Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates: or, The Silver Skates Audiobook

" One of my favorite books as a kid. I distinctly remember the first time I read the part about how the ropes from the wooden skates had rubbed into Hans and Gretel's ankles-- and how much they wanted to win that prize. So good, need to read it again... "

" Another true children's classic! Well-written, as instructive as it is charming! "

" read with 8 year old. "

" I read this as a kid. I still have the book, a hardcover from the 50s! Gray blue woth a rectangular picture of the twokids skating down the canals. This and A Dog of Flanders were how I pictured Holland. It was so strange to visit these places as an adult. In fact, A Dog of Flanders took place in Belgium's Antwerp. "

" Well, this book was pretty much what I expected so I shouldn't really complain. It is old and was written by someone in America who had only read a history book on the Netherlands (but she did visit after the book was published, to her credit). Basically it read like an old, cheesy Disney film like Pollyanna (in fact, not surprisingly,it was made into one), wherein the cheery, good people are rewarded and the nasty, mean people get their comeuppance. Plus a complete contrived plot. But again, I knew what I was getting into. Somehow, after the holidays ended and I was still reading this book, it ceased being charming. Not its fault. Mine. "

" Read it a long time ago; don't really remember much,but it was pretty good, what I remember. "

" Sorry i was 10 "

" read with 8 year old. "

" This book is full of facts about Holland; its art, customs, history, geography and interesting tourist sites. The characters exhibit wonderful christian and moral qualities. I learned a lot about the country. There is also an interesting, mysterious, little side plot. "

" I love a sweet hearted children's book and the setting of Holland makes it very interesting to read. "

" I liked it because it discussed a lot of Dutch history. The author wrote a story to tell about Holland. It was a slow read. But, I'm glad I read it and I enjoyed the story of the Brinker family. "

" Read it when I was a kid and enjoyed it. I liked the idea of skating along the river or canal from village to village. I ought to dig it out and read it again. "

" **This book is not the same edition that I read. "

" Cute, old fashioned classic. Great description of Holland "

" DO. NOT. READ. THIS. BOOK. DON'T READ IT! JUST, TURN YOUR HEAD AWAY FROM THIS BOOK AND CHOOSE SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S BETTER! LIKE, WHINNIE THE POOH! I DON'T CARE, JUST DON'T READ THIS BOOK!...Actually,others may enjoy this book but in my opinion it was quite bad. :) "

" Sorry i was 10 "

" I don't remember much of this book, but I do remember reading it at least once and enjoying it. I still have my copy, which I have not read as an adult. "

" This is just the kind of story I like. Hard times at the beginning, everyone happy at the end. Not too complicated. I love it. "

" This was intimidating as children's books go, but it was fun once you got into it. Probably not for every kid, but I enjoyed it. "

" I read more simple version which omits some detail on Dutch culture and focuses on what Hans and her sister do. It was good read. Hayao Miyazaki recommended it and I know why. Hopefully I wanna read original version. "

" dutch history interspersed with the story of hans brinker and his family. very victorian and melodramatic. "

" In elementary school, I begged my mom to buy me this book at a book fair. She finally consented...and I had the hardest time getting into the book. I thought it was boring and only finished reading it to show my mom that it wasn't a waste of money. "

" DO. NOT. READ. THIS. BOOK. DON'T READ IT! JUST, TURN YOUR HEAD AWAY FROM THIS BOOK AND CHOOSE SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S BETTER! LIKE, WHINNIE THE POOH! I DON'T CARE, JUST DON'T READ THIS BOOK!...Actually,others may enjoy this book but in my opinion it was quite bad. :) "

" Only three more chapters! "

" Except for what I learned about dikes, I didn't find this an enjoyable book. "

" I'm planning to read this with my kids this year. Fun story with a lot of interesting historical and cultural references. Good illustration of kindness, family love, and forgiveness. "

" Cute story. I enjoyed reading it. It was originally published in 1865! "

" Felt very special at a book fair in elementary school (one free book per student) that they let me pick out and take a chapter book even though I was only in second grade. Ooh, so fancy. Don't remember the book though! Only the prestige of getting it. "

" This book was quite interesting, and didn't take that long to read. Parts of the middle I needed to skim through- it seemed more like a history lesson on Holland than a novel. Still, the overall plot line was good. "

