Struwwelpeter in English Translation (Dover Children's Classics)

A must read for parents with young children. Stories are tough, but do teach great lessons.

It was intended as a dark humor children's history that I like reading as an adult... I'm not so sure it is appropriate for kids who have less than 10 years

Love reading this book to my children. Teachings them some morals, like why you shouldn’t run with scissors! It’s a fun book. Some stories are kind creepy, but my kids love it! It’s like the original German version of “scary stories to tell in the dark”

Wonderful cautionary tails for kids. Beats the hell out of doctor sues.

As part of a Read Harder reading challenge, I have to read poetry in translation that is not about love. Outside of a classroom, I have not had much experience with poetry and therefore I am not very adept in reading and understanding it. I stumbled upon this German book of children's verses. Just my speed! Reading this also brought to mind a big book of illustrated children's verses that my grandmother had given me as a gift. I read and reread those poems many times and loved the drawings. Happy memories! Struwwelpeter is a bit different from the poetry book of my youth. The book was written and illustrated in 1845 by a physician for his 3 year old son. The book contains 10 poems that serve as warnings to naughty boys and girls. The title poem is about a messy boy (struwwel means slovenly) with his uncombed hair and dirty nails. Other poem themes are about a girl who plays with matches, a boy who refuses to eat, and a boy who won't sit still at the table. Each child meets a funny and/or gruesome end. The publisher issues an apology for including a poem titled The Story of the Inky Boys, as it may be offensive due to archaic and derogatory language. The poem is about a "wooly-headed black-a-moor" and three nasty boys who taunt him. I think there is a positive message about acceptance in that poem, but others may have a different take. Some people may also take offense at the violent nature and grisly outcomes for some of the naughty children. I don't think these poems are any more violent than a Grimm's fairy tale. I read this on my tablet and I think the picture quality was excellent. The illustrations themselves are delightful, detailed, and colorful. The book also contains all of the poems in the original German and a nice biography of the author. Translating poetry must be extremely difficult. While I cannot make a comparison with the German, the English version has rhymes and a good rhythm to the poems. I was completely unfamiliar with this book and am so glad I found it. It is a great piece of history and the lessons are still relevant.

These stories terrified my German grandmother as a child, but my kids think they're hilarious. Also, 'as seen' from 'The Office.' Dwight reads 'Stuwwelpeter' to his coworkers children on 'bring your kids to work day.'

Every once in awhile I still read a bedtime story to my kids... I feel a healthy dose of terror really keeps them in line from time to time. It helps that we have German leniage so I'm able to hide behind that. Also, it's not quite as scary when I'm done reading the story and say "Just kidding"... then turn out the light and leave the room.

My children grew up with this dark and wicked poetry and while we as adults are likely horrified by the tales of woe and drastic outcomes to misbehavior it is always a mystery to adults how children are drawn to things so dark and frightening. But...!!! Right up to Finding Nemo’s opening seen where his parent dies, most old Disney tales and all the Zombies in between kids love to be horrified!!! If you get what I’m saying here, this book is not just for thrill seeking adults... kids are going to be fascinated and beg for more... NOTE: you know your children, their sensitivities, their ability to know fantasy from reality and what the appropriate age might be for your child, it’s up to you to make the final decision. My adult were thrilled I found their favorite childhood tales but my son felt it better to set it aside for his five year old daughter to enjoy a bit older but she saw it and immediately begged to hear the horrifying stories and laughed through them all....

Tolles Buch

German classic book

Ótimas estórias

if you had this as a child. you will love to read this to you kids, grand kids :)

This children's book is absolute genius! It's not very long but the stories are so witty and the illustrations bring everything to life (they're very detailed). They're all in rhyme and each story teaches a lesson...only not in the conventional way. Rather than a happy ending, the main character of each story pays the price of ther mistakes. In a rather 'gruesome' way... May not be everybody's cup of tea but I found it intelligently entertaining, for both adults and younger ones.