The Magic Finger is a children's book written by Roald Dahl and was first published in 1966. The story revolves around an 8-year-old girl with a special power called the "magic finger." Whenever she becomes angry or upset with someone, her finger starts to tingle and magic happens. The main character, known as the little girl, lives with her family next door to the Gregg family, who happen to be hunters. The Gregg family enjoys hunting animals for sport, which the little girl strongly opposes. Her anger towards the Greggs triggers the magic finger, and an unexpected transformation takes place.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
For example, she turns her teacher into a cat for being rude to her because at the time the class was learning how to spell the word cat , and she didn t know how to spell it. Gregg begs the ducks not to kill her, her husband or their children, right before one of the ducks speaks to them, revealing that her own children were killed by the Greggs on their last hunting trip.
Her anger towards the Greggs triggers the magic finger, and an unexpected transformation takes place. Using her magic finger, the little girl causes the Greggs to experience what it feels like to be hunted. Their roles are reversed, and they turn into tiny creatures who are hunted by ducks and geese.
The majic finget book
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!
This magical twist creates a unique and thought-provoking conflict in the story. As the Greggs experience the fear and vulnerability of being hunted, their perspective starts to change, and they realize the cruelty of their actions. Through their transformation, the book highlights the theme of empathy and the importance of understanding the feelings of others. It teaches readers that the mistreatment of animals is wrong and can lead to dire consequences. The Magic Finger is an imaginative and whimsical book that captures the attention of young readers. It combines Dahl's signature humor and creativity with an important moral lesson. It encourages children to think about the consequences of their actions and promotes empathy towards all living creatures. Overall, The Magic Finger is a captivating children's book that entertains and educates. Its unique storyline and magical elements make it a memorable read, while also teaching valuable lessons about compassion and the treatment of animals. It continues to be a beloved book by Roald Dahl fans of all ages..
Reviews for "The Magic Finger Book: A Gateway to Other Worlds"
1) John - 1 star - I found "The Magic Finger" to be quite underwhelming. The story felt rushed and lacked depth. The characters were not well-developed and their actions and motivations were hard to follow. The overall plot was predictable and lacked any surprises or twists. I was also disappointed by the resolution, as it seemed too convenient and anticlimactic. Overall, I was not satisfied with this book and would not recommend it.
2) Emily - 2 stars - "The Magic Finger" did not live up to my expectations. The writing style felt juvenile and it was difficult for me to connect with the story or the characters. The concept of a girl with a magic finger had potential, but it was not executed well. The pacing was off and the story felt disjointed at times. Additionally, I found the ending to be unsatisfying and rushed. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
3) Mike - 2 stars - I was not a fan of "The Magic Finger." The plot felt too simplistic and lacked depth. The story seemed to drag on without any real excitement or suspense. The characters were one-dimensional and their actions did not always make sense. The writing style was also not engaging and failed to hold my attention. Overall, I found this book to be quite dull and would not rate it highly.
4) Sarah - 3 stars - While "The Magic Finger" had an interesting concept, I found the execution to be lacking. The story seemed disjointed and there were many unanswered questions. The characters were reasonably well-developed, but their actions sometimes felt forced or unrealistic. The writing style was enjoyable enough, but it did not make up for the weaknesses in the plot. Overall, I was somewhat disappointed with this book and think it could have been better.
5) David - 2 stars - "The Magic Finger" was not my cup of tea. The story lacked depth and seemed more like a children's book than a novel for all ages. The characters were not well fleshed out and their actions often felt exaggerated or unrealistic. The plot was predictable and did not offer any surprises. Additionally, the pacing was slow and I found myself losing interest. Overall, I would not recommend this book to others.