An interesting curio, but not very good. Disney made the right choice to can the movie. The introduction by Leonard Maltin is the best part of the book.

A cute simple story, and a great explanatory intro by Leonard Maltin. Not as subtle as Dahl's later work, but I'm glad I read it.

Read for the 2015 Reading Challenge: A popular author's first book
I love Roald Dahl's books! I thought this book was cute and it brought back memories of reading his books when i was younger.

A short story very different from the movie that has heavy ecological subtext

The Gremlins is a very charming story, the first published work by Roald Dahl, complete with illustrations courtesy of Disney Studios, since it was originally slated to be a feature-length animated film.

Author: Roald Dahl
Illustrator: Disney Studios
First Published: 1943
Foreword: Leonard Maltin

Re-printed in commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of USAF.

Introduction from Andrew J Stephens, 11th Wing Historian, Bolling AFB.

While it is a picture book, with full page, full colour pictures illustrating the text, the narrative is more novella length. This is a significant work.

Forget for a moment this is a Dahl book. Let's look at it as a children's book written during WWII, optioned and illustrated by Disney. "The Gremlins" is the author's first book and it gives a humorous, creative look at the horrors of the time.

Often planes were shot down by the enemy.

But sometimes they came down for no good reason.

Perhaps because of Gremlins in the works?

It isn't what we (today) could call a "children's book" - there are no children in it - but it does take an approach to the subject that would appeal to a child. It's pretty typical of the time (eg Biggles) where fathers, brothers, and, one day, the child readers were going away and fighting.

As a historic piece it reminds us (me) of what was. The fighting was over England. Wounded planes landed on country roads. The comaradery and friendship. Even that there were two people in that plane - the pilot and the gunner. Pilots were injured, sick, and they still got back in that plane to do their duty.

The illustrations are very early-Disney-esque, pencil drawings with heavy outlines ready for animation. Even the illustrations are of a time.

There are teases of future-Dahl in the whimsy, wonderful creatures with fully developed histories, and the tragicomedy.

But it isn't a great book. It isn't really well developed. The narrative is jumpy and the conclusion is rapid. The illustrations are somewhat hit and miss. There's a page - landing in the field - which doesn't quite make sense (missed editing?).

However, I liked it. It has appeal. It would excite a young reader who knows his war planes - Heinkel, Hurricane, Messerschmitt - or an older reader looking to engage with mythology of the time.

It's a piece of literary history I hope isn't lost, again.

Age
Read Aloud - 8+
Read Yourself - 8+

(ISBN 9781593074968)

I didn't see the cover but I thought this was going to be a book about the gremlins that you don't feed at night. Still pleasantly surprised to see that it's the gremlins on planes. I saw a cartoon of this when I was a child. Animaniacs, probably?

Cute illustrations. The fifinellas, widgets, and spandules were interesting additions to the story.

Probably the best way to enjoy an animated feature that never saw the light of day. Leonard Maltin gives us an introduction explaining the history and development of this film. It is not exactly known why the film was never completed, but it might be because it would not have had stood the test of time. So what we get is a storybook form of the film containing what the story might have been. Production artwork from the film is used for illustrations.

I was actually expecting something a bit more. I picked up this book because it was referenced by Lost in Shangri-la. Gremlins, for those of you not in the know, are these little creatures that run amok on airplanes causing all sorts of problems. The book was cute, but not much more than that.

One of the most famous Disney film productions from 1943 was ultimately one that didn’t get made. The Gremlins was penned by a recognisable name: Flight Lieutenant Roald Dahl. Yes, two decades before James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this was Dahl’s very first book for children. With cover art by Mary Blair, and illustrations from an uncredited Bill Justice and Al Dempster, it tells the story of the titular critters spotted by RAF pilots drilling holes on the wings of their planes. Originally intended to be filmed as a feature, 50,000 copies were printed in the US and additional 30,000 in Australia, although a paper shortage prevented a quick reprint. I was lucky enough to read an original print from Australia thanks to a deep dive into a deposit library, and it's a beautiful book to hold. It's a shame we'll not get to see it anytime soon — thanks in part to questions around rights, and Dahl’s insistence on script approval, the film itself never eventuated. Also, Warner’s Bugs Bunny short Falling Hare came out the same year with a similar premise.

Noteworthy mainly for its place in Disney history. The story itself definitely feels like the unfinished work that it is, but it is an interesting look at what might have been.

I love the concept of this book, and generally Dahl's books are amazing. This is the first published story that he wrote, so it's a little weaker than his later work for children: the story arc falls a little flat. However, the illustrations are pretty amazing, and I love the idea of mischievous gremlins wreaking havoc during World War II. I so wish this movie had made it to production!