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Roald Dahl

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The Minpins (Dahl Colour Illustrated) Kindle Edition

by Roald Dahl (Author), Patrick Benson (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition

4.6 1,289 ratings

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A classic Roald Dahl story with gorgeous full-colour illustrations by Patrick Benson.

Little Billy's mum says he must never go out through the garden gate and explore the dark forest beyond.
So, one day, that's exactgly what he does.
There he meets the Minpins: miniature people who live int he hollow trees.
They soon warn Little Billy of the fearsome, galloping Gruncher, who has grunched thousands of Minpins. And it will gobble up Little Billy too - uness he can find a way to defeat the hungry beast, once and for all...

Look out for new Roald Dahl apps in the App store and Google Play- including the disgusting TWIT OR MISS! inspired by the revolting Twits.

Look out for the whole collection of wondercrump Roald Dahl books!

The Enormous Crocodile; Fantastic Mr Fox; The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me; The Magic finger; The Twits; The BFP; Boy: Tales of Childhood; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator; The Complete Adventures of Charlie and Mr Willy Wonka; Danny the Champion of the World; George's Marvellous Medicine; Going Solo; James and the Giant Peach; Matilda; The Witches; Dirty Beasts; The Minpins; Revolting Rhymes

For Teens:

The Great Automatic Grammatizator and Other Stories; Rhyme Stew; Skin and Other Stories; The Vicar of Nibbleswicke; The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More

Reading age

5 - 7 years
Print length

55 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Puffin
Publication date

September 13, 2016
Page Flip

Not Enabled
Word Wise

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Enhanced typesetting

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Sticky notes

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ISBN-13

978-0141350554
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Someday someone will write a book that begins with a mother forbidding her child to enter the deep dark woods and ends with that child achieving incredible success without ever setting a toe in the forbidden forest. But not this book. Here, Billy's mom issues a few scary warnings about the woods to her son--"Beware! Beware! The Forest of Sin! None come out, but many go in!"--turns her back for a second, and the next thing you know the devil shows up and whispers something to Bobby about wild strawberries. Blammo! Guess where Billy goes--straight to the forbidden forest, of course. At this point, if you are reading the story aloud to your child, you may think there's a parable on the way. But just when you might expect to run into monsters named Lust, Avarice, and Three-Toed Sloth (okay, maybe not Lust), a real monster comes careening along and you realize that this story is just a fairy tale after all--and quite a lovely one at that.

The Minpins taps into the powerful, wonderful child's fantasy of discovering a hidden civilization of tiny folk that accepts and honors him or her. The very best part of this fairy tale is the denouement, where Billy receives the gift of nightly escape on the wings of a swan. One of Roald Dahl's only picture books--with fabulously crosshatched pen-and-ink illustrations by Patrick Benson--The Minpins is superb for reading aloud to the three- to eight-year-old set. And it culminates in a sentence or two of advice that your children just might remember for the rest of their lives. (Ages 3 to 8)

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-- Little Billy, bored with being good, ignores his mother's admonition to stay out of The Forest of Sin where "none come out, but many go in." He succumbs to the Devil's invitation to explore the forest for himself. All is well until the boy hears the alarming sounds of a fire-breathing monster headed right for him. Luckily he discovers a tree of convenient size where, on climbing to its upper branches, he finds a whole village of miniature people. The Minpins are also afraid of being gobbled up by the Red-Hot Smoke-Belching Gruncher. The lad devises a plan to do away with the terrifying beast and is promised nightly flights on the back of a swan by the grateful Minpins. No longer confined to his dull home, Little Billy now discovers a world of wonders. The only adult mentioned is the boy's insensitive, doltish mother, while the protagonist himself is admirable and enterprising, true to the author's form. Nonetheless, one senses something of a kinder, gentler Dahl, who nudges his readers to become observers, for "the greatest secrets are always hidden in unlikely places." However, the religious overtones seem curiously out of place. Little Billy's name, too, may prove a bit precious for some readers. Benson's pen-and-ink crosshatched drawings with full-color washes are pleasing but not memorable, with the exception of the dramatic depictions of Billy and the swan. Although older readers will find the talepretty tame, the story-hour crowd may find it a pleasant diversion. --Phyllis G. Si dorsky, National Cathedral School, Washington, DC
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Disobeying his mother, Little Billy goes into the ``Forest of Sin,'' where he is very nearly devoured by a fire-breathing monster. Just in time, he escapes up a tree, where he discovers a community of tiny people, the Minpins. The Minpins' homes, into which Billy can peer with one eye, remind him of the Queen's Doll House at Windsor Castle; they use their friends the birds for transport. When the Minpins explain that they, too, are being terrorized by the Red-Hot Smoke-Belching Gruncher, Little Billy devises a heroic plan: riding on a swan, he'll lure the monster into the lake (it can't see where it's going because of its own smoke). So he does, becoming a hero, and thereafter secretly visits his new friends. Typical Dahl: a childlike adventure with fantastical antagonists who have rib-tickling names, and a trite, airy moral (``Those who don't believe in magic will never find it''). Benson brings it all to life in his skillfully detailed art-- crosshatched pen-and-ink plus cheery color. There are several dramatic double spreads involving the monster, plus beguiling minutiae of the Minpins' treetop life. The long text is suitable for reading aloud to younger children and will also entertain the late author's older fans. (Fiction/Picture book. 4-10) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review

