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Peter Nimble And His Fantastic Eyes

by Jonathan Auxier (Goodreads Author)

3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 · rating details · 1,667 ratings · 358 reviews

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is the utterly beguiling tale of a ten-year-old blind orphan who has been schooled in a life of thievery. One fateful afternoon, he steals a box from a mysterious traveling haberdasher—a box that contains three pairs of magical eyes. When he tries the first pair, he is instantly transported to a hidden island where he is presented with a...more

Hardcover, 381 pages

Published August 1st 2011 by Puffin

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Jun 16, 2011 Dasha rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: abandoned

Eh.
I got an advanced copy and could not get through it - with so many GREAT books out there, seemed a shame to slog through something so-so. However, I bet if I was 10 - intended audience age - I would probably have read the whole thing - and then probably forgotten it.
Also, there is a bit of moralizing in there - where the author is talking directly to the reader, saying things like - you probably know x, y, z. I find that soooo condescending and out of place in a book for anyone over the age o...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Angela Seals rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the first book I have ever pre-ordered before publication. Can't wait to get my hands on it in August.

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Jan 24, 2013 Dylan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure-fiction

Always intense, you never know what's going to happen next. There's always a surprise, and there's always adventure. Peter Nimble, the greatest thief who ever lived, found who he really was. However, he needs to use what Mr. Seamus, Professor Cake, what the Just Deserts had trained him. He discovers his relationship with the ravens; Moredicai, Simon and Captain Amos. Suddenly, his destiny unveils. He has a box of Eyes; Emerald Green.
Peter Nimble has become my favorite book. It's a well written,...more

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Oct 19, 2011 April rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-grade, fantasy, library, cybils, highly-recommended

“Now, for those of you who know anything about blind children, you are aware that they make the very best thieves.”

pg. 3

When I read books like Peter Nimble And His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier, I get disappointed. Disappointed because mediocre books are hyped so heavily, while truly timeless books like this one don’t even hit my radar unless I have to read it for something (CYBILS). Peter Nimble And His Fantastic Eyes is a truly magical read about a blind orphan, Peter Nimble obvs, who is t...more

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Jun 02, 2013 Ruthie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Our family listened to this together on a long car trip. It got a little violent towards the end, but other than that, it was a good family story.

The writing reminds me a lot of Lemony Snicket - but not as depressing. It's a good vocabulary expanding book. He'll say something like: "He stowed his box behind the plinth..." Then a few pages later: "He went back to retrieve his box from the large column he'd hidden it behind..." The average kid may not stop to wonder what a plinth is, but... for t...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Pandora rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s, summer-reading

The book is divided into three parts: Gold, Onyx, and Emerald. The first part Gold is very strong and I was enjoying the story. There was a dark quirky humor to the story that was like Pullman's I Was a Rat. Examples:
"One problem with a life of crime is that it lowers your chances of social advancement."

"You see, when it rains, rich people seldom come out for fear of melting."

Unfortunarely the book goes on to epic length without having a story to support such length - the book is 381 pages lo...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Cleo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-books, review-copy

Yes, Peter Nimble, a blind orphan. One day he steals a strange box with three mysterious pairs of eyes. When tries the first pair, he is transported to an island where he is presented with a quest by Professor Cake: to travel far and find a lost kingdom which must be rescued from an evil king. He goes with Sir Tode, a knight who has been transformed into a human/kitten/horse creature, as well as the eyes.

Very strange fantasy, indeed, but I really enjoyed a lot. Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eye...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Leslie Preddy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: grades 5-7

In his debut novel, Auxier writes a charmingly well written story with a dark edge and entertaining twists and turns in language and plot to capture and keep the attention of even the most reluctant reader. This adventure is a whimsical fantasy about a 10 year old blind boy who also happens to be the greatest thief who ever lived. Peter, the reluctant hero, is abandoned as a baby and blinded, then left to fend for himself where he learns to steal to survive until he steals a box containing three...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Sabrina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The storyline is just ridiculous-crazy. Things happen so fast and so out of the blue, it’s almost delightful. At first the adult in me was putting up a fight and going “Say whaa?”. Pretty soon, I shelved that irritating grown-up sixth sense and just immersed myself in the fantasy that is Peter Nimble. The creatures he meets are truly weird, his companions are funny, and his enemies are deliciously nasty! For me it was like reading The Phantom Tollbooth meets any Roald Dahl book meets Peter Pan m...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Betsy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens, fantasy, middle-grades, talking-animals