" Occasionally this story drifts into melodrama or lapses into tedious descriptions. Nevertheless, it is a fine story, and my entire family enjoyed it. "

" An amazing, classic child's tale that is part of the foundation of fiction and novel writing for modern writers. My parents read this to me when I was a child and I read it to my children. It is a tale meant to be shared by a family. "

" dutch history interspersed with the story of hans brinker and his family. very victorian and melodramatic. "

" I chose an audio book for this title. It was a nice story, but pretty much about Dutch history. It was well done. "

" I remember I got this as a Christmas present from one of my childhood best friends years ago, and it's just full of wholesome goodness. Really nice, pure kids. Very cute story. "

" I loved this book as a kid and reread it several times. It was especially enjoyable while eating Dutch chocolate shoes. ;-) This book made me fascinated with all things Holland. I still have the edition I read when I was 8 or 9. "

" Love this book, always great to read it at Christmas time "

" Great read of the country of Holland or The Netherlands, especially enjoyed reading it when it was 100 degrees in Texas!! "

" I just re-read this 1865 classic tale of Dutch life. I was inspired by the Olympics and my current love of ice skating! "

" I can't believe how much I loved this book, it's probably because I didn't have to read it in school!!It was culturally rich inDutch history with an engaging sub story about a skating race. "

" Like Dickens, Mary Mapes Dodge tells a story about children trying to survive. Hans and Gretel's father is not in his right mind and cannot work. Although the chatty style and Dutch history lessons detract, the story is very moving when it gets back on track with Hans' quests. "

" one of my very favorite Christmas stories. I read it every December and love it each time anew. "

" Holland. Winter. A skating competition. Brother and sister. Mystery. 8+. Enough said. "

" Listened to the audio book while on family road trip. The whole fam enjoyed it. The unabridged goes into so much detail about Holland. Quite fascinating. "

" terrible... worst book that i have ever read- dont read unless you are bored and have nothing else to do if i could put no stars i would "

" One of my favorite hildhood books, I read this classic many times. "

" One of my favorite hildhood books, I read this classic many times. "

" It made me want to read more about Holland. It was a cute children's book and now I know the story behind Hans Brinker. I've heard the name and it mentioned many times and now I understand it. "

" It made me want to read more about Holland. It was a cute children's book and now I know the story behind Hans Brinker. I've heard the name and it mentioned many times and now I understand it. "

" The most beautiful book that I read when I was little! "

" The most beautiful book that I read when I was little! "

" MCL. Junior Illustrated Library edition. "

" one of my very favorite Christmas stories. I read it every December and love it each time anew. "

" one of my very favorite Christmas stories. I read it every December and love it each time anew. "

" Just finished reading this one with Emma. It was cute. "

" Just finished reading this one with Emma. It was cute. "

" I enjoyed the book and rate it at 7 of 10. The story of Hans and Gretel their family overcoming poverty and Raffs head injury. A happy ending with Hans becoming a doctor. It was a pleasant surpise read. "

" I enjoyed the book and rate it at 7 of 10. The story of Hans and Gretel their family overcoming poverty and Raffs head injury. A happy ending with Hans becoming a doctor. It was a pleasant surpise read. "

" I love the descriptions of the Holland's history and geography. The story is really great. There is a part halfway through that lost my interest for a short period of time. "

" I love the descriptions of the Holland's history and geography. The story is really great. There is a part halfway through that lost my interest for a short period of time. "

" Hans Brinker is added to my list of literary heroes! I loved reading this old classic. It was so refreshing because the central characters embodied old-fashioned virtues and there was, of course, the happy ending. "

" Hans Brinker is added to my list of literary heroes! I loved reading this old classic. It was so refreshing because the central characters embodied old-fashioned virtues and there was, of course, the happy ending. "

" wrong edition until I get back to check. "

" wrong edition until I get back to check. "

" Occasionally this story drifts into melodrama or lapses into tedious descriptions. Nevertheless, it is a fine story, and my entire family enjoyed it. "

" Occasionally this story drifts into melodrama or lapses into tedious descriptions. Nevertheless, it is a fine story, and my entire family enjoyed it. "