"An endearing story." -Sunday Times

About the Author

Roald Dahl was a spy, ace fighter pilot, chocolate historian and medical inventor. He was also the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG and many more brilliant stories. He remains THE WORLD'S NUMBER ONE STORYTELLER.

Quentin Blake has illustrated more than three hundred books and was Roald Dahl's favourite illustrator. In 1980 he won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal. In 1999 he became the first ever Children's Laureate and in 2013 he was knighted for services to illustration.

Quentin Blake has illustrated more than three hundred books and was Roald Dahl's favourite illustrator. In 1980 he won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal. In 1999 he became the first ever Children's Laureate and in 2013 he was knighted for services to illustration.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Being Good

Little Billy’s mother was always telling him exactly what he was allowed to do and what he was notallowed to do.

All the things he was allowed to do were boring.All the things he was not allowed to do were exciting.

One of the things he was NEVER NEVER allowed to do, the most exciting of them all, wasto go out through the garden gate all by himself and explore the world beyond.

On this sunny summer afternoon, Little Billy was kneeling on a chair in the living room, gazing out through the window at the wonderful world beyond. His mother was in the kitchen doing the ironing and although the door was open shecouldn’t see him.

Every now and again his mother would callout to him, saying, “Little Billy, what are you up to in there?”

And Little Billy would always call back and say,“I’m being good, Mummy.”

But Little Billy was awfully tired of being good.

Through the window, not so very far away, he could see the big black secret wood that was called The Forest of Sin. It was something he had always longed to explore. His mother had told him that even grown-ups were frightened of going into The Forest of Sin.

She recited a poem to him that was well known in the district. It went like this:

Beware! Beware! The Forest of Sin!
None come out, but many go in!

“Why don’t they come out?” Little Billy asked her. “What happens to them in the wood?”

“That wood,” his mother said, “is full of the most bloodthirsty wild beasts in the world.”

“You mean tigers and lions?” Little Billy asked.

“Much worse than that,” his mother said.

“What’s worse than tigers and lions, Mummy?”

“Whangdoodles are worse,” his mother said, “and Hornswogglers and Snozzwanglers and Vermicious Knids.

“And worst of all is the Terrible Bloodsuckling Toothpluckling Stonechuckling Spittler. There’s one of them in there, too.”

“A Spittler, Mummy?”

“Of course. And when the Spittler chases after you, he blows clouds of hot smoke out of hisnose.”

“Would he eat me up?” Little Billy asked.

“In one gulp,” his mother said.

Little Billy did not believe a word of this. He guessed his mother was making it all up just tofrighten him and stop him ever going out of thehouse alone.

And now Little Billy was kneeling on the chair, gazing with longing through the window at the famous Forest of Sin.

“Little Billy,” his mother called out from thekitchen. “What are you doing?”

“I’m being good, Mummy,” Little Billy called back.

Just then a funny thing happened. Little Billy began to hear somebody whispering in his ear. He knew exactly who it was. It was the Devil. The Devil always started whispering to him when hewas especially bored.

“It would be easy,” the Devil was whispering,“to climb out through that window. No one would see you. And in a jiffy you would be in the garden, and in another jiffy you would be through the front gate, and in yet another jiffy you would be exploring the marvelous Forest of Sin all by yourself. It is a super place. Do not believe one word of what your mother says about Whangdoodles and Hornswogglers and Snozzwanglersand Vermicious Knids and the Terrible Bloodsuckling Toothpluckling Stonechuckling Spittler. There are no such things.”

“What is in there?” Little Billy whispered.

“Wild strawberries,” the Devil whispered back.“The whole floor of the forest is carpeted withwild strawberries, every one of them luscious andred and juicy-ripe. Go and see for yourself.”

These were the words the Devil whisperedsoftly into Little Billy’s ear on that sunny summer afternoon.