Auxier must have grown up reading the greats--there is much in this book that reminds me of wonderfully told tales, great authors, and wildly inventive persons/places/things. I think it's a touch long--especially the first half, and I also had trouble buying into blind Peter's prowess at being able to navigate a strange castle in the midst of a battle--skilled though he was at sensing events and landscapes around him.

That being said, there is a lot to love in this quirky fantasy novel. It calls...more Auxier must have grown up reading the greats--there is much in this book that reminds me of wonderfully told tales, great authors, and wildly inventive persons/places/things. I think it's a touch long--especially the first half, and I also had trouble buying into blind Peter's prowess at being able to navigate a strange castle in the midst of a battle--skilled though he was at sensing events and landscapes around him.

That being said, there is a lot to love in this quirky fantasy novel. It calls to mind Pinocchio (dogfish anyone? the notion of a "real boy" finally at the end), great battles in which the underdogs miraculously triumph (Helms Deep comes to mind), Peter Pan (not the least of which reminders includes a prominent fishhook in action and the title character's name), Oliver Twist (poor chap taken in by master thief), anthropomorphic animals with noble or ignoble hearts (too many to name here, but the feel of Narnia comes to mind),.... There's another striking Narnia reference at the end, but I don't want to spoil anyone's fun.

All in all, this is just what a great children's fantasy novel should be--or, the very, very good start. Auxier, give us more!

Some concerned parents may wish to know that there is some striking violence in this book. I didn't mind it in the least--in some ways, it's reassuring to know that bad guys (who are really, really bad and have just crunched someone up to eat him/her) also get their fair shrift, that war is bloody, but healing tears can sometimes wash that blood away, and that when right triumphs in the end, it is often at a cost. The tone regarding the violence is very matter of fact and there is not a lot of graphic description. It's just what you'd expect if a horde of angry apes is fighting to the death against a horde of loyal, magnificent ravens in a kingdom that had vanished but has now resurfaced....

In addition, this book is filled with some outstanding, quotable material. My personal favorite is this:

"Now, there is a wonderful thing in this world called 'foresight.' It is a gift treasured above all others because it allows one to know what the future holds. Most people with foresight end up wielding immense power in life, often becoming great rulers or librarians." (p. 181)

Book borrowed from my local library; review also posted on Literaritea (less)

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Mar 18, 2012 Lea rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: acquired-2012, books-i-own, kids, read-2012, reviews

Initially I really enjoyed this book -- the writing is clever and amusing, but I felt the story had several parts that were just jarring, considering that this is a kids' book.

Peter Nimble is found as an infant, floating on the ocean in a basket. His eyes have been pecked out by a raven.

Okay, what?!

Things get no better for Peter after he's rescued by sailors -- he's left at the nearest port town, where officials name him, then abandon him again on the streets to fend for himself. As a baby!!

No...more

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Mar 06, 2012 IndyPL Kids Book Blog rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, favorites

Peter Nimble is a boy on his own. Not only that, he’s blind. He fends for himself until he is “discovered” by a man who sees in Peter a chance to get rich himself. The man decides to make Peter the very best thief ever.

