Genres
Description
Little Billy enters the Forest of Sin and meets the Minpins, matchstick-sized people who live in tree cities besieged by the Smoke-Belching Gruncher whom Billy vows to destroy.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1991
Physical description
47 p.; 29 cm
Publication
[Oslo] Gyldendal : Bokklubbens Barn 1992
Pages
47
ISBN
8205205159 / 9788205205154
Local notes
Norwegian translation of The Minpins.
Similar in this library
Awards
NCTE Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K—Grade 6 (10th Edition: 1988-1992)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Whisper1
This is the last work of Dahl's and was printed in 1991, a year after his death.
Illustrated by Patrick Benson, this book has more of a fairy tale quality about it than the others. The story line seems more sleep like and simple. It is a quiet book, unlike Dahl's previous works that at times seem to
Little Billy's mother is over protective and ever fearful he will get into trouble.
Billy listens to the whisper of the devil and he escapes to the forest of sin where
"None come out, but many go in."
There he is hunted by roaring fire breathing monster. Seeking refuge he climbs higher and higher into a magical tree filled with thousands of tiny creatures whose adult faces are no bigger than a pea and the faces of the children are as small as the head of a match stick.
Climbing about the trees by using green suction boots, the very mobile mipins create a village in the tree branches and are transported from one tree village to another by friendly birds.
Helping the Minpins by killing the fire breathing Gruncher, Billy becomes the hero of them all.
I very much liked this book for the stunningly beautiful illustrations and the mystical quality throughout.
Illustrated by Patrick Benson, this book has more of a fairy tale quality about it than the others. The story line seems more sleep like and simple. It is a quiet book, unlike Dahl's previous works that at times seem to
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me to be noisy with images flying all over the pages.Little Billy's mother is over protective and ever fearful he will get into trouble.
Billy listens to the whisper of the devil and he escapes to the forest of sin where
"None come out, but many go in."
There he is hunted by roaring fire breathing monster. Seeking refuge he climbs higher and higher into a magical tree filled with thousands of tiny creatures whose adult faces are no bigger than a pea and the faces of the children are as small as the head of a match stick.
Climbing about the trees by using green suction boots, the very mobile mipins create a village in the tree branches and are transported from one tree village to another by friendly birds.
Helping the Minpins by killing the fire breathing Gruncher, Billy becomes the hero of them all.
I very much liked this book for the stunningly beautiful illustrations and the mystical quality throughout.
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LibraryThing member paroof
When I first started reading this one to my 7-year-old I was little concerned that it might give him nightmares - it starts off a bit scary. The devil whispers in the little boy's ear, he goes into the Forest of Sin, and then is chased by a terrifying monster who wants to eat him... but it
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eventually comes around and the little boy and the Minpins (the tiny people who inhabit the forest) eventually kill the terrifying monster rather easily. It's a very satisfying story for a 7-year-old boy (or a 40-year-old mom for that matter) it seems to have a little of everything and the illustrations are beautiful, too. Plus, I think it's just the right length. We read it in two nights. Show Less
LibraryThing member AmberTheHuman
Definitely has the delight and whimsy of other Dahl books - too bad it's quite short. I enjoyed the illustrations in this version, definitely comes off as an very young illustrated book, not like the others that are closer to or sometimes are chapter books. Enjoyed!
LibraryThing member LaPhenix
Left an icky taste in my mouth.
LibraryThing member AliceaP
Perhaps my favorite of the lot was The Minpins which is a large sized picture book with beautiful color illustrations. The artwork alone makes this a fantastic piece of children's literature. This was posthumously published and is very different from the other books which I've read by him (and
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illustrated by Patrick Benson instead of Quentin Blake). It is the story of Little Billy (a human child) who escapes from his family home into the woods where he has been expressly forbidden to enter. There he comes into contact with a ferocious beast...and tiny little people called the Minpins who live high up in the trees. A marvelous adventure unfolds among these disparate characters which is both beautifully told and fantastically illustrated. It's a must read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Arkrayder
First time reading this story. It was good. My daughter enjoyed it. The earlier Dahl books will always be my favourites. This book keeps up the Dahl tradition of madcap characters. The ‘feel of it’ as it were is not the same as the Dahl books of my youth. But it’s probably time that’s
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giving me that impression. Show Less
LibraryThing member funstm
Little Billy doesn't listen to his mother when she tells him all the reasons not to venture into the Forest of Sin. Instead he sets off into the trees and finds himself in danger of being eaten. But with the help of some new friends, Billy finds a way to outwit the monsters that live there and find
This short novella begins with more of a religious slant than expected (apparently it's the Devil whispering into Billy's ear telling him to ignore his mother) but soon evolves into Dahl's familiar ridiculous and exaggerated style with birds and secret worlds. I enjoyed the ending suggesting that everyone should watch the world carefully because "the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places" and that "those who don't believe in MAGIC will never find it." 3.5 stars, rounded to 4 stars for target audience. 3 stars for me.
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a way home. This short novella begins with more of a religious slant than expected (apparently it's the Devil whispering into Billy's ear telling him to ignore his mother) but soon evolves into Dahl's familiar ridiculous and exaggerated style with birds and secret worlds. I enjoyed the ending suggesting that everyone should watch the world carefully because "the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places" and that "those who don't believe in MAGIC will never find it." 3.5 stars, rounded to 4 stars for target audience. 3 stars for me.
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Media reviews
Sunday Times
An endearing story...[Patrick Benson's] swirling, cross-hatched color pictures are marvelous and mark him as one of our finest contemporary illustrators.