The next moment, Little Billy had opened thewindow and was climbing out.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01LOHTSAK
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Puffin (September 13, 2016)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 13, 2016
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 40552 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 55 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,302,409 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #8,349 in Children's Fantasy Books
- #24,945 in Children's Fantasy & Magic Books
- #31,557 in 90-Minute Short Reads

Customer Reviews:
4.6 1,289 ratings

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Roald Dahl

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The son of Norwegian parents, Roald Dahl was born in Wales in 1916 and educated at Repton. He was a fighter pilot for the RAF during World War Two, and it was while writing about his experiences during this time that he started his career as an author.

His fabulously popular children's books are read by children all over the world. Some of his better-known works include James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr Fox, Matilda, The Witches, and The BFG.

He died in November 1990.

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4.6 out of 5

1,289 global ratings

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Beauregard

Best Roald Dahl easy read!

Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2023

Verified Purchase

Fabulous story. This is a second copy. I have been using it as a read aloud for years as a teacher grades 3-4.

Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2023

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We loved this book! A great read for elementary students!

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Tasha Reed

Collection find, personal taste.

Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2016

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I purchased this book, based on 1) my love for this paticular author and 2) It was the only Daul book that was created with pictures, which I hadn't seen yet. When I first unpacked this, I was a little suprised how thin the book was in content. It's wide and floppy. Not like the chapter books I was used too, and I found that interesting and a great read to do with my 9 year old son. It's a corky story about a boy, who runs away after a argument with his mom. I won't go to in depth because I don't want to spoil the book, but the pictures of the this book are really something and tell the story a great deal. The only thing I didn't enjoy as much are all the religious undertones. My family is not religious and I felt like it just took away from the actual story. This isn't a book I would read out loud at the library or classroom because it is a bit to adult in my opinion, but it is one I want to keep for my collection and it did give me a new perspective on the author.

11 people found this helpful

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Sue

Beautiful book

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2023

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Beauty book. Looking forward to reading it. Love me some Roald Dahl

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Rachel

An amazing story by a wonderful author.

Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2021

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I love Roald Dahl's stories and even though I'm a young adult, I still love them! :) This particular story is a very good one about bravery, morals, and how it is always best to listen to your parents, because something that may seem like it'll be fun can be dangerous. Little Billy finds this out.

For parents wanting to teach kids about not giving into temptation and how doing so can cost you a lot, this is the perfect book. :)

Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2015

Verified Purchase

My son reads a lot of Ronald Dahl and so much so we are running out of his books and having to branch out. He happened to see this one and hadn't read it and asked for this one, and I bought it without reading the description too much. This turned out to be a short story picture book, and although it was good - this is a departure from most Ronald Dahl books in that it is much shorter, and this one had large color illustrations.

My son was able to read this really fast, so we are on to the next book whatever that may be... but he said he liked this one although it was super short.

19 people found this helpful

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J Duncan

Modern Fairy Tale

Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2018

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This story is a bit of a departure from Dahl’s usual silliness and more or a modern fairy story. Readers will recognize the names of some monsters from the Dahl universe.

The illustrations are an essential and lovely part of the story of a little boy who helps his magical new friends defeat their common enemy.

Scholastic rates this at a 5.1 reading level, but younger children will enjoy it as well. Even small children would enjoy having it read to them.

4 people found this helpful

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Rachel

Hard cardboard meant for toddler

Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2019

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I was a bit disappointed that this was a hard cardboard book, it would be great for a toddler, but is definitely not mentally for older readers.

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Amazon Customer

Interesting book. My 9 year old loved it.

Reviewed in Canada on September 14, 2022

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My son loved it

Padders- Padmini Sankar

Incredible stoey

Reviewed in India on February 24, 2023

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This story can only emanate from a genius like Dahl. What an imagination! No wonder adults and children both love him

One person found this helpful

dan-idoine

Good short story

Reviewed in Germany on April 2, 2020

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My five year old son loves it. I thought it might be scary for him but he enjoyed it and was motivated by the world of the minpins. It's a great short Dahl story I didn't know about until randomly finding it free.

Javi36

Formato grande y preciosas ilustraciones

Reviewed in Spain on January 22, 2020

Verified Purchase

El libro se presenta en un formato grande, y el ilustrador el diferente del habitual Quentin Blake. La historia en sí evidentemente es la misma, pero para fans de Dahl es una alternativa.
La historia de Billy es, por otro lado, fantástica, un relato corto muy adecuado para introducir a niños a partir de 5-6 años en el universo de Roald Dahl.

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The Minpins (Dahl Colour Illustrated) Kindle Edition

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