“For the first year, he locked all the boy’s meals inside an old sea chest. If Peter wanted to eat, he had to pick the lock with his bare fingers….By the age of ten, Peter Nimble had become the greatest thief the town had ever seen. But of course no one actually saw him: they only...more

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Feb 25, 2012 Brenda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a grand adventure; funny, scary, prophetic and imaginative. Peter Nimble has been blind all his life. Because he is blind, his other senses provide information the rest of us don't even notice - the smells of stones and of wealth, the sound of beating hearts and of friendship. These abilities lead him to becoming an extraordinary thief; perhaps the best thief in all the world. He can pick any lock. At the end of one particularly difficult lock-picking challenge he discovers a box containing...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Barb Middleton rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Peter Nimble was found floating in a basket as a baby by sailors with a raven that had pecked out his eyes. Not your usual start to a child’s book but the Narrator tells the story with humor and pokes fun at orphan stories; hence, the reader knows that Peter Nimble is no ordinary baby. He was nursed by a cat, tossed in a tied bag into a river and meant to drown, and enslaved by Mr. Seamus, a thief who taught Peter all the tricks of the trade so Peter became the best thief that ever lived. “Until...more

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Jan 21, 2012 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: animals, bullies, ncbla

Peter Nimble is blind, most likely having had his eyes pecked out by birds, and since no one claims the helpless infant, he falls into the clutches of Mr. Seamus who trains him in thievery and lock-picking. So talented is Peter at what he does that he gains quite a reputation as a thief, but he receives few benefits since everything goes back to Mr. Seamus. On one fateful night, though, he steals a box containing three pair of eyes. The eyes, one pair gold, one onyx, and one emerald, have magica...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Charlyn Trussell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, fiction, fantasy, magic, strong-male-character, humor

Peter Nimble is blind, his eyes having been pecked out by birds. Using his other heightened senses and being trained by a master, Peter has become the world's greatest thief. Yet, he is a good boy, even a kind boy, a boy who has had to take care of himself since just a toddler. So when he snitches a wooden box with three sets of eyes in it, he changes the course of his life. This change is helped by the kindly Professor Cake who sends Peter on a rescue mission.

Paired with Sir Tode, a knight who...more

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Jan 04, 2012 Lisa Ard rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Peter Nimble is a Dickens-like urchin with a miserable life, until the day he steals a box from a traveling salesman. Within the box lie 3 sets of eyes. The first will transport Peter to another world, where he is given a quest that will fulfill his destiny.

I heard the author at Wordstock and was struck by his articulate speech, causing me to seek out Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes. True to form there is great language and description within the story. I also particularly liked that althoug...more

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Nov 22, 2011 Erin Grace rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

[Princess Consuela here. I saw that Sword Mistress was doing a Peter Nimble post, and I have abused my admin privileges to add my own comments. Mwahahahaha. <-- My Joey-and-Phoebe Plan Laugh. Seriously, guys, I miss Friends. When is Courtney Cox going to get Matt LeBlanc on Cougar Town?]

This past May, I had the pleasure of going to BEA and picked up quite a few fabulous books. As I was visiting the ABRAMS booth, I noticed a lone book on a bottom shelf and picked it up. The cover looked right...more [Princess Consuela here. I saw that Sword Mistress was doing a Peter Nimble post, and I have abused my admin privileges to add my own comments. Mwahahahaha. <-- My Joey-and-Phoebe Plan Laugh. Seriously, guys, I miss Friends. When is Courtney Cox going to get Matt LeBlanc on Cougar Town?]

This past May, I had the pleasure of going to BEA and picked up quite a few fabulous books. As I was visiting the ABRAMS booth, I noticed a lone book on a bottom shelf and picked it up. The cover looked right up my alley and after reading the back and seeing that there was swashbuckling AND thievery, I knew I would love it. [How could this go wrong? Books about thieves are the best.] After some mild pleading, the lovely lady at the booth said I could take the book and I got to walk out of BEA with the coveted Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier (ABRAMS imprint Amulet, 2011) [Not to brag, but when I got my copy at ALA, Jonathan was there for his inaugural book signing. We chatted. I came away with a bag shaped like an eyeball. ALA swag WIN.] <—- I am still jealous about this! Think he will let me mail him my copy to sign?

