Childrens book show how wars should be solved (Fattypuffs and Thinifers - Andre Maurois, Fritz Wegner)

Member Name: raypdaley182

Product:	Fattypuffs and Thinifers - Andre Maurois, Fritz Wegner
Date:	20/02/09 (66 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great story on many levels

Disadvantages: not everyone might understand it

This is one of those great books. I read it when I was 8 or 9 then spent another 20 plus years trying to remember what it was called, who wrote it and getting hold of another copy.

If a book sticks in your mind so strongly that you spend more than 20 years trying to find it again thats a darn strong recommendation to it. This is such a book for its rather clever story that still has relevant messages today and its outstanding illustrations.

Basically its the story of 2 boys, 1 fat and 1 thin who find a tunnel that leads them off to an underground world peopled by 2 distinct cultures of the Fattypuffs and the Thinifers. The Fattypuffs live lives of leisure and love eating and relaxing where the Thinifers love exercise and eating little.

One thing it seems they both agree on is war and mutual hatred of each others races. The story shows us how each of the boys is forced to adapt to the culture that has accepted him based purely on his body size and weight.

Each boy is taught the history of the Fattypuff and Thinifer societies and also taught about their mutual intolerance of each other. Despite being total strangers to each culture the boys are taken in and welcomed and given homes and eventually their positions in their relative families allows them to influence decisions being made about the Fattypuff vs Thinifer war.

The conflict is eventually resolved with their help and some members of each society choose to explore the other and they discover that a combination of Fattypuff & Thinifer can work together. It's a very clever story about mans intolerance to man and how opening the mind to new ways and ideas helps to break down barriers.

The wonderful illustrations of Raymond Briggs (best known for things like Fungus The Bogeyman & The Snowman) and Fritz Wegner show scenes of both Fattypuff & Thinifer life and culture wonderfully. In a body concious age where war is still prevalent it has an excellent message and can be enjoyed on numerous levels by readers of many different ages. I enjoy reading it as much now (aged 39) as I did when I was 8 or 9.

(this review also appears on ciao)

Summary: Great book that deserve to be better known