The Firework-Maker's Daughter Paperback – January 1, 2004

I read this story aloud to 12 kids at summer camp. The children ranged in age from 6 to 10, and all of them were spellbound. We had a couple of interruptions during the last chapter, and each time I had to stop reading, however briefly, they pleaded with me to keep going...please!!!Any book that can hold the attention of such a varied group of children so strongly must be good! And it is! The characters are distinct and vibrant, the language crackles and swirls delectably, the plot moves briskly and the ending is momentous, wondrous, satisfying and sweet.

i think i would have liked this short, simple book a lot more if i were younger. having read other phillip pullman books, i suppose i was expecting something a little more substantial, but nevertheless, i did enjoy the simplicity and quick read. and since the book was only a buck fifty, i'd certainly say i got more than my money's worth. but if you're an adult like me (i am, despite the fact that i never use caps) you may just want to borrow it from the library

Wonderful amazing story set somewhere in Asia (Thailand? China?) where a young girl has to buck expectations to follow her dream of becoming a firework maker.My eight year old loved it, and i was never bored reading it to her.Ugly cover for a gorgeous story.

I read and review books for a friend who is a teacher. We are trying to find book that are fast paced and short to encourage children with reading difficulties find joy in reading books. Getting the books as cheaply as possible is also a prerequisite.

It's ok

These reviews pull up under a couple of different books. I read the reviews and purchased the book only to realize that what I bought was a book by Stephen Russell that is a play and an adaptation of the original. It was not the original story, "The Firework-maker's Daughter." So make sure you look at the actual book you are purchasing so that you don't make the same mistake I did. Read the little print on the picture of the book.

discovered Pullman late...so grateful he has written a lot.

The only clearly printed or colored illustration is on the front cover. Inside the pages are barely readable. Certainly not for kids, and I wasn’t even compelled to browse more than a few words of the story. I’m a Pullman fan and had hoped to interest my grandchildren in his writing so I’m disappointed and am returning this book.

What a strange little book this was; as an adult this was funny in a tongue-in-cheek way, but as someone who works with children I can see why this book has been such a hit with young readers... it's odd & random, with a quick pace & a talking elephant. What more could you want?

Lila wanted to become a firework maker like her father, Lalchand, but he says she can't. So she sets off on an adventure to try and prove her father wrong.I like this book because it was written by a sheer genius, Philip Pullman, who uses language to make you feel as if you're in the the story at the time.People who are confident and determined to reach their goals would like Lila because she is very daring and confident.Also, anybody who like adventure books would love this!MW

I bought this for my daughter to get her to read a proper book, rather than just things like The Diary of a Wimpy Tom Gates... not that I have anything against those type of books, but I just feel Philip Pullman is a great author and you can get so much more out of a book like this. She loved it.

Love this story. Used with Year 3/4 as part of an 'Extreme Earth' topic. It engaged both boys and girls and it's a book I'm sure they will remember.

I read this to my daughters over a week or two, it was a short book so seemed expensive and I didn't find it particularly engrossing. It did get a bit better mid way onwards but I was glad to finish it. No Dark Materials.