In The Magic Bedknob, Carey "about your age", Charles "a little younger" and Paul "only six" p 11 are sent to Much Frensham village so their mother can work. They find prim Miss Price injured by falling off her broomstick. For their silence, she bespells a bedknob for Paul "the younger the better" p 32 to carry them where-ever and when-ever. Adventure brings out gumption in the children, and laughter in Miss P and the reader. Instead of perusing moldy grimoires among dusty cobwebs, she dons a "white overall" p 27, notes experimental variations, and files carefully. When threatened, "her long thin nose suddenly seemed longer and thinner. Her chin looked sharper" p 121. Paul wants to see Mother back in London, but she's not at home. A passing Sergeant knocks his shin, and irritated, thunders at their honest responses "from my room", "from Bedfordshire" p 43 (meant to be a pun?), and blushes the next day repeating "by magic" p 55 to his inspector. The second wish has a double spread of sketches, Charles "his pajama trousers were slipping off" p 82 flying away on the broomstick from "the circle of firelight and the gesticulating savages" fuzzy-haired and naked, wildly throwing spears p83. (view spoiler)[Needing daylight to travel, Carey finds a South Sea island the encyclopedia calls "uninhabited" p 62 and invites Miss Price to "sit in the sun and rest your ankle" p 61. Carey and Charles "hot and tired .. threw off their pajamas and bathed" p 69 until the beach was "warm gold in the deep glow of the setting sun" p 69 and hope to return. But cannibals capture Charles and Miss P. The witch-doctor contests for her broomstick but they manage to fly away on it. Returning soaked, grim servant Elizabeth quits. Displeased over Carey's apparent sassy suggestion "licking the blanket" p 90 to prove the water is salty, Aunt Beatrice sends them home. Miss P concludes witchcraft is not a hobby, but "a weakness" p 93. (hide spoiler)]
Three children find out that their neighbor is a witch and convince her to make them something that's magic. Using a bedknob one of the children have, Miss Price does her magic and with it, they are able to make the bed fly. The children are happy and can't wait to begin their adventures.Many times when I was a kid, I watched Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which was a fun and exciting movie that I still love to this day.I decided to give the book a read - since I love the movie, I figured I'd love the book as well. Usually the books are better than the films. So, I readied myself for exciting adventures.And I truly wanted to love this book as I do the movie, but I just can't. It's not that the book is bad; it isn't and it's very nicely written. However, the adventures weren't all that exciting. I found myself often getting bored while reading this book and there just wasn't any connect with any of the characters.This is one time where, in my opinion, that the movie is better than the book.
Do You like book Bedknob And Broomstick (1983)?
This was always one of my favorites growing up. Unlike a lot of kids in my generation, since this book was written in the 50's, I actually read the book before the movie came out. Though the movie was good, the book was certainly better. This was one of the first books I read where I distinctly remember being amazed at the things in the book; could these things really happen? How did she think of such amazing things? I realized that books really do have their own special world, separate and sometimes more special than normal life. It was one of the first books that gave me that sense of wonder that comes along with a new book. I'll admit, it has diminished a bit over the years with maturity and experience, but it is still there to some degree every time I pick up a new book, and I owe much of that fascination to this very book. I can't wait until my niece is old enough so that I can read this to her :)
—Mindy Conde
I grew up watching a Beta tape (OMG) version of this movie, starring Angela Lansbury, when I was younger. When I became a little older, and many of the original Disney classics that we ONLY had on beta were lost, I was inconsolable. I didn't get to watch many of those Diney favorites again until I was a teenager; Escape to Witch Mountain, The Parent Trap, Return From Witch Mountain, The Apple Dumpling Gang. I relish these books now, as treasured memories of rainy days, curled up in my grandmother's apartment, watching Disney while she crocheted.
—Tara Lynn
I never knew this book existed. I always thought this was one of the few Disney films that was original. I came across this while looking for material that I could use for a magazine that is currently in the pipeline. I'm not going to waste time comparing this to the film because there are few similarities and it's a wonderful book in its own right and I will say I can see why the film was what it was.The book follows Miss Price a lady Carey, Charles and Paul meet while staying with an aunt over the summer holidays. Miss Price hurts her ankle while flying and the three children help her home and from that movement on the adventures start. This really is a charming book and children will love this! Some of the language is dated but there's not enough to distract anyone who reads it. It's a real adventure tale. I practically liked part two and the rescue mission to safe Emelius from being burnt alive on the stake accused of witchcraft. I would highly recommend this and can't wait to read it to my children!
—Keiran Broadhurst
