The Rainbow Goblins
My rating:
didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing
add to my books

The Rainbow Goblins

4.56 of 5 stars 4.56  ·  rating details  ·  415 ratings  ·  77 reviews
Since its original publication in 1978, the fantastic colors, amazing detail, and sweeping scope of The Rainbow Goblins have irresistibly invited tens of thousands of children to plunge their imaginations into its vivid world. This charming allegorical tale is once again available in a new edition.
Hardcover, 1 pages
Published June 28th 1994 by Thames & Hudson
more details... edit details
There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!
sign in »

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
Faeries by Brian FroudThe Fantasy World of Josephine Wall by Josephine WallArt of Amy Brown by Amy BrownParting The Veil by Nene ThomasThe Enchanted World of Jessica Galbreth by Jessica Galbreth
Fantasy Art Books
8th out of 28 books — 16 voters
The Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. LewisThe Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg LarssonWhere Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. ForsterThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Magical and Mystical Creatures (Titles ONLY)
298th out of 354 books — 24 voters


More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 502)
filter  |  sort: default (?)  |  rating details
Chandra
This is one of those books that I think is slightly lost on adults, but makes a HUGE impact on children. When I read through the reviews of this book I found that it's mostly people that remember this book fondly from their childhood. It stood out to them and they've never forgotten it. The reason for this is because the story and artwork is so different from any other kids book out there.

The general premise of the story is that 7 goblins (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indig...more
Keli
Synopsis

Beautiful artwork accompanies this story of seven golbins in search of a delicious rainbow only to be outwitted by the flowers. Through this experience, the rainbow learns to never touch the earth again.

Review

First and foremost, the artwork in this book is stunning. It is a reproduction of Ul De Rico's original art which was oil paints on oak panels. The colorful and powerful art is so carfully rendered that the wood grain can be seen on the pages. ...more
Monica!
I wonder if this book would have made more of an impact on me if I was younger, because as a pseudo-adult I found it not all that charming, and certainly not all that allegorical (as per the description), unless symbolically it was supposed to be an explanation for why you shouldn't do copious amounts of hallucinogenic drugs and then write a book for children. In fact, if anything, I thought it was pretty darn grim for its target audience--the goblins are not just washed away in a sea of colors...more
Cindy
This astonishing book is filled with oil paintings on oak panels, which are reproduced about 2/3 of the original size. They are breathtaking.