Peter Nimble’s life sucks. As a child, his eyes are pecked out by ravens as he floats abandoned in the sea. [Cheery.] (see my notes below on kids being bloodthirsty violent creatures) Upon reaching land, he raises himself, until he is taken in by who he thinks is a nice old man… only to learn he is a mean, nasty, lazy asshole who trains Peter in the art of thievery and forces him to steal for him every night. [Yeah, he's no good. You're going to want to punch him in the face.] Peter’s days are spent sleeping in a cell guarded by a vicious dog. Really, things couldn’t get any worse for Peter. Enter the mysterious traveling haberdasher (one of my FAVORITE words btw) ['Haberdasher' is an underutilized gem. Well played, Jonathan Auxier] (Is this the part where we high five and yell “HABIDASHERS UNITE!?) with untold treasure that Peter cannot help but steal. Being blind, it takes Peter a minute to figure out what this treasure is, but with the help of a zebra, he realizes that he has stolen three pairs of eyes. [In eggs. Don't forget that part.] (Creepy) As he puts in the first pair (side note. He can’t see and he puts something random into his eye sockets. That is a lot of trust in a zebra), he is instantly transported to a mysterious island… and what is a mysterious island without a professor to give you a quest to find a Vanished Kingdom and a former knight (now hilarious combination of horse and cat) to help along the way. [No quest is complete without a faithful sidekick. And when your sidekick is a man/horse/cat, he is small enough to fit inside your burgle sack for easy transport. Travel-sized for your convenience. That professor thought of everything.] (haha. burgle sack.)

I loved Peter Nimble. [Well, how could you not? It's super fun.] From the imaginative world and characters [and a multitude of literary allusions! Peter Pan, anyone? Alice in Wonderland? You had me at hello], to the fact that there are puns galore! (Just Deserts, you know I mean you!). I also appreciated that, a la Dahl, Auxier appreciates that children are blood thirsty creatures and want to read about eyes getting pecked out and gorillas ripping things apart and armies of ravens. [Don't forget the brainwashed mob of obedient subjects who turn on their own. Or the double-crossing, back-stabbing thieves. Or the sea serpents.] (and the giant talking fish!) Through all of the insanity (because it is insanity), you can’t wait to see what will happen next and completely believe that this magical world exists alongside our own. [Indeed. It's so good that you will not want to leave the stationary bike when it kicks you off because you're so engrossed in the story. Anything that can keep me amused at the gym for that length of time is literary gold. Who knew that the bike would kick you off if you stay for too long??] (It also needs to be said that I demand more Peter Nimble. I want to hear about the rest of his adventures! Make it happen! I know they are in your head, Mr. Auxier… don’t be selfish.) (less)

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Oct 27, 2011 Madame X rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ya-or-teen-protagonist

PETER NIMBLE AND HIS FANTASTIC EYES is really, really clever. It’s full of wordplay and ironic asides that will appeal to the same audience as the Lemony Snicket books. It’s not as good as Lemony Snicket, but it’s pretty good.

What PETER NIMBLE lacks is heart. It doesn’t have an emotional core to give its fantastical imagery life and sparkle. As a result, when Jonathan Auxier’s wit falls flat, the book feels empty and dull.

Here’s an example of how witty Auxier can be. After describing how Peter...more PETER NIMBLE AND HIS FANTASTIC EYES is really, really clever. It’s full of wordplay and ironic asides that will appeal to the same audience as the Lemony Snicket books. It’s not as good as Lemony Snicket, but it’s pretty good.

What PETER NIMBLE lacks is heart. It doesn’t have an emotional core to give its fantastical imagery life and sparkle. As a result, when Jonathan Auxier’s wit falls flat, the book feels empty and dull.

Here’s an example of how witty Auxier can be. After describing how Peter was set adrift on the sea as an infant, his eyes pecked out by crows, and subsequently rescued and nursed by a mother cat, Auxier observes, “Until this point, you have been witness to Peter’s rather typical infancy – probably not unlike your own. But it was only a matter of time before he distinguished himself from the teething masses.” Such dry irony! And “teething masses”! That’s a good pun!

For contrast, here’s an example of how annoying the book can be. Peter acquires his “fantastic eyes” – a box of six eyes, three pairs. Because he’s blind with empty eye-sockets, he can slot in a pair of eyes, use them, take them out and then switch them up for a different pair. Pretty cool, right? The guy who made the eyes – who MADE them, and knows exactly what they do -- explains how to use one pair, but refuses to explain the other two, offering this instruction instead: “Do not try the remaining pairs until the moment is right – you will know when that is.”

