The Shrinking of Treehorn

Rating:
Summary: Clever, engaging text and Edward Gorey!
Review: The big point here is about adult distractability. Treehorn is shrinking and his parents and teachers are mostly concerned with what this might mean to them, after they are forced to notice his condition. The subtlety of this may not register with little kids but they'll love the fun idea of a kid shrinking and having to cope and the drawings by Gorey are funny and wonderful. (If you are familiar with the opening titles on the PBS series Mystery you know Gorey). Intelligent little kids will love this book, which is a little more complex than things aimed at them these days. Intelligent adults will love reading it them. (The speech by the smarmy principal is classic.) Get this book and keep it. If you've read this review this far you are the right audience for it.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious for both children and adults
Review: Having found this book on a recomendation list by a German (!) literature professor, I ordered it not knowing it is a classic. the sense of humour, though sometimes lost on younger children, is wonderful, actually reminding me of the British sense of humour. I can only advise all adults to read this book, it's an eyeopener to our communication skills.

Rating:
Summary: The Shrinking of Treehorn
Review: I was disappointed in this story. I had expected a story about a little boy whose parents did not understand him, or to whom no one would listen. Instead, it provides contradictory reactions from the other characters to a situation that does not fit the plot to begin with. On one hand, half of the characters don't seem to think shrinking is anything for concern, but at the same time his father insists that shrinking is not possible and his teacher sends him to the principal's office for shrinking. His mother wonders if maybe she should call the doctor, but never does, even when he is too small to reach the dinner table. This seems ludicrous to me. Then the book ends when Treehorn discovers a "growing" game that he had been playing. He had stopped after a turn in which he had to go backwards. When he finishes the game, "even though it was boring", he grows back to his normal size. I though this ending was quite a let down. Almost the entire book was spend trying to prove that Treehorn was shrinking, when the issue really was not whether or not he was shrinking, but why? I don't get it. I didn't find any kind of lesson, moral, or entertainment value in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Bizarre in a wonderful way, great pictures by Gorey
Review: This is a book I loved as a child, because it was so bizarre and interesting and mysterious! I don't think the book is really meant to have a message---it's meant more just to be a strange and memorable tale! I love all the little details about Treehorn we find out---that he has 56 different favorite TV shows, what his cereal send-away collection consists of, etc! Even my 2 year old was enchanted by the pictures---he called a page with several odd dogs on it "monsters" and said "I like those scary monster dogs!" My 5 year old loved how the bus driver thought Treehorn was Treehorn's younger brother, also called Treehorn! Read it because it's fun and great to look at!

Rating:
Summary: My favorite children's book!
Review: This is really a top-ranked children's book. It is very cleverly written. It shows nicely and humorously how people -even when they live close together- can be completely blind to each other. I have noticed that not only children can readily identify with the drawings and the story, but also that adults like it very much. Indeed, I have great pleasure in gifting it to my best friends, who all like it, without exception. The text and the drawings are perfect in their own right and do perfectly match each other. The drawings are most funny and to the point. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Strangeness is delightful
Review: This was one of my favorite books as a child, and nearly 20 years later, it's still high on my list. When I first read it, I was amazed because it was completely different from anything else I had ever been given to read. I think all kids have endured the problem of trying to get adults to listen to them and take them seriously, and Treehorn's somewhat absurd quest to get someone to notice his shrinking is easy to identify with. The book may have no "moral", but so what? Kids need books that enchant and delight them--if you only give them didactic and "proper" tales, reading becomes a boring chore. If you weren't fortunate enough to read this as a child, make up for lost time now.

Rating:
Summary: Strangeness is delightful
Review: This was one of my favorite books as a child, and nearly 20 years later, it's still high on my list. When I first read it, I was amazed because it was completely different from anything else I had ever been given to read. I think all kids have endured the problem of trying to get adults to listen to them and take them seriously, and Treehorn's somewhat absurd quest to get someone to notice his shrinking is easy to identify with. The book may have no "moral", but so what? Kids need books that enchant and delight them--if you only give them didactic and "proper" tales, reading becomes a boring chore. If you weren't fortunate enough to read this as a child, make up for lost time now.

Rating:
Summary: Do you REALLY Listen to Your Kids?
Review: Treehorn's parents are so wrapped up in their own problems that they don't notice Treehorn is shrinking, Neither do any of the other adults. This speaks to the sad fact that many kids feel they are invisible to grown-ups. However, the book is lighthearted and fun, with terrific illustrations. One you will remember for a long time.

Rating:
Summary: Drawling voice "Treehorn is shrinking!"
Review: Very memorable story. i didn't read the book, but i remember watching a cartoon version on TV. why is it memorable? well, firstly, the name Treehorn! it was during half term (vacation) when i saw it, and when i went back to school, a friend came out with a very memorable quote, in North American drawl "Treehorn is shrinking!" and i just burst into hysterics! Cool stuff! i will have to buy this book!

Rating:
Summary: Drawling voice "Treehorn is shrinking!"
Review: Very memorable story. i didn't read the book, but i remember watching a cartoon version on TV. why is it memorable? well, firstly, the name Treehorn! it was during half term (vacation) when i saw it, and when i went back to school, a friend came out with a very memorable quote, in North American drawl "Treehorn is shrinking!" and i just burst into hysterics! Cool stuff! i will have to buy this book!