I've read this ten times or more, so it was no surprise how wonderful it was, but I'd forgotten how vivid some of the language is. A glob of spit sits on dry dust "like an oyster," "little sparks of gold shining through the trees" at twilight - dozens of small flourishes of observation that would grace a literary novel. This is one of my favorite books. I'm so glad it exists.

ENGLISH (Danny the Champion of the World) / ITALIANO

«When I was four months old, my mother died suddenly and my father was left to look after me all by himself. This is how I looked at the time. I had no brothers or sisters. So all through my boyhood, fromthe age of four months onward, there were just the two of us, my father and me»

Danny, nine years old, and his father live together in an old carriage, carefree. The story takes a turn for the unexpected when Danny finds out that his father, in addition to being an expert mechanic, is also a poacher.

Among all the Roald Dahl's novels, probably this is the one I liked less. Not my daughter, however. She always likes each Dahl's novel.

Vote: 7

«Quando avevo quattro mesi, mia madre morì all'improvviso, e mio padre dovette occuparsi di me tutto da solo. Ecco com'ero a quell'epoca. Non ho né fratelli né sorelle. Così per tutta la mia infanzia, dall'età di quattro mesi in poi, fummo solo noi due, mio padre e io» Danny, 9 anni, e suo padre vivono in una vecchia carrozza all'insegna della spensieratezza. La storia prende una piega inaspettata quando Danny scopre che suo padre, oltre ad essere un esperto meccanico, è anche un cacciatore di frodo.

Di tutte le opere di Roald Dahl che ho letto a mia figlia, forse questa è quella che mi è piaciuta di meno. Non a mia figlia però. A lei ogni libro di Dahl piace sempre.

Voto: 7

A bit far-fetched. I'd passed by this book many times before and it never caught my interest on account of it being long and the title not being more discriptive. You could be the champion of the world through many things; doing something exceedingly difficult or impossible, inventing something that could cure world hunger, or something else equally huge. Drugging two hundred pheasants is not exactly what I had in mind. All that crap Danny's father talks about poaching being an art. Who in their right minds would consider stealing an art? I mean, if it were for the greater good I can see about doing it at all, but because you YEARN to do it? What's so fun about trying to steal a couple of stupid birds when the consequences include going to jail or getting shot? If you ask me, this might've been a bit more interesting if Danny HAD landed in jail. But he didn't, and it's not. It was boring. Long and boring, the worst of combinations. I didn't exactly hate it, but it's not something I would go out of my way to re-read.

My God! this was what i said to myself; this man teaching his son who to steal from others? but then, some more pages . . . hummm . . . and some more pages . . . My God! this book is lovely, this is what all parents must to read, they do not know how react towards thier childeren, and this book teach them how . . . i love it . . .

Overall this was a really weird and random book. There was no real storyline other than Danny and his father stealing from their rich neighbors. There are also no consequences of their actions as the law enforcer is their friend so takes their side. I didn’t find the story to be that enjoyable and there wasn’t really a good message behind the book.

Danny is a nine-year-old, who lives with his dad in an old gypsy caravan surrounded by the lovely meadows and green hills somewhere in England, probably in the 1950’s. Danny’s mother died when he was only little. Danny is at first taught by his father, William, so he doesn’t go to school. His father teaches him all important things, like how to make a kite, a soapbox, how to fix cars and how to have a proper midnight feast. As one can imagine, Danny loves his father more than anything in the world. Later on in the book, Danny does go to school, where he has the horrible Captain Lancaster for a teacher. Then everything changes the night his father goes missing and Danny goes out in an old car to look for him.

Danny is a nine-year-old, who lives with his dad in an old gypsy caravan surrounded by the lovely meadows and green hills somewhere in England, probably in the 1950’s. Danny’s mother died when he was only little. Danny is at first taught by his father, William, so he doesn’t go to school. His father teaches him all important things, like how to make a kite, a soapbox, how to fix cars and how to have a proper midnight feast. As one can imagine, Danny loves his father more than anything in the world. Later on in the book, Danny does go to school, where he has the horrible Captain Lancaster for a teacher. Then everything changes the night his father goes missing and Danny goes out in an old car to look for him.

The first part of the book is quite boring, in the sense that nothing much happens. The real poaching adventure happens later on in the book. However, when I was little I had a book called ‘The dangerous book for boys’, which had all kinds of advice on how to entertain yourself during those long Sunday afternoons and during the Holidays. The beginning of Danny is very similar to this book, as it contains all kinds of fun things to do when there weren’t that many computers and iPhones around. Danny does all of these things with his father and I remember doing and building and playing these things as well as a child. So, not only is it great fun to read these first chapters, it might also give you some ideas on how to spend your next summer afternoon.

This is only part of the full review written by Thura, read the full review on https://bookwormsshallruletheworld.wo...

*3.5 stars*

Glad that poaching is illegal now.

Glad that fathers do not have to teach kids to hunt.

A feel-good story. Love the illustrations. It gives the classic touch.

I am not a big fan of the plot or the story. What stood out for me was the bond between the father and the young son.

The great community vibes is a big win as well.

A few obnoxious characters but it did well for a fun read.

Planning to read all the author's work

It’s my firm belief that reading at least one Roald Dahl book every month will keep you young at heart forever. Roald Dahl is one of the most iconic children's authors of our time. His imagination spans far and wide and he knows just how to make you laugh and tingle with excitement all at once, perhaps because he was so young at heart himself. Danny’s story is brave, bold, witty, touching, and utterly exciting all at once. Great for boys and girls ages 5 and up (and by up I mean all the way into old age!), it’s one of Dahl’s lesser known but fiercely beloved tales.

- Sabrina Medora, Assistant, Marketing and Publicity

Since I was traveling through England on a literary tour, and since my sister gave a presentation on Roald Dahl on said tour, I suddenly had the urge to continue reading the works of Roald Dahl, since I've only read a handful of his delightful and quirky tales. I can't believe I've never read this one, but I'm so happy that I did: the relationship between Danny and his father is so utterly delightful - and so unlike anything I've encountered in children's literature - that I was turning pages until the end and smiling from ear to ear. What a treat of a book!

Read it together with my son and his enjoyment has increased mine.

A great, common reading experience.

Wow, that was just a delight from start to finish :’-) I forgot how much I love a good, wholesome Roald Dahl book!