Obviously it’s a plot device that aims to prolong the mystery of the eyes. But it makes no sense. Why would he send Peter into mortal peril while ignorant of how to use his most potent weapons? Is he playing some sort of sick game, or a secret enemy, or a jerk? Seems that way, but nope. It’s an arbitrary decision on his part.

The problem is, there are a lot of plot elements in the book like that one. Where Auxier has decided to make people act in a certain way because it’s clever or pushes the story in a direction he prefers. But they all add up, and the end result is that there’s no story immersion at all, because the world has no integrity.

As a result, I finished PETER NIMBLE AND HIS FANTASTIC EYES feeling pretty tepid about the book, despite its fecund imagination and abundant wit. But others may feel differently.
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Oct 19, 2011 Heather Pearson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: canadian, ya

From the time he was a tiny baby, Peter Nimble has had to fend for himself. He found a stray cat from which to nurse and when he was a few months old he learned to steal to feed and clothe himself. This may sound impossible, but then you don't know Peter like I have gotten to know him. He is a most capable ten year old boy. Even though he is blind, he is the greatest thief in all the lands. He can open any lock, sneak into any building and steal food from your own dish.

One day he is faced with a...more From the time he was a tiny baby, Peter Nimble has had to fend for himself. He found a stray cat from which to nurse and when he was a few months old he learned to steal to feed and clothe himself. This may sound impossible, but then you don't know Peter like I have gotten to know him. He is a most capable ten year old boy. Even though he is blind, he is the greatest thief in all the lands. He can open any lock, sneak into any building and steal food from your own dish.

One day he is faced with a most challenging situation. He is asked, as a favour, if he would guard a carriage secured with the most cunning assortment of locks. Being true to his nature, Peter can't help but pick all the locks and steal the most wonderful of treasures. When he tries to use this treasure he becomes ensnared in a magic he has never even imagined possible. This is the start of an adventure that will take Peter to the ends of the earth and places far beyond.

From the very first pages, reading about an infant who found his own wet nurse/cat, I loved this book. If life had let me, I would have read it in one sitting, which I suspect many children will try to do. Should you be wise enough to choose to purchase this book for your child, be sure to remove it from him or her at bed time, or remove the bulbs from their lights as they will not be able to put it down. When your child tells you of the Vanished Kingdom, don't say it doesn't exist, as it might have been magically added to your atlas when you weren't looking.

Peter is such an unlikely hero. He was abandoned at birth, blinded by ravens and left to fend on his own as an infant. Not really hero stuff. But he is good at what he does, thieving. Somehow, with all these strikes against him, he is a most lovable character. Not the kind that makes you want to cuddle and hug him, but the kind that you want to sit down and have a serious discussion with, treat him like and equal.

This story has all the makings of a wonderful adventure: unlikely hero, fumbling sidekick, children in need of a hero and magic, and it delivers many times over. Once the action begins, it doesn't stop. You and your child will enjoy it right to the final word. This is a debut novel by author Jonathan Auxier.
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Oct 05, 2011 Eden rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Oh, how I love my middle-grade fantasy! This epic journey of a novel hit all my soft spots Prepare yourself for a variety of wacky characters, mysterious lands and a plot that'll make you want to hum "The Circle of Life" from The Lion King. (Well, maybe not exactly. You get my drift.)

Let's start with Peter Nimble himself. In making him blind, Jonathan Auxier opens up new sensory dimensions ("...the Haberdasher... smelled of wet wool mixed with a tinge of regret...", page 14); by making the point...more

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Sep 02, 2011 Nicola rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reason for Reading: The plot sounded wonderful and the author is Canadian!

Peter Nimble doesn't really have a name but this is what he's called in the thieving world of a perhaps Victorian-like English town. He's made his own way in the world since discovered floating in a basket with his eyes pecked out by a raven. Now under the control of a wicked master who keeps him locked up and makes him thieve for his food Peter ventures upon a couple of strange men, Professor Cake and Mr. Pound who give h...more Reason for Reading: The plot sounded wonderful and the author is Canadian!

