El Otro Libro Hist. Del Diablo

by Natalie Babbitt

Ten brief stories display Satan's vanity and other failings as well as his unflagging gusto for dirty tricks.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Humor, Short Stories, Middle Grade, Young Adult

Paperback

First published May 1, 1987

About the author

Natalie Zane Babbitt was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. Her 1975 novel, Tuck Everlasting, was adapted into two feature films and a Broadway musical. She received the Newbery Honor and Christopher Award, and was the U.S. nominee for the biennial international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1982.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another quick, delightful read about the Devil and the humans (and animals) who he crosses paths with. Sometimes they come out on top, sometimes the devil does. Most of the stories have a simple moral and one is really just a set up for one pun at the end (which I absolutely approve of). This is a breezy read with each story taking perhaps 5 minutes to read through. A nice diversionary read between more weighty books.

[Tirzah Eleora · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing little collection of witty short stories about the Devil and foolish humans. Several of the stories were very funny, but most of the humour is too subtle to be appreciated by children.

[Eden Silverfox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book with short stories either about the Devil or concerning him.
We found out why there are no Camels in Hell. And the Devil's prank of switching sign posts turn out to be a good thing instead of bad. Then, there is the parrot who scared the Devil away and many other delightful stories.

I really enjoyed The Devil's Storybook and was looking forward to reading this one. I really enjoyed this one, too. I think Natalie Babbitt's short stories about the Devil are fun and they make me laugh. I hope one day she writes another book of short stories about the Devil.

[Suzanne Fournier · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5* Not quite as good as the first, but very funny and entertaining. I feel like Babbitt got a lot of slack for The Devil's Storybook, which is one of the best things I've ever read, and felt she had to either tone down the stories in this sequel or add in more Good=Godly themes. This change wasn't needed and affects the stories.

[Lucy Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This clever book of cautionary tales for children was also beautifully illustrated by the author, Natalie Babbit. All I know she is one talented lady. She wrote the classic, “Tuck Everlasting”, a book so good and beautiful it was like a painting in words. Finding out after all these years that she’s also a bonafide artist kinda blew my mind.

[Jo Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like in the Devil's Storybook, "ol Scratch gets the vinegar taken out of him again as he's thwarted by a religious parrot, an inept fortune teller and a pair of mismatched lovers, keeping him from wreaking the havoc he so loves.

[Sheri Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever, funny, sardonic, i.e., entertaining! I was tempted to leave it in the catholic hospital waiting room where I read it (seemed like something Babbitt's Devil would do), but I figured a staff member would find it offensive and throw it in the trash...nary a recycle bin in sight.

[Taya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel is fantastic! I enjoyed all of the stories very much. I also love the creative front cover of this and how it shows the first book laying on the ground.

Note to self: Addie read it to me as a bedtime story on a physical copy from the library

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple little stories. Some of them had little bits of cuteness or cleverness about them, but mostly... meh.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Particularly enjoyed the fortune teller's dark and mysterious strangers and the story about the Evils of Jargon

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming little short story collection. Nothing particularly beautiful in writing style or clever in plot, but a fun read for a short amount of time.

[Sue J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read!

[Kathy Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming, enjoyable Award Winning and full of tales to be retold!

[Maughn Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of these little stories work as philosophical fables, ripe for intergenerational dialogue!

[Linda Spear · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying addition to the first Devil's Storybook. That guy is not always as wily as he thinks himself to be. Children and adults need to share these two books.

[Elizabeth Carrasco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple yet funny short stories. Recommend as a read aloud book.

[Sean Mulligan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just read this book again for the first time in years. It had some funny stories but it wasn't as good as I remembered it.

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gave me a good chuckle on a cold wintry day. It's a collection of silly stories, mocking the ne're-do-well devil. In some he is the protagonist, in others he is just a character.

[Gordon Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Devil's Other Storybook is several short stories that in some way or another concern the devil. These stories, while seeming to be a dark topic, are quite comical and essentially reinforce that the devil never wins. The illustrations, although black and white, also help reinforce the levity of the stories. I would highly recommend this book to any student, as long as their parents gave the green light.

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second volume… good, but I have to say that I do prefer the first much more. And the Devil is not actively a character in all the stories, this time around. Still quite fun, recommended, if you can find it!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

these stories are very funny and illustrate human nature. good book to read when you just have short spurts of reading time. the other story book is good too.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am exploring some of the stories in this book for a unit on American Gothic--any suggestions on stories of meeting up with the devil?

[Edna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cleverly written short vignettes describing day in and day out escapades of the devil. Each one left me chuckling to myself and wanting to read the story outloud to someone else.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read: the same year as I read the first one, I think. When I was but a kidlet.

Not as good as the first Devil's Storybook, but still pretty good!

[AC · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories were clever and written in a nice simple age-on way.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

really cute lil fables

[Charlie Moses · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dryly witty and sardonical, this book is wasted on children. And don't miss "The Devil's Storybook" either. It's just as good or better.

[Richard]

The only thing more devilishly amusing than Babbitt's original storybook is this other storybook. If you loved the first, don't miss this one.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever little tales about silly people who thwart the devil or ridiculous people who the devil puts in their place. A funny little gift from another book lover.