I was pretty much obsessed with rainbows in the 70s, and I bought this incredibly beautiful book when it first came out - I read it a million times. The story tells of 7 evil goblins who capture rainbows and drink the colors. They learn of a valley where the rainbow is born, and they go there to gobble up the final, beautiful rainbow. They she...more
Brynn
Brynn rated it 4 of 5 stars
Throughout the book, you may notice that Red and Orange have a very intimate gay relationship. There is also a large penis in the rocks in the beginning.
Emily
Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars
Shelves: picture-books
Totally 70s trippy book. Old school Disney should have made a movie out of this one.
Lori
Lori rated it 5 of 5 stars
Wow this book is listed! I don't know how we got a copy, who gave it to my husband, but I thank them from the bottom of my heart. I discovered it's magic when Jake was very young, and for some reason I've been thinking of it lately, haven't seen it for 10 years ago. I hope I still have it and didn't give it away in some mad frenzy of clean up! THis is a book to sit quietly and slowly contemplate unique and richly saturated art work. There's a story there too, rather grim like Grimm, and it all i...more
Anna
Anna added it
This is a beautifully illustrated and slightly creepy children's book. I loved it when I was young and still love it now. It has that nice balance of fantasy and "horror" (but not really) that scares kids in a good way. And illustrations are amazing. I remember learning that the author/ illustrator was in some way involved in production of the film of The Never-ending Story, which is also creepy in a good way.
Kyle
Kyle rated it 5 of 5 stars
One of the most beautiful and fascinating books I can remember owning as a child. My brother and I flipped through this book so many times that the spine glue wore out and we'd have to shuffle through the pages like an unbound manuscript, but that didn't prevent us from going back time and again to read the story and stare at the illustrations. This is one of the books I want to share with my own children someday.
Jesse
Jesse rated it 5 of 5 stars
Shelves: the-kick-inside
My favorite book as a child and to this day, I read it and get chills down my spine. Turns out, Ul De Rico contributed to the look of the Neverending Story (1984 movie, not book) in major ways. This makes complete sense to why I'm so drawn to it while many friends of mine are scared to death; I grew up on his style. Highly recommended.
Martin
Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars
The text is lousy and the plot not much better, but the illustrations were really captivating as a young child, and my kids respond the same way. I think Count Ulderico has the same fascination with clouds that I do; wish I could indulge in the extended effort that this book at the least represents to try painting them.
Miriam
Miriam rated it 5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Miriam by: Akeisha
Shelves: picture
A girl in my class rbought this to show me because it was her favorite. I read it on the sly during chemistry class and thought it had the most beautiful illustrations. I was never able to find a copy of my own, and the author doesn't seem to have done much else, alas.
David
David rated it 5 of 5 stars
I grew up on this surreal work of art and fable. This book, and others like from that generation, entirely shaped how I perceive the world. To the day I break it out every few years and admire its pages. Hunt down the '78 publication, if able... It's worth the extra $$!
Renfrew
Renfrew rated it 3 of 5 stars
Shelves: picture-books
The color-saturated illustrations and end-papers are sure to make a lasting impression on any child fortunate enough to own a copy of this surreal book. The story does not hold up well for a read-aloud, but the striking pictures more than make up for that.
Valerie
Ick I did not like this storybook. It was poorly written--it didn't even make sense. It was an excuse to paint pictures of rainbows and goblins but the text didn't live up to the paintings. The paintings were pretty neat, but the best one was on the cover.
Sarah
Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars
This has the most beauitful art. My understanding is that he worked on Neverending Story and all the amazing skies and what not from the film. It is just SUCH a beautiful book and the story is interesting too. It is one from my childhood that remains a favorite today.
Nancy Monson
Nancy Monson rated it 5 of 5 stars
Shelves: children
This is a most beautiful children's book. I stumbled upon it at a interactive nature center in Scotland. It has the most beautiful illustrations I have seen in any book, children's or otherwise. The story is sweet, as well.
Jasmine
Jasmine rated it 5 of 5 stars
Shelves: italian
This book was written 8 years before I was born, and it was given to my mother by my father probably 2 years before I was born. I haven't looked at the message recently. I am actually on the verge of buying myself a copy of this book because I loved it so much as a child. The paintings are beautiful and at times a little trippy. It commonly feels like an Indian myth, I was interested in them at right about the same time in my life. The book is about Goblins who live from drinking the rainbow. Th...more
Cheryl in CC NV
Neat fable, absolutely gorgeous paintings. I want some of them as posters, or at least I would have when I was younger. A bit trippy.
Natalie Garside
Natalie Garside rated it 5 of 5 stars
Shelves: kids
A beautiful book with incredible paintings. Did you know this author did the major set design for the movie The NeverEnding Story?
Katie
Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars
i dare you to read this book and not attempt to swim in the paintings on every page. I DARE YOU. IT CANNOT BE DONE.
Patricia
I bought this book as an adult because the art work is so stunning. The story is always very cute and clever.
Kelly Shannon
I loved this book as a kid and still love it as an adult. The colors and illustration are amazing...
Diana
Diana rated it 4 of 5 stars
Shelves: picture-books
I remember loving this book when I read it.

Mainly for the illustrations and all the colors.
Amy
Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars
Shelves: childrens
This is a really unique story, very well told. The pictures are gorgeous!
Prima
Prima rated it 5 of 5 stars
The illustration alone is 5 star! A book I've never been able to get rid of.
Autumn O'Shea Swan
This one is grand. The pictures are beautiful. I could not get my dad to read it enough to me when I was little.
Mckinley
Mckinley rated it 4 of 5 stars
Shelves: picture, must-read
Story is very good; the illustrations are amazingly lovely and rich.
Angie
Angie rated it 5 of 5 stars
This was my favorite picture book as a child. It is so hard to find!
Meltha
Meltha rated it 4 of 5 stars
I remember LOVING this picture book when I was a kid.
« previous 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 16 17
There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »
The Rainbow Goblins (Unknown Binding)
The Rainbow Goblins
Rainbow Goblins (Hardcover)
The rainbow goblins (Hardcover)
The Rainbow Goblins (Paperback)

Readers Also Enjoyed

Share This Book

Your website
Pin It
aka Ulderico Gropplero di Troppenburg

More about Ul De Rico...
The White Goblin Der Ring Des Nibelungen: Richard Wagners Mythologisch Dramatische Dichtung In Einer Nacherzählung The Ring of the Nibelung