Peter Nimble doesn't really have a name but this is what he's called in the thieving world of a perhaps Victorian-like English town. He's made his own way in the world since discovered floating in a basket with his eyes pecked out by a raven. Now under the control of a wicked master who keeps him locked up and makes him thieve for his food Peter ventures upon a couple of strange men, Professor Cake and Mr. Pound who give him the adventure of his life. Along with a case which includes three sets of fantastic eyes, with unknown magical powers, and a partner Sir Tode, an unfortunate knight who was cursed by an old hag, he is sent to a Vanished Island with a mysterious riddle to help right the wrongs done there.

A wonderful story that quickly grabs your attention with delightful characters one becomes fond of right away. The outcome is predictable in a way but the getting there is a whole lot of fun filled with lots of adventure and action. The story is quite violent during the battle scenes, combatants on both sides are killed and the method is described in often uncomfortable detail, so the book is not for the sensitive or squeamish. But those who like "gross" will have a rollicking good time. A very unique story, unlike anything else out there right now, that combines magic with swashbuckling action with clockwork steampunk.

I only have one issue, being that the narrative crosses the line and talks to the reader as if someone were telling us a story. This is always a tricky thing in children's books and here the author has used the device sparingly but because of that, it felt jarring to me when every now and then the book would suddenly speak to me as I had nearly forgotten the device was in use. One final thing that I am very happy with is that the book ends on a final note, even mentioning how things turned out in the future for the characters that, I think, we can be sure that this is a stand-alone novel. I'm glad to read a new author who has presented us with a full story in one book and not attempted the tired routine of beginning yet another series. Good book! I look forward to author's next work. (less)

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Aug 06, 2011 Joceline Foley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is a classic hero-on-a-quest novel, yet it manages to be anything but predictable and boring. The archetypal characters are fresh, funny, and smart.

What I loved:
--The fly on the wall narrator, who tells the story with wry asides and witty wordplay.
--The view of the world, reminiscent of Roald Dahl's children's novels, that adults are evil and stupid, for the most part, and children are the smart, brave heroes who can be trusted above anyone else.
--The author'...more

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Aug 02, 2011 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-debut-authors, 2011-release, 2011-100-book-challenge, arcs-i-own, mundie-kids-reviews

4.5 stars

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is one part fairy tale, one part epic adventure and one part magical. It's charming, witty and is definitely an unforgettable read. With everything Peter Nimble's story entails, this book has the same feel as the classic, ageless fairy tales I grew up reading or had read to me. Jonathan Auxier's fresh voice combines an array of timeless fairytale elements, and yet creates a story that in unlike anything I've read before.

Peter Nimble is a character who...more 4.5 stars

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is one part fairy tale, one part epic adventure and one part magical. It's charming, witty and is definitely an unforgettable read. With everything Peter Nimble's story entails, this book has the same feel as the classic, ageless fairy tales I grew up reading or had read to me. Jonathan Auxier's fresh voice combines an array of timeless fairytale elements, and yet creates a story that in unlike anything I've read before.

Peter Nimble is a character who doesn't lack courage, he's humble, and through everything he goes through he's someone who always stays true to himself. His story will pull at readers heart strings as they read about the things he's had to endure and overcome in his young life, but this unique, strong willed, good hearted kid is no weakling. It's true his epic journey will be full of trials, heart ache, fear, doubt, bravery and trust both in himself and his abilities, and in those he meets along the way. Blinded as an infant, ten year old orphan, Peter Nimble has never let that stop him from surviving and being able to take care of himself. He's intelligent and is able to sense what many people with site are blinded by. He's earned the nicname, The World's Greatest Thief, and for a good reason. It seems there's no predicament Peter can't get himself out of.

