What do you think?
Rate this book
The Biggest Hole In The World
Charlie is visiting the beach with his dad, when he digs a big hole in the sand - and falls in! This is the start of a tremendous adventure through the centre of the earth, until he comes out the other side!
A brilliantly conceived idea, this book physically embodies the hole as Charlie travels through the earth. Full of fascinating fun facts to accompany the journey.
A brilliantly conceived idea, this book physically embodies the hole as Charlie travels through the earth. Full of fascinating fun facts to accompany the journey.
28 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 3, 2017
good book mixed between fiction and non fiction
each layer that charlie reaches around the outside of the pages are facts about what layer he is on, with the story written around the whole that is cut out of the centre of the page
very interactive book as the words rotate around the page
engaging
each layer that charlie reaches around the outside of the pages are facts about what layer he is on, with the story written around the whole that is cut out of the centre of the page
very interactive book as the words rotate around the page
engaging
November 14, 2019
This is a lovely book! The physical layout of the book having a hold in the middle and the writing going round in circles really makes you feel like you are falling down the hole also! Would read in a one-to-one or small group for sure!
January 28, 2009
Who hasn’t thought about the possibility of digging a hole through the centre of the earth, then all the way to the other side? It’s a pretty cool idea – but one which was successfully explored nearly 150 years ago by Jules Verne in Journey to the Centre of the Earth (or more correctly Voyage au centre de la Terre). It seems like this book is a picture book adaption of the Verne classic – but without any acknowledgement.
The main attraction of this book is the novelty of the large holes in the pages getting smaller and smaller as you get deeper and deeper into the hole. It’s a gimmick, but it worked for The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
The story itself is pretty short and simple – a quick introductory page, then basically one line per double page spread, and a conclusion page. Each double page spread represents a level as you fall down the hole, first rubbish, then later dinosaurs and the red hot core of the earth. Surrounding the double page spread are interesting ‘facts’ about the level you are on – my favourite is “Fossils are even older than your parents!”.
I disliked the inane text “’Flaming volcanoes! It’s the red hot molten middle of the earth. Cor!’”. I also disliked the ‘facts’, many of which were simplified to the point of being wrong. But the main issue I have with the ‘facts’ is their inclusion suggests that the sequence of ‘layers’ which Charlie and Doggo (and later his Dad) fall through are factual rather than fantastic.
But I suppose I’m not the target market (too old), and X-man isn’t either (too young). Also I support anything which gets kids interested in science (especially geology). These are the only reasons that this didn’t get 1 star.
The main attraction of this book is the novelty of the large holes in the pages getting smaller and smaller as you get deeper and deeper into the hole. It’s a gimmick, but it worked for The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
The story itself is pretty short and simple – a quick introductory page, then basically one line per double page spread, and a conclusion page. Each double page spread represents a level as you fall down the hole, first rubbish, then later dinosaurs and the red hot core of the earth. Surrounding the double page spread are interesting ‘facts’ about the level you are on – my favourite is “Fossils are even older than your parents!”.
I disliked the inane text “’Flaming volcanoes! It’s the red hot molten middle of the earth. Cor!’”. I also disliked the ‘facts’, many of which were simplified to the point of being wrong. But the main issue I have with the ‘facts’ is their inclusion suggests that the sequence of ‘layers’ which Charlie and Doggo (and later his Dad) fall through are factual rather than fantastic.
But I suppose I’m not the target market (too old), and X-man isn’t either (too young). Also I support anything which gets kids interested in science (especially geology). These are the only reasons that this didn’t get 1 star.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews