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The Wonderful O
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The Wonderful O by James Thurber
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3 starsThis is a cute and clever children's tale that I wish I had unearthed when my children were small. There it is: a review without the letter "O." Well, nearly!
4 starsI loved the cadence of reading this - I read parts aloud to Kait, though it was too long to hold her interest until the end. It was equal parts silly and serious.
I quite enjoyed the cadence and wordplay in this children’s story, it reminded me in many ways of Dr. Seuss. I’m not exactly sure why it’s on the 1001 list though, when I think some of Seuss’s are just as enjoyable and thought provoking for young readers. 4 Stars though
3* - Whimsical and full of satisfying wordplay, this is the kind of book I would have adored as a child but came to it later in life, when the charm and fun of wordplay alone isn't quite enough to make it a stand out. But I shared it with my 9 year olds and they were completely drawn in.
4 stars. I really liked it. A fun imaginative children's tale. This little book filled with wordplay manages to appeal to both children and adults. Very light weight compared to some books on the list, which makes it a welcome addition.
Mod
pg 38, "..what was the letter of the law is now the law of the letter."
Reread it for #1001 summerroadtrip, a tour through Ohio. Reading it this time, I kept having thoughts of how we are dropping letters a lot with our chatting via apps and on-line technology. Is the alphabet changing.
Thurber is a man who loved words. I did not know that he went blind. He hired Marc Simont to illustrate his book. I have a copy of the book with the illustrations by Marc Simont. Marc Simont is the winner of the Caldecott Medal.
The back cover tells us that two men visit the island of ooroo on the boat Aeiu in search of jewels. These men start taking away the freedoms of the inhabitants of Ooroo one thing at a time until there is nothing left but cnfusin and chas. The islanders decide that there are 4 words with O that must not be lost, do you know what the 4 words are? rating 3.86
read June 2021I feel like I need more James Thurber in my life. I’ve only read this and Thirteen Clocks by him, but that is enough to make me a big fan. Like 13 Clocks, there is a great deal of wordplay; and to be honest I can’t imagine children liking it that much. Although, it could be very amusing read aloud. This is a children’s story with a political message (borne of the Cold War). 4*
3/5 stars
I did not grow up reading Thurber and I did not read Thurber to my son. Last summer I did a buddy read with my son reading The Thirteen Clocks which was not a hit with him.
“Confusion reigns on the island of Ooroo when the letter O is banished.”
My copy of this book came with an introduction by Ransom Riggs. I found it insightful regarding the story and author. Thurber's writing reminds me of Dr. Seuss; clever use of language and vocabulary with political or social undertones. I think this story is still relevant today regarding the ramifications of losing ones freedom and laws that enforce ignorance.