Rude Giants

by Audrey Wood

Beatrix the butter maid and her best friend, Gerda the cow, live in a cozy cottage in a happy valley. Life is peaceful--until the day two rude giants move into a nearby castle. When Gerda is snatched up by the giants, Beatrix uses ingenuity, persistence, and bravery to save her friend--and to teach those unruly giants a lesson.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy

32 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 1993

About the author

Audrey Wood studied art and drama at the Arkansas Art Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. She has owned an operated a book and import store, taught chldren's drama and art, and traveled throughout Mexico and Guatemala studying Indian folk art. She now lives in Hawaii with her talented family (husband Don and son Bruce, who have both collaborated with Audrey by illustrating some of her books).

Reviews

[Ronyell · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I was reading various children’s books from the public library, I came upon an author named Audrey Wood. When I read her book “Rude Giants,” I was amazed at how good this book really is. “Rude Giants” is a children’s book from famous author, Audrey Wood. This story is about how a simple villager outsmarts the giants of the land by teaching them good manners and therefore, saving the land which makes “Rude Giants” a book that will certainly get both children’s and adults’ attentions.

Audrey Wood has done a great job with this book by illustrating the character in a humorous way and by pinpointing the moral about learning good manners. The image of Beatrix the butter maid is that she looks like an angel by wearing a white dress and having an innocent look on her face, therefore, serving as a savior of the villagers by teaching the giants good manners and saving village from their mischief. Also, the images of the Giants, while not scary, are somewhat threatening as they have wild hair and old worn out clothing. The moral of having good manners plays a major part in this story as Beatrix saves her beloved cow by teaching the giants good manners. Therefore, the giants learned that they were much happier with being good neighbors then being bad neighbors, as the villagers now want to be around them.

Parents should know that the images of the giants might be a bit frightening for smaller children, especially since they wanted to eat Beatrix's cow, which might disturb some children. Parents might want to read this book first to see if their children would handle the images of the giants.

“Rude Giants” is an excellent children’s story from the creative mind of Audrey Wood and is sure to be an absolute favorite among both kids and adults for many generations. For parents who feel that the giants might be too scary for their kids to handle, I would recommend this book for children ages five and up.

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

When we found this in the library and I took a look at the cover I immediately thought that it would probably make for a fun story-time and that's about it. There's more to it though. A lot more, in fact.
Rude Giants starts with the main player, Beatrix living happily with her best cow friend, Gerda. They have a great friendship, Beatrix giving Gerda all she needs and Gerda giving Beatrix milk in return.
One day two - can anyone guess? - rude giants moved into a castle on the hill and continually disrupted life for the villagers. Beatrix and Gerda continued to make the best of life until one day, on the way to the market, the female giant (I had no clue that 'giantess' was an actual word but apparently it is) decided she's like to eat poor, old Gerda.
Beatrix has a few tricks up her sleeve and stops the giants before they can ingest poor, old Gerda. Soon after Beatrix tricks the giants they come to see themselves in a different light. The castle is clean, they're clean, they've learned manners, etc. But... they're also still hungry. Beatrix and Gerda solve this problem as they've solved the others and have a party where all the villagers are invited and told to bring something to eat. Not only is there enough to eat (somehow for the giants as well) but fun is to be had all around! Whoo-hoo! ;-)
Not much longer after the giants proclaim a party each week (I guess they didn't get rid of their laziness, eh?) they had a baby. A baby who started showing signs of rudeness quickly. The story ends with the giants sending the baby to the "finest teachers in all the land..."
I'd be interested to see if there's another book with the giants because as much as I wasn't expecting to, I did really enjoy this one. The artwork is about what you'd expect I think. The giants are made pretty darn ugly and even cleaned up they're not much to look at. Beatrix is your average little blonde milkmaid and Gerda is... well, she's the average cow.
I'd definitely recommend.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't even bother reading the synopsis of an Audrey or Don Wood book anymore. I just pick it up and take it home, because our 3 year old always loves them.

Rude Giants tells the story of a milkmaid who tricks some truly awful giants into cleaning up their act and NOT eating her milk cow. She convinces them that to truly enjoy a cow, first they must live in a clean house, they must be clean themselves, and they must have good table manners. By the time they achieve all that, they are too civilized to eat her cow.

The illustrations are great, as always, and the rudeness of the giants delights our son. It's one of the longer Wood books that we've tried, but it held his attention throughout and has been on nightly rotation at bedtime since we brought it home.

[Miss Lansberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a funny book.

[Mary Mecham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything by Audrey/ Don Wood I just snatch up right away. Very different illustrations from one of their other books I was used to, but I thought it was adorable! I loved Beatrix the butter maid and her cow and their adventure teaching the rude giants. My kids laughed and laughed at this book, and it has been loved to pieces in our home. Any time I see a copy, I buy it and give it away for birthdays to other lucky boys and girls with a pile of other books I know every child will love

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this was kind of a cute book. I thought the milkmaid in the story was very clever and my kids and I found ourselves laughing at the giants. This is an AR book for anyone who might be wondering.

[Lee Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a huge fan of gross artwork, so I didn't love this book personally. But the kids did like it! 3/5 stars.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about the butter maid who teaches the rude giants hygiene, good manners, and housecleaning, which helps them to see themselves differently.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun book to read out loud with voices. My kids love it!

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the parody of how manners and beauty made the giants more civilized.

[Jessica Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super cute book! I loved the moral and all of the characters. However, I wasn't a huge fan of the illustrations. That being said, the story is fun and it's a quick and easy read.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The giant story teaches children about the manners and importance of daily routines in humorous way. Children will learn the behavior lesson through the reading, and they can expand the imagnation through the illustrations.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

If for no other reason than that I liked the illustrations and the fun goofiness of the story of a pair of giants in dire need of some education on good behavior. You might not be as taken with the story as I was, but I'll continue to like it anyway.

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pictures are weird, but kids like it.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The giants are smelly and rude and are soooo hungry that Gerda the cow looks mighty tasty. Follow Beatrix and her clever ways to tame the giants and save her friend.

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute book about a girl who changes completely two giants who want to eat her cow.

[Taril Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute book and also gave students insight as to how to solve conflict.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is still one of my favorite children's books! I loved it as a child and I have loved passing it down to my child.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when you have everything new around you and you feel all out of sorts and you just ache for something familiar? We went to the library this week and I knew exactly where to head in the picture books. It was like a group of old friends was waiting for us in the W's. It was the warm woobie that I somehow misplaced. I love our new home and locale, but this was just the pick me up my kids and I needed. Audrey and Don Wood have always been family favorites and for some reason I don't buy the books, we just frequently borrow them from the library. Rude Giants is not always the first one we reach for, but it is always a goodie. Pics in this one always make me smile.