The Giant Surprise: A Narnia Story (Narnia) (Library Binding)

by Hiawyn Oram (Author), Tudor Humphries (Illustrator) "Puddleglum was rishing and Lally was playing with her boat when two marsh mice pushed through the reeds..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Narnia:

a world made by magic from the start of time,
full of marvelous creatures, talking beasts,
and trees that sometimes get up and dance.

And now the door to this magical world is opened again with a brand-new story. Based on beloved characters introduced by C. S. Lewis in The Chronicles of Narnia, The Giant Surprise presents a new adventure specially created for much younger children.

Now pull on your boots . . . and splash through the muddy marshlands, home to the web-footed, web-fingered Marsh-wiggles. Meet Puddleglum, the most famous of them all. Get to know his niece, Lally, the brave little Wigglet, as together they help the marsh mice challenge the roaring, rock-throwing, not-so-clever giants of Shribble Gorge!

From the Back Cover
Based on characters originally featured in C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, The Giant Surprise is a brand new Narnia adventure story about Marshwiggles, giants, and mice for young children. Lally, a small wigglet, and her Uncle Puddleglum undertake a hair-raising rescue of their mice friends, before they become a giant’s supper. This new picture book—and the others in the series—shares the values of C. S. Lewis’s original work and explores a world of courage, kindness, and companionship. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Library Binding: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (May 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060013605
• ISBN-13: 978-0060013608
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,420,262 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Giant Surprise is A Giant Rip-off, December 7, 2005

By	4givn4evr "Cathy" (SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Giant Surprise: A Narnia Story (Hardcover)

Nothing Narnia here, nothing C.S. Lewis here, nothing worth buying here.
Beware the onslaught of Narnia "branding". C.S. Lewis would be appalled at this trite, giggly desecration.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Narnian Glurge, nothing more, January 4, 2007

By	J. Boeyink "Shiba Inu Mom" (St. Louis, Missouri, the Holy City) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I, too, have to agree with the consensus that the book is nothing special, and only receives attention because it cashes in on the Narnia franchise at a time when Narnia is coming once again to the public's attention. At best, it's cute and the illustrations are pretty. At worst, the story is rather silly and nothing special.

My children are young -- ages 2, 4 and 6 -- and they're big on hearing the stories they love read to them over and over again. They've heard this book once, and have never given it a second glance since.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The estate of CS Lewis continues to profit, August 13, 2005

By	Through the Wardrobe "Sam" (Peabody, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Giant Surprise: A Narnia Story (Hardcover)

I was surprised to come across this title - although I was aware that the estate of CS Lewis had opened up the possibility of other Narnia tales that utilized characters from the series to spin off other adventures. Here is one of these new adventures! Whimsical illustrations sure to entrance any child combined with an adventure involving large giants with not so large brains will be a hit with some. In my case, I give this title two stars - because it is *NOT* written by CS Lewis. Inspired by, yes, but authored, heavens no. Concerning Hiawyn Oram, of her I've never heard. But people have heard of Narnia. At least this site lists her as the author, unlike Zondervan.

Someone's making money on Lewis's genius.

A similar situation would be if titles started to hit the 4-10 kids market featuring Bilbo Baggins in other kid friendly adventures. Maybe even Choose Your Own Adventure books for the 11-14 year olds taking place in Middle Earth. Just think, the market is ripe for these items! I type sarcastically.

I'm a Narnia purist; this title adds to the Narnia cannon something that, as far as I'm concerned ended with "Further Up and Further In" and "Farewell to the Shadowlands" (see The Last Battle, last 2 chapters).