Written in 1964 Roald Dahl's 'The Magic Finger' is a lesson well taught through a little girls magical finger. This lovely children's book is illustrated throughout by Quentin Blake. This was my second Roald Dahl book and I am looking forward to reading many more. Highly recommended!
Review by Jonah (age 4 years and five months) Good. I’ve read it with my mum. I think the book is about ducks. Book’s about ducks. Book’s about ducks.
Review by Jonah’s mum Imaginative story which emphasises treating others as we ourselves would like to be treated. A quick read over two bedtime story sessions. Captivating illustrations by Quentin Blake as always.
There is a girl who has a magical finger. We don't know her name. Anyway, it doesn't matter because she is just a narrator of the book. This book is about Mr. Gregg and his family. They hunt for pleasure. The Girl, our narrator, forbids them but they don't listen. And by accident, her finger magically turns them into the bird. After that they face hardships of bird's life and get to know that how it feels to face a gun.
This is a children book. I read it for my younger cousin for his school's work. I liked it. But there were very obvious plot holes. Of course it's a children book. So it doesn't feel that bad.
On this mini-binge of Dahl writing, I came across this short story that speaks volumes to the younger generation. Our young narrator speaks about the Gregg family, known for their hunting trips that scare much of the wildlife in the area. The reader learns of a secret power possessed by the narrator, whereby an itching feeling from the tip of the finger leads to a small white flash and then all is changed for the better. During one of their hunts, the Greggs are unknowingly zapped by this 'magic' finger while the narrator watches, which turn the hunted ducks into a small flock of pests that chase the Gregg family back to their cottage. After a night of fitful rest, all four members of the family arise to find that their hands have been replaced with wings and they are banished outside, forced to fend for themselves. For the following day, the Greggs must fly around and try to find food, while a family of four human-sized ducks inhabit their home. Having learned their lesson, the Greggs try to regain some sense of normalcy in their lives, while also seeking to make a change for the better. Dahl impresses with this story that teeters on the edge of silliness, while also instilling some valuable lessons for the reader. Perfect for a coffee break or a snuggle up with some younger ones before bed.
Dahl knows how to pull on all aspects of story writing to keep children interested while also bringing forth important lessons. The reader will see some of the humour and silliness within this story, but also sense a serious side that Dahl wants to express, in this case the importance of respecting all that lives in the community, be it other humans, flora, or even fauna. If memory serves, this was one story that earned Dahl a significant amount of money when he was still getting into the children's genre (before Charlie Bucket and The BFG). It shows in the writing, as he was still more serious in his delivery. Life lessons abound in this story and the reader is left to hope for more pieces with powerful moral undertones. An entertaining piece that should not be missed by readers young and old. Kudos, Mr. Dahl for all your delightful work. Children of many generations can surely rely on being entertained and educated with these wonderful pieces.
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I really enjoyed this story! It was a fast, easy read that was very entertaining.
This story would be a perfect fantasy story about animal rights. The main character lives next door to a family that loves to hunt birds. She doesn't like that they are hurting animals, so she tries to talk them out of it, but they only laugh at her. Then one day the family goes too far and kills a ton of birds. This makes the main character angry and when she is angry her finger starts to tingle. She didn't mean to turn her magic finger on the family, but when the little girl is angry her Magic Finger takes over. It turned the family into birds! This forces them to live in a nest, eat nonhuman food and more. Then more problems keep arising...
I suggest this book to anyone that likes short stories and Roald Dahl's amazing writing :)
I wish I had "THe magic finger" everytime I see red! Oooh, I'll be having lots of fun! The message about hunting and killing animals just for sport is clear and I totally agree with it.