The Witches

A classic! Wonderful for all ages. Must have in your home library

I went into the children’s corner in my local library as it was quiet, and tried to think of one author; that’s how I found this marvelous little tome. So many breathtaking happenings, and it doesn’t turn out as in usual stories. When I was checking this book out, one of the librarians got excited and mentioned once when he was in an ESL class he read this book. I immediately thought maybe he donated his beloved copy to his workplace. I bought my own copy after I read. I also looked into if there’s a translation of the book for my friend who loves good books but doesn’t read English; I found there is, and reported to her. She loved the book, too. I am glad this is one of the few translatable ones among Dahl’s works. I am ‘DAHLING’ right now!

Love this book, this was one of my favorites growing up. I purchased this book and allowed my twelve year old daughter to read it and she loved it as well.

It also seemed to lack intermediary details regarding cause & effect, such as actions taken, with imaginary results, like a children’s book for gosh sakes ! Wasn’t this supposed to be a serious documentary ( ! ) ( ? )

Another fabulous story by the fantastic story teller, Roald Dahl. Roald Dahl never disappoints me with his great tales. Thank you

I first read this book when I was in the third grade, 25 years ago. I instantly decided then that it was my favorite book and I read and re-read it many times. I loved it. I recently took on a research project involving children's and young adult stories and have a long reading list of Children's stories to read - I put "The Witches" at the top of my list for nostalgia's sake, not sure what to expect. As an adult, I can report, that it is simply a magnificent story. I can see why I loved it so much as a child. Dahl never dismisses the reader (children) as being inept. Like the Grandmother in the story, Dahl knows children don't require extreme coddling. He's not timid about using fear to tell a great story. Parent's strive to create a safe world for their children. But that illusion is one that all parents must slowly deconstruct to prepare children for reality. Fairy tales are an integral part of that deconstruction. In fairy tales, monsters can exist in a way that allows children face their fears and walk through those fears to the other side where strength, courage and confidence are found. "The Witches" is a frightening, yet thrilling read for children. Dahl is a masterful storyteller and in "The Witches" he has weaved imagination, fear and courage into a fantastically fun story that has stood the test of time and remains refreshingly relevant for each generation.

It is a good product with reasonable quality and price

Grandmother tells her grandson how to recognize a witch, what he should do if he sees one, how he can avoid being taken by a witch. The grandson listens carefully and keeps watch. She almost makes me believe there are witches. The grandson does have an encounter with not one witch but an entire conference room full of them. He is turned into a mouse. He is a clever boy and is able to escape. Instead of being depressed that he is now a mouse, he and grandma hatch a plan to put the witches out of business for good. He is the one with the ideas and Grandma is always amazed at his cleverness and helps him carry out his plan. Another boy was also changed into a mouse. His parents are disgusted by him now that he is a mouse. Grandma is very sad that his parents don't love him just because he's a mouse. But Grandma continues to be loving and considerate. She re arranges the house so her grandson/mouse can be safe and independent. She carries him in her purse when they go out. The adventure with the witches is funny and clever but the real story was in the tenderness between Grandmother and Grandson. As the boy/mouse considers his new reality he asks her how long a mouse would live. She is honest as well as hopeful. A mouse does not live as long as a boy would. But he isn't an ordinary mouse so he will live longer than an ordinary mouse. I liked Roald Dahl before but this book sealed him as one of my favorite authors.

Dare to read about the true nature of witches and enjoy a fantastic tale with superb illustrations. But be warned - It might frighten you. Roald Dahl (1916-1960) is a well known writter of stories not only for adults. He began to write children stories as an entertainment for his own children and today kids all over the world like to read them. Like the story of "The Witches", which might be the most frightening children story ever written. The retired witchophile grandmother tells her grandson everything she knows about witches. They look and act like ordinary women and they really hate children. "Vvye have yu not rrrubbed them all out, these filthy smelly children", shouts the grand high witch and makes a plan to wipe out the children of England. Only the boy and his grandmother can stop them. The first illustration in the book shows a woman and a witch. But who is who? Look very carefully and read the chapter "How to recognise a witch", and you will find out. These fine drawn illustrations by Quentin Blake support the great story and make you sometime laugh and othertime cry in fear. Like the story itself. You will hear how children have been turned into a slug, mouse, flea white chicken or a stone statue. "Those huge eyes were the saddest things i had ever seen." So this book might be not suitable for little children. An adult heard this story when she was young, but she still geets the creeeps, when she thinks of it. But everyone else, who is not so easy to frightend or thinks he isn' t, will like the story and the characters displayed. Like the heavy smoking grandmother, who has no fear at all or the always eating boy Bruno. "Where are those chocolate bars you promised me?" Dahl has some advice for his readers. "When mice grow up, they don't have to go to war and fight against each other." He was a Royal Air Force pilot in World War II. "It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like so long as somebody loves you." It is a book you don' t want to stop reading till the end.

I liked it

Good book for elder kids

Recibido en tiempo y forma, el libro, muy bien elaborado y presentado, será utilizado por una persona como material auxiliar para impartir clases de inglés a niños de primaria. Muy buena elección.

中学生の娘に買いました。 CD４枚組なので、本は別に購入しました。 魔女の話しかないのに、４枚なんて！と思いましたがもともとこの話は長いので１日30分位は聴いてます。 学校ではIF〜の学習に入るので、この話はもし〜ならばっていうシーンがかなり出でくるので、娘も楽しみながら勉強になります。 小さい頃から、ペーパーブックを買って毎日聴いてましたが、初めての長文で最初は長い！と言ってたのに、このCDを聴いた途端にハマってました。今の時期には楽しめる話です。