One of the most enduring aspects of this adventure is Jonathan Auxier's voice and his vivid descriptions of the characters and places Peter travels to. He has a way of bringing the unimaginable to life. I liked how his creativity made for some interesting characters like talking animals, the traveling companion and true friend to Peter named Sir Tode whom is also Knight and a mix between a kitten and a horse. Talking ravens, an evil King, evil talking Gorilla guards, brave children, a long lost Prince, a Princess in hiding, and fantastic eyes who aid Peter on his journey. There isn't a shortage of adults in this story, but the are foreshadowed by the amazing children who are the true heroes in the book.

This is a fantastic heroic adventure with some fabulous twists, action and so much more! Just like the classic fairy tales, there is a great message within the story's pages, along with a mix of heartbreak, happiness, a few scary/mildly violent scenes, and in the end a happily ever after. In order to find out what Peter's happily ever after is, you'll need to read the book. I can safely say, I definitely wasn't excepting it. I highly recommend picking up Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes. This is a book that boys and girls aged 10 yrs & older will really enjoy. (less)

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Jul 25, 2011 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, children-s, middle-grade

Peter Nimble, a boy who was abandoned as an infant, is the greatest thief in the world. Despite the fact that he is blind, he can pick locks and sniff out loot better than any other thief. He finally stumbles into an adventure that sends him to a lost land to save a bunch of people from some bad things that are happening.

I'm having a tough time figuring out what I liked and did not like about this story. It took me over two weeks to read this whole book, a snail's pace for a determined summer r...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Brian Williams rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

PETER NIMBLE AND HIS FANTASTIC EYES
By Jonathan Auxier

When a book starts with a small infant baby boy having his eyes plucked out by a raven it really must be read to completion. And so that’s what happen when I choose Peter Nimble And His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier for my before bed read. But ahead of getting way into the story discussion let’s talk about how this book came into my hands in the first place.

While attending ALA11 in New Orleans one of our biggest “Have To’s” was I had to me...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Jana Gering rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a great adventure story in the line of the best magical and delightful tales (The Phantom Tollbooth, the Lemony Snicket stories, etc.). Kids would love it, but it's one of those stories that would reveal more as the kids grow.

Especial loves:

*tips'o'the hat to wonderful mythmakers like Tolkein, Lewis Carroll, Jonathan Swift, G.K. Chesterton, and more.

*vocabulary! I love an adventure story (a pretty simple and clear storyline: hero goes on a quest, at bottom line) that is not simplisticl...more

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Jun 08, 2011 Mike rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I’ve been looking forward to Peter Nimble since the moment I came across Jonathan Auxier’s website, The Scop. The site is simple, the sketches are fun and that might be the best “about me’ section I’ve ever seen. So to hear Jonathan was publishing his first middle-grade this fall, literally made me giddy. Then I found that this particular middle grade novel is set in a quazi-Victorian age, starring a blind-orphan-thief.

Here’s what I need: books that I can look a kid in the eye and say, “Trust me...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Kristina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens-books

I don't really know what happened with this book.

I was really excited to start it, because it looks like all of those other fun middle-grade books out there that I still enjoy reading to this day. Sadly enough, I had to force myself through the entire thing. While the plot was creative, the characters were interesting and the adventure reminded me of something right out of the The Phantom Tollbooth, I just couldn't find myself getting into this book. In fact, at some points I found myself thinki...more I don't really know what happened with this book.

I was really excited to start it, because it looks like all of those other fun middle-grade books out there that I still enjoy reading to this day. Sadly enough, I had to force myself through the entire thing. While the plot was creative, the characters were interesting and the adventure reminded me of something right out of the The Phantom Tollbooth, I just couldn't find myself getting into this book. In fact, at some points I found myself thinking that some of the things were very intense for a children's book or so juvenile that I feel like my middle school self would've rolled my eyes at them.

Peter Nimble has been blind and a thief for as long as he can remember. In fact, it's said that his blindness probably attributes to his great thievery, of which the wicked Mr. Seamus takes advantage of. It is because of his demands that Peter happens to be out on the day that a Mr. Pound is out giving a demonstration on hats, and turns into a day that changes Peter's life forever. From Mr. Pound he manages to steal a box with three sets of fantastic eyes that take him on grand adventure to rescue a kingdom and discover his own personal history.

