Some authors, I think, you really have to encounter in childhood in order to fully appreciate them. I definitely feel that way about Dahl. For whatever reason, he wasn't a part of my childhood and I 'get' him about 50% of the time. I love James and the Giant Peach and I adore Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. However, I didn't finish Matilda and The Great Glass Elevator is one of the most bizarre, nonsensical books I've ever had the pleasure of not finishing. He is, however, my daughter's favorite author - of all time - period - the end. She has read nearly everything he's written. And she loves Quentin Blake nearly as much. I think I 'get' Blake even less than I 'get' Dahl, but here I feel like I finally 'got' it a bit. Maybe I just needed to start with a smaller dose. (This is a very long picture book vs. a chapter book).
This is a really fantastically absurd book and a true delight to read aloud. Once I saw the Croc in his coconut tree disguise I knew these guys had won.
Izzy also tells me that a few of the creatures here are featured in another Dahl book called The Twits so that's kinda fun too.
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