Loved it! ( )

I've wanted to read this children's classic (completely understandable) for a long time. It did not disappoint. Funny, charming ( )

I cannot remember if I've read this before. I know that I've read at least one of the sequels several times, as I distinctly remember being charmed by how the little people make use of human beans' stuff.

But all this other stuff, about the Boy, and the adults in the house, and Arrietty learning that there a billions of humans and probably only a few of her kind, well, none of that was familiar to me. It is, however, [L]iterary, and (I imagine) justifies giving the Carnegie to a relatively cheerful and easy book.

Btw, the Krushes have been among my favorite illustrators since I was young. I used to check out books simply based on them, not caring what the story might be. 'Course, they only illustrated, so far as I know, stories I'd be interested in, and, besides, I grew up in such a tiny town it's not like I had much of a choice anyway at either school or public library. ( )

I completely understand why this a children's classic! ( )

#vacationread No 3: THE BORROWERS by Mary Norton, illustrated by Beth & Joe Krusch, from Clarion Books

THE BORROWERS is one of those children’s classics that I seem to have missed as a kid myself, and when it popped up on one of @greenhandbooks posts, I ordered a copy and I’m so glad I did! Mary Norton’s tale of tiny people that live in the walls and under the floors of houses and “borrow” our everyday items to make their homes with is positively charming.

Pod, Homily, and their daughter, Arrietty, the Clock family, live their quiet, routine lives under the floor of the kitchen of an English manor. They spend their days like anyone else, except for their size and their need to borrow our everyday items to furnish their minuscule home. When Pod is ‘seen’ by a young human boy, it sets in motion a series of events that lead to the Clocks doing everything they can to keep their secretive home.

This is a quick read with four follow-ups that continue the story of the Clocks, and I’ll be checking those out. I’m almost glad that I came to these as an adult, because I’m not sure I would have enjoyed all the nuances of the story as a kid. So, if you’re an adult and you’ve never read this, give it a try; it’s clever enough to keep adults amused.

🏷️ #TheBorrowers #MaryNorton #BethKrusch #JoeKrusch #ClarionBooks #childrensbooks #fantasy #middlegradebooks #books #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #bookreview #frommybookshelf #frommybookshelfblog ( )