The Story of Ferdinand (Storytapes)

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Summary: Utterly Charming Tale of Being Yourself
Review: I recently rediscovered this favorite book from my childhood (which was 40+ years ago now), and fell in love all over again. Now my 4 year old daughter and I both get to experience the exquisite pleasure of Ferdinand on a regular (i.e. nightly) basis. The gorgeous illustrations and simple, powerful story of the biggest bull on the farm who would rather "sit just quietly and smell the flowers", is as moving today as it was when it was written more than 50 years ago. And I cannot think of a more important lesson to teach our children today: that it is o.k. to be yourself, even when everyone else thinks you should be something else. This is a sweet, lovely story for children and adults alike, and is one of the few books I look forward to reading over and over again. Luckily, my daughter agrees.

Rating:
Summary: Not a word out of place
Review: I was given The Story of Ferdinand for Christmas in about 1950, when I was six. Over fifty years later, I still enjoy it more than any other children's book I know. I'm writing this after ordering a copy for my granddaughter. There is not a word out of place in the story. Each page makes you smile (and any child between the ages of five and a hundred) and each has a perfect pen drawing that adds to the fun. I also use the book with my young-teenager students in their second year of learning English. I find they understand it and enjoy it and even learn it by heart. Like many millions of his fans, I am sure that Ferdinand is "still sitting there under his favourite cork tree smelling the flowers."

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Summary: My Favorite Book
Review: I was introduced to this book by a mentor in college. It was her favorite book, and she kept a copy on her desk in the library. One day I saw it and asked what it was about, and why she always had it there, and she told me it was her favorite book and I should read it. I did, and I fell in love with it. All these years later, I bought it to share with my children, and they all in turn love it as well. It's a great book with many life lessons.

Rating:
Summary: wonderfully sweet and fun
Review: I've loved this story from the first time I read it and I'm thrilled to find it's still around. It's as gentle and ironic as Winnie the Pooh and has the same tongue in cheek parodies of "grown ups". Just an all around pleasure to read.

Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: It is easy to understand how some books become classics. The Story of Ferdinand is a good example. I remember reading this as a child. Now as a teacher I am reading it to my students. I would not be surprised if my students one day read this book to there children.

Rating:
Summary: Love this Book!
Review: My mother-in-law gave me her copy of this book (printed in 1938) when my oldest child was 4 or 5 years old and we just adored this story! In fact, she (my daughter) loved it so much she memorized it within months. I chose this book to read to her 2nd grade class and they, too, felt the magic of how the fierce bull loved to just sit and "smell the flowers"! I just sat down tonight to read it for the first time to my youngest child (5 years old) and he already knew how the story went. I asked him how he knew it and if his sister already read it to him, because I had not yet done so. He told me that nobody read it to him, that his sister (now 11 years old) already told him about it. He went on to explain every page to me before I even read it! Maybe it's because it's such a different subject for a children's book ( a bull, a tree, a bee and oh, those flowers!) or it could be because we don't have a great deal of access to bull fighting here in America...none the less, it's a story that stays with you, if only because of it's simplicity. Kind of refreshing.

Rating:
Summary: Sweet tale
Review: Of course you may be familiar with the Disney cartoon, but the real story is definetely worth reading to your child. A young, gentle bull who loves the simple things is mistaken for a terrifying, awesome, crowd pleasing bull. He is brought to Madrid to fight the Matador. Read and see what happens! I love this sweet simple little tale. This story was written so long ago, but it still is appealing to children today. Next time you go for a drive "in the country," look for Ferdinand with your children!

Rating:
Summary: It's "HIP" to be square...........
Review: or in other words, your own wonderful, individual, YOU! Ferdinand the Bull, the peaceful bovine, who's content with just smelling the flowers under Spain's cork trees (doing his "own thing"), in spite of the pressure of his peers to be a ferocious fighting bull......is an inspiring way to share with your children how great it is to be DIFFERENT. That you can be anything you want in life and not to let anyone tell you otherwise. This was my favorite book as a child, it inspired me creatively and I've lived by it's simple message: BE who you ARE.

Rating:
Summary: Shocking and inappropriate for young children
Review: Originally published in 1936, this simple story of the pacifist bull still rings true for children and adults, as ferdinand refuses to fight even when he is chosen to face the matador in Madrid. Ferdinand would rather sit under a tree and smell the flowers, and his mom thinks that's just fine. this is a comforting story for kids who feel they don't fit in. the message is simple and direct, and makes for great discussions after reading. The original illustrations are quite charming as well.

Rating:
Summary: simple, sweet story of nonconformity for little ones
Review: Originally published in 1936, this simple story of the pacifist bull still rings true for children and adults, as ferdinand refuses to fight even when he is chosen to face the matador in Madrid. Ferdinand would rather sit under a tree and smell the flowers, and his mom thinks that's just fine. this is a comforting story for kids who feel they don't fit in. the message is simple and direct, and makes for great discussions after reading. The original illustrations are quite charming as well.