Bambi

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Summary: Bambi - it's not about Disney at all
Review: Don't let the cartoons fool you. This book is an excellent afternoon's read. It is lyrical in its descriptions of both the forest and the animal personalities that abound there. You will no doubt find people you know mirrored through these accounts. I was very much touched by chapter 8 - only mature adults will truly appreciate it! The story is honest and thought-provoking. I recommend it to teenagers and adults. I don't really know that it is good for children to read until they are fairly advanced as it introduces death plainly and touchingly.

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Summary: A true classic for all of the family!
Review: I first read Bambi 30 years ago and was lucky enough to find a 1929 copy that I will hold dear to my heart forever. The author takes you deep into the forest where you become one of the animals. You can feel the cold and smell the fear among them when the two-legged animal called "Man" arrives. It allows readers to immerse themselves in the world, seeing it from an animal's point of view.

It's a great book to share with kids and a valuable learning experience about the ways of nature. At times it is cruel and very true to life. It teaches respect for our elders, and love of family. We stand back and watch Bambi grow stronger until he has a sense of wisdom that only experience can bring. This is truly a book to share with your kids. It is so much more than a Disney cartoon.

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Summary: Survival in Dangerous Solitude
Review: Salten's 1929 children's story bears little resemblance to the famous animated version; no saccharine tale, this little masterpiece presents the story of the value of Life in the forest. In his Foreward to the original novel, British author John Galsworthy praises two elements of BAMBI: the realistic depiction of the challenges facing deer and other woodland creatures, as well as the light-hearted style of dialogue and witty comments on human nature. Translated into English, this literary gem has delighted readers for three generations, truly having earned its classic status.

Born into a large family of deer, Bambi is not yet congnizant that he is the son of a prince. More observant and thougtful than the other fawns, young Bambi learns many harsh lessons about survival against Nature, other animals, and most of all Man--described as the ubiquitous, merciless predator with the pale face, HE. After winning his beloved Faline, Bambi matures over the seasons; but an essential part of his education is provided by his solitary mentor, the old stag. Can Bambi learn enough from him (and other species) to save his family from hated humankind, or will he study merely for his own self-preservation?

Beneath the author's charming tale in which animals act and sound much like the humans they fear, there remains a serious underlying theme: man' wanton destruction of the forest for sport or amusement. Hinting at our moral obligation Salten subtly shames us--and our faithful pets--for blatant disregard or disrespect of nature. Disney's version is fine, but until you have read the original, you don't really Know Bambi. A story of personal growth and a gentle study in compassion, for readers of all ages.

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Summary: Wonderful Adaptation of the Bambi Story
Review: Thanks to Walt Disney, everybody little girl has a place in her heart for Bambi. I've heard it said that Bambi was Mr. Disney's all time favorite movie and I've seen more than one grown man shed a tear or two during the film. My daughters loved the movie too. It's a classic that will live forever. So when I saw this book, I almost passed on it, because the Disney drawings are so firmly etched on my family's minds. However, I bought it and brought it home, much to my girl's delight.

Ms. Schulman's adaptation of Felix Slaten's classic novel is absolutely superb and the illustrations by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher really bring the story to life. My darlings were delighted. If you have children, especially girls, then this wonderful book is one I know you'll enjoy reading to them.

Sophie Cacique Gaul

Rating:
Summary: Much better than Disney
Review: The book is head and shoulders above the overly cute Disney cartoon. It is not, however, just a children's book. Like the Grimm fairy tales, Bambi is a story with a message in social behavior and consequences of one's actions. From the book trivia side, it's quite interesting to learn that Whittaker Chambers, former member of the Communist Party of the USA and star witness at Alger Hiss' trial and author of "Witness," translated Salten's book from the German in the 1920s, while Chambers was still an active CPUSA member. Makes one wonder what kind of message Chambers thought Salten had written... Read the book, avoid the movie.

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Summary: Bambi, Life in the Woods is Wonderful
Review: The story is a little sad, but it is very interesting. There are a lot of animals in it, and anyone who likes animals would enjoy reading this book. It takes place in a forest and a meadow. The author uses lots of exotic names of animals such as sedgehens and yellow birds. The main enemy is man and He comes into the story a bit too much. The story is very detailed and does have lots of hard words, but it's worth reading. I liked it much better than the Disney movie.