How Tom beat Captain Najork and his hired sportsmen

Rating:
Summary: A great modern fairy tale
Review: After four children, our paperback copy of Captain Najork finally disintegrated. Tom's response to his Aunt Fidget's requirements, along with his determination to "mess around" with things that are truly important make for a hilarious and, at the same time, instructive read for children. Bring back Tom! Bring back the Captain! The overly programmed children of the 21st century will need them!

Rating:
Summary: Still in print
Review: Although this wonderful book is long out of print, the excellent Hutchinson Treasury of Children's Literature includes it with many of the pictures. The rest of the Hutchinson Treasury's not bad, either, my six-year-old's favorite book.

It's not available in the US, but you can order it from amazon.co.uk ...

Rating:
Summary: Bring back the Capt. Najork books!
Review: From the comments of other parents and various children's bookstore owners, as well as the fact that the rare used copies sell seemingly seconds after they become available, it is incredible that the two Capt. Najork books have been out of print for so long. (I once tried to put my name on a waiting list at a Toronto children's bookstore, and the clerk just laughed at me). The brilliantly innovative language -- try saying "Aunt Fidgit Wonkham-Strong Najork" and see if your palate isn't pleased -- sloppily perfect illustrations, and wonderful stories make for instant classics -- delightful for children and adults alike.

Wake up, publishers! There are a lot of very hungry Capt. Najork customers out there.

Rating:
Summary: Bring back the Capt. Najork books!
Review: It's like a Calvin dream (from Calvin & Hobbes). Same point of view, same imagination.

This book was mythical to me when I was a kid, importantly because there was a wonderful Dutch translation in 1976.

I didn't understand the educational value of it, but a lot of the fantasy words in that specific translation were so uncommon, that they made the book extremely interesting. Only now, I understand that I loved it because Tom is actually me.

In 1988, a new translation came, which is more concrete and easier to understand and therefore weaker. Even the Englisch original isn't as wonderfully weird as the Dutch translation of 1976.

Especially the translation of 'fooling around' into 'dollen' must have been the work of a genius (and is unexplainable in English).

I'm looking for it desperately!

Rating:
Summary: For kids through to adults.
Review: The first time our family set eyes on this book was when we borrowed it from the mobile library that visits our village. It became a classic when the kids were young, and we went on to borrow it a number of times. Phrases from it became part of our everyday language such as lets do some "high up fooling around and low down fooling around", lets play "sneedball", and I think I'll go and "learn the nautical almanac". When our younger son reached 18 years of age we decided to buy him a copy as a joke present.... We wrapped it and presented it to him at our local pub where we were having a celebratory drink on his birthday. It was a present to be savoured. We ended up having a ceremonial reading in the pub, much to our great amusement. All the other customers wondered what all the laughter was about. Had they known they would have been as hysterical as we were. Whenever the family recalls great examples of children's books this is always at the top of the list. Its a cracking read for grown ups as well. I defy anybody not to laugh. We still have the book and still refer to it....

Rating:
Summary: For kids through to adults.
Review: The first time our family set eyes on this book was when we borrowed it from the mobile library that visits our village. It became a classic when the kids were young, and we went on to borrow it a number of times. Phrases from it became part of our everyday language such as lets do some "high up fooling around and low down fooling around", lets play "sneedball", and I think I'll go and "learn the nautical almanac". When our younger son reached 18 years of age we decided to buy him a copy as a joke present.... We wrapped it and presented it to him at our local pub where we were having a celebratory drink on his birthday. It was a present to be savoured. We ended up having a ceremonial reading in the pub, much to our great amusement. All the other customers wondered what all the laughter was about. Had they known they would have been as hysterical as we were. Whenever the family recalls great examples of children's books this is always at the top of the list. Its a cracking read for grown ups as well. I defy anybody not to laugh. We still have the book and still refer to it....

Rating:
Summary: My favorite children's book ever!
Review: Tom is a boy who lives with his stern Aunt Fidget Wonkham Strong (all the names are hilarious and fitting-like Dickens) who looks down on his ridiculously childish habit of playing! Tom is challenged to a playing-duel with his aunts fearsome comrade, Captain Najork.The best line in this book is Aunt Strong's dinnertime command to,"eat your greasy bloaders!" Which was frequently repeated in my home whenever Mom's cooking looked unappetizing. Children will love the triumphant ending.