I read The Giant as a child and I loved it again when I reread it 20 years later. The main character is an author of travel books for children. The story builds up a good suspense as he gradually discovers that an enormous boy has secretly moved into a mysterious building next to his hotel in France. The boy is about 8 stories tall and about 9 years old, and he befriends the main character. They must decide whether to reveal the giant boy's existence to the world. There are humorous touches, for example when the boy combs his hair and static electricity attracts wigs and cats as if they were lint. The occasional black and white illustrations are charming...such as baby pictures showing weight lifters struggling to teach the giant to walk when he was an 8 foot tall toddler. If you enjoyed Otto in Africa, or James and the Giant Peach, or other books by William Pene Du Bois or Roald Dahl, you will enjoy this book. Everyone will smile when reading this upbeat book for young readers.
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