The entire book was full to the brim with imagination and creativity, so I give so many props to Auxier for his wonderful mind. However, sometimes all of this creativity seems to be a bit overwhelming and sporadic, and I found myself having to reread bits to make sure that I'd read it correctly.

The characters in the story were very interesting. First, you have the lead character whose eyes were pecked out by ravens and grew up to be a master thief child. While reading the book, we are definitely aware that he is a child who has childish thoughts. Good to you Auxier for knowing how to write about children. By the end we learn quite a bit about Peter's past, which was very nice and a bit morbid at the same time.
Other characters in the story weren't all necessarily fleshed out, but in a children's story, I've found that most characters don't really need to be.

The plot was something that I would expect with any other middle-grade adventure story. It fit the bill and did leave me a bit intrigued by the end. While it was a bit predictable, as most will probably find with children's books, I did still find myself enjoying it overall. After all, a quest to save a kingdom, what's more exciting than that?

As I stated before, the pacing of this book was probably what brought it down so low in my books. I forced myself to keep going, especially when I found myself overwhelmed with certain plot aspects. As much as I liked the quirkiness and creativity in this story, some of it was just too much.

Overall, Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes was a nice and creative story that I'm sure most middle-grade children would enjoy. Though, I'm sure that there are also plenty of adults out there who would also enjoy this book as well. Even though it didn't sit very well in my mind, I could still see what a funny and imaginative story it was, not to mention how well it was written. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I were younger?

☆☆☆/5
Recommend?: If you like reading about quirky children in incredible and imaginative worlds.
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Aug 31, 2011 Kelly Pellum rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am a member on NetGalley and as I was checking out the YA (young adult) offerings, I saw this cover and just kept going back to it. It has been sitting around on my Kindle for over a month now and I have no idea why I didn't read it before! This book makes me feel like I'm ten again and I'm reading underneath the covers with a flashlight at one o'clock in the morning. I smiled for the entire book and even attempted to read some of the less gruesome parts to my 2 year old, it didn't have pictur...more I am a member on NetGalley and as I was checking out the YA (young adult) offerings, I saw this cover and just kept going back to it. It has been sitting around on my Kindle for over a month now and I have no idea why I didn't read it before! This book makes me feel like I'm ten again and I'm reading underneath the covers with a flashlight at one o'clock in the morning. I smiled for the entire book and even attempted to read some of the less gruesome parts to my 2 year old, it didn't have pictures so she didn't go for it.

Peter Nimble was found in a basket floating in the ocean with a raven who had presumably pecked out his eyes, he was taken to shore, named and left to fend for himself. He taught himself how to steal food to survive and Mr. Seamus found him when he was quite small and expended his thieving knowledge. Mr. Seamus is a jerk and not above child labor and abuse. Through extraordinary circumstances he finds Mr. Pound and a mysterious box that Peter steals, inside the box are six eggs and inside the eggs are three sets of eyes made out of gold, onyx and emerald. The eyes each have a different purpose and the gold eyes transport him to the island where Mr. Pound and his friend Mr. Cake live, along with a hybrid horse/cat/man knight errant that was cursed by a witch. Mr. Cake gives Peter a message in a bottle with a plea for help from the Forgotten Kingdom that has disappeared. Peter makes some friend and enemies and a few mistakes, but he does eventually save the day with the help of some friends. He realizes that his thieving skills are an assist and finds a new family.

This book has everything right when it comes to a children's fairytale/fantasy and little boy’s especially will like it. I will warn you that it contains a good bit of violence and some gorey parts, but I have found that children do not mind those sort of things as long as they are in context. This is a classic story of good vs. evil told in the perfect voice of Peter Nimble. This will not be a story that is easily forgotten.

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“Now, there is a wonderful thing in this world called "foresight". It is a gift treasured above all others because it allows one to know what the future holds. Most people with foresight end up wielding immense power in life, often becoming great rulers or librarians.” — 16 people liked it

“A boy your age should know better than to consider anything impossible.” (p 62)” — 6 people liked it

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