raised in the wild. How did he survive? What does he think about our civilized world? What brings him joy and sorrow? This book asks the question, "What does it mean to be human." Young children should have some interesting answers.

This is a wonderful picture book about the wild boy of Aveyron. It is a story about a boy who was found in a forest in France during the craziness of the French Revolution before Napoleon took over. The boy was apparently wild and was more oriented to the forest and forest animals. Some believe he was a mentally retarded boy who was misused by scientists, others believe the story that he was a wild boy tamed by a young French scientist who taught him to live in society to some extent but never to speak. This book takes the latter story and I believe it too. The boy did learn to read and spell simple words and well as actions that communicated his needs. He also seemed to have a strong connection to the forest. This book tells the story beautifully and children will feel a strong attachment to the wild boy also.

I am a Mordicai Gerstein fan. The Mountains of Tibet is my favorite. The Wild Boy did not disappointment me...illustrations are wonderful and the story inspirational.

Every once and awhile a headline screams from the front page of a tabloid with the teaser "wild child found living among creatures of the wood..."
The author of this book takes to task a topic of interest that reaches curiosity seekers.

It is a sad day when one has to be "taught" to feel; when someone has not had the "touch" of human kindness in order to grow emotionally and spiriturally.
Unfortunately, in this day and age, it happens on a steady basis. We need to praise people, not only children, for their accomplishments; be it in the schools,
homes, and yes, even in the workplace.

The doctor in this book seemed to be using the methodologies which I was familiar with in teaching Victor life long learning experiences. Sure enough, Maria
Montessori was the impetus (See also at AMAZON: Philadelphia's Progressive Orphanage.)

Years ago, when I was in academia, one of the professors required reading was a article "The Stoneage Men of Mindinao", where a tribe of backward people
were "discovered". Quite a period of time later, another article appeared which deemed it a hoax. When I showed it to the professor he did not want any part
of the new-found article as the original article "worked" for him and his class purposes.

A sad, sad story for a sad, sad world.