"The Magic Finger" is a children's book written by Roald Dahl. It tells the story of a little girl with a magic finger that she uses to teach others a lesson. The story revolves around a family, the Greggs, who love hunting. They enjoy hunting birds, which the little girl finds cruel and unfair. The little girl possesses a powerful and mysterious magic finger. Whenever she gets angry, she points her magic finger at someone, and they instantly undergo a transformation.
Rating: 5/5
It helps young readers understand that the hunting of animals for sport is wrong and that the things you do can have a big impact on other people s or in this case, ducks lives. When we read James and the Giant Peach I specifically sought out the illustrations by Nancy Eckholm Burkert and, so far, that s been one of my favorite Dahl stories.
Whenever she gets angry, she points her magic finger at someone, and they instantly undergo a transformation. In this case, the family gets a taste of their own medicine when the girl points her finger at them after they kill a bird. The family members, including Mr.
The magic finger bok
Possibly my son's favorite Dahl book, he's spend the last few years enjoying the Quentin Blake illustrations, and it was only recently that we checked the original version out from the library. Now, I love children's things that have a decidedly anti-gun theme. Not to say that I am against guns or hunting as to each his own, but children's stories that show the repercussions of killing living creatures hold a warm spot in my heart. Iron Giant, great anti-gun film for kids. Thus, where The Magic Finger comes in. A story told by a little girl with a magic touch about her gun toting neighbors. So, the story begins.
Now the one thing that Mr. Gregg and his two boys loved to do more than anything else was to go hunting. Every Saturday morning they would take their guns and go off into the woods to look for animals and birds to shoot. Even Philip, who was only eight years old, had a gun of his own.
I can't stand hunting. I just can't stand it. It doesn't seem right to me that men and boys should kill animals just for the fun they get out of it. So I used to try and stop Philip and William from doing it.
And that she does. By putting the magic finger on the whole lot of them. What is the magic finger, you ask?
Well, one time when the girl put the magic finger on her teacher, she turned into a cat. Du Bois created an incredible trick of the eye by taking these two pictures and putting them on both sides of a single page with the instructions HOLD THIS PAGE UP TO BRIGHT LIGHT. I've never seen this done in a book before, but the result is pure genius. a cat lady!
Once the magic finger touches the Gregg family, they find themselves trading places with a flock of ducks and hilarity ensues.
Never a dull Dahl, I tell you.
6 comments:
Anonymous said.This is a copy I would be glad to read.
Thanks for this post.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post! We really love Roald Dahl, but (and I feel like I should duck for cover when I say this) I really can't stand Quentin Blake's illustrations! Ugh, just ugh - I have a really weird, personal, visceral reaction to them. They almost ruin the stories for me. When we read James and the Giant Peach I specifically sought out the illustrations by Nancy Eckholm Burkert and, so far, that's been one of my favorite Dahl stories. I suffered through the illustrations in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory because that's such a great story, but couldn't get through Great Glass Elevator. Do you know if any of the others (Matilda, Charlie, The Witches, BFG, etc) have been illustrated by other illustrators?
Burgin Streetman said.You are so funny! I know Danny, Charlie and Mr. Fox were. I assume most of them were illustrated by others, but those are the only older ones we have. Glass Elevator though. That's just a crummy book in my opinion. It's the only Dahl I don't like!
Dave said.I've been rereading all of Dahl's books to my boys lately and couldn't agree more about Great Glass Elevator being pants, I just don't like it. The version I have has illustrations by someone other than Blake (who I love to bits, including his writing, Mr Magnolia is great)
Antmusic said.This version FREAKED me out when I was little. Those pictures! Now, of course, I love the books that scared/scarred me as a child. Well, I found myself a copy of it finally this weekend at a library sale. Yay! They had two, but I left the other for another lucky book nut. Last year, I found the 1st ed of Mr. Fox at this sale!
ahoi! said.These illustrations are so great. I like Quentin Blake when he illustrates his own books, but less so in the Dahl books. My biggest problem is the cover design of most of the Blake/Dahl reissues, but I suspect that's more the fault of the publisher.
Thanks for this post. I'm still looking for the original Mr. Fox too (hint, hint).
. and thanks to Chandra for her spirited comment!
And that she does. By putting the magic finger on the whole lot of them. What is the magic finger, you ask?
and Mrs. Gregg and their children, Philip and William, suddenly develop wings and feathers. They become small and light, just like birds. They are unable to use their legs and are forced to adapt to a new way of life. This experience leads the family to understand the pain and suffering they have caused to innocent birds. They desperately try to communicate with their neighbors and ask for help, but nobody understands them. They become social outcasts, with people thinking they are crazy or playing a joke. Through their transformation, the Gregg family learns empathy and compassion towards the birds they used to hunt. They are now experiencing the same fear and vulnerability they once caused. They realize the importance of treating all living beings with kindness and respect. Eventually, the girl takes pity on the family and removes the magic spell. The Greggs are relieved to be back to their human forms, but their perspective on hunting has changed forever. They promise never to hunt again and focus on living in harmony with nature. "The Magic Finger" is not only a story about the consequences of hunting but also a tale of compassion and understanding. It teaches children about empathy towards animals and the importance of treating all living creatures with respect. It encourages them to think about their actions and the impact they have on others. Roald Dahl's writing style, characterized by his ability to captivate young readers with imaginative stories, is showcased in "The Magic Finger." The story serves as a reminder that humans should live in harmony with nature and treat animals with kindness..
Reviews for "The Magic Finger: Lessons in Empathy and Compassion"
1. Jon - 1 star - I did not enjoy "The Magic Finger" at all. The story lacked depth and the characters were one-dimensional. The plot felt rushed and there was no build-up or resolution. Overall, I found it to be a boring and forgettable read.
2. Lisa - 2 stars - Although "The Magic Finger" had some interesting ideas, I found the execution to be quite poor. The language and writing style were too simplistic and juvenile, making it hard to connect with the story. Additionally, I felt that the morals and messages were forced upon the reader rather than being subtly woven into the narrative. Overall, I was left disappointed by this book.
3. Sam - 2 stars - I was excited to read "The Magic Finger" based on its reputation, but it failed to meet my expectations. The plot was predictable and lacked originality. The characters were not well-developed and I found it hard to care about what happened to them. The book also failed to keep my attention, with the story dragging on in certain parts. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and uninspired by this book.
4. Emily - 1 star - "The Magic Finger" was a complete letdown for me. The story was simplistic and lacked any real substance. I found it hard to connect with the characters as they were poorly developed and their actions were not believable. Additionally, the book had a preachy tone, which I found off-putting. Overall, I would not recommend this book to other readers.