Reviews (1)

One heck of a book!!!!!!!
I love this book called "Disney's Treasury of Children's Classics: Grom the Fox & the Hound to the Hunchback of Notre Dame & Gina Ingogila is the author of this book.

My favorite story in this book is Beauty & The Beast & Beauty & The Beast reminds me of The Indian in the Cupboard.

In Beauty & The Beast, Gaston stabed the beast in the back so he could get rid of the beast so Gaston could marry Belle. Then he falls off the roof. Then the beast at the end of the story becomes a prince.

I loved this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Xylotone Fun! packs combine fun and education all in one colorful package. Children will have so much fun playing this 10-note electronic keyboard with color-coded songbook that they wonÕt be able to put it down! The Xylotone was built to be portable, durable, and long-lasting and even includes replaceable batteries for years of fun! The special songbook includes simple instructions, song lyrics and E-Z-number notes that any child can master in minutes! Of course, the best part is the fantastic selection of songs sure to delight any child. ... Read more

Book Description

This deluxe hardcover edition tells the tale of Quasimodo through songs and full-color illustrations from the film. Includes easy piano arrangements of: The Bells of Notre Dame * Out There * Topsy Turvy * God Help the Outcasts * Heaven's Light/Hellfire * A Guy Like You * The Court of Miracles. 81 inch. x 101 inch. ... Read more

Book Description

In the dark world of medieval Paris, the deformed bell-ringer of Notre Dame

Cathedral heroically fights to save the life of a beautiful Gypsy girl about to

be unjustly executed. Told with simple vocabulary and set in large type, this

adaptation of the classic tale is perfectly suited for young readers. ... Read more

Reviews (78)

"There is all I ever loved!"
These heartbreaking words are spoken by Quasimodo near the very end of this novel but they could just as easily have been uttered by any number of the characters in this magnificent and awe-inspiring story. Because of an inappropriate English translation of the title of this book, not to mention the popular characterization of Quasimodo, it is always assumed that the "half-made" and hideous-looking bell-ringer of the cathedral of Notre Dame is the central character of this tragedy, but he is not. His unrequited love for the beautiful La Esmeralda is only one of the tragic tales told throughout this novel.

The story is set in Medieval Paris in the year 1482. The town has just celebrated the Feast of Fools with Quasimodo being chosen as the reigning Pope for the celebration. Quasimodo is the adopted son of Claude Frollo, the Archdeacon of Notre Dame cathedral. Esmeralda is an exquisitely beautiful young gypsy girl who, along with her trained goat, Djali, performs throughout the streets of Paris to the delight and amusement of the townspeople. Dom Frollo has been secretly lusting after Esmeralda and believes her to be a witch sent by Satan to turn him away from his priestly vows. On the evening of the Feast of Fools, Dom Claude enlists Quasimodo to help him kidnap the gypsy woman in order to do away with her and rid his life of the temptations she represents. Esmeralda is rescued but the night will set into motion a tragic chain of events which will ultimately claim as its victims all three of these central characters. Two other victims in this tragedy are Dom Frollo's younger brother, Jehan, who the Archdeacon cared for from the time he was orphaned as an infant but who turned out to be a great disappointment and Esmeralda's mother, perhaps the most tragic figure in the entire novel, a woman who believed for fifteen years that her daughter was dead only to be reunited with her and have her taken away again all in the space of a few minutes.

This novel is filled with unbelievably vivid descriptions of the city of Paris and its medieval inhabitants. Victor Hugo brings the city to life and you will feel as if you are actually walking the streets and experiencing events as they unfold. When Quasimodo is tortured upon the wheel in the pillory as punishment for his participation in the attempted kidnaping of Esmeralda, you will feel yourself almost a part of the jeering crowd. The scene where Esmeralda literally parts the crowd to come forward and offer Quasimodo a drink of water has to be one of the most profound in all of literature! And near the end of the novel when Quasimodo is frantically trying to fend off the soldiers and gypsies who are attempting to ram through the door of the Cathedral and capture Esmeralda, the scenes in which he throws not only boulders but bodies over the balustrade of the church are horrifyingly realistic.

It is hard to capture with words all of the feelings that Victor Hugo evokes with his splendid writing but suffice it to say you will be deeply moved by this story. I have been a fan of the film version with Charles Laughton and Maureen O'Hara for many years but as is most always the case, the movie cannot hold a candle to the book itself ( the film version has a Hollywood ending and differs from the book.) This novel really defies the ratings here at Amazon but as I can only give it at most five stars, I do so wholeheartedly and with great enthusiasm. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is definitely the finest classic I have ever read!

A sad, but good story
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a good book for adults I think, but if your the kind of person who doesn't like long books, sad endings, or 2 long and boring chapters talking about Notre Dame and Paris don't read this book.But yet this book makes you think of how unfair things were back in those days.Half of the people who were hung in those days were innocent.It's a good book and if you like sad love stories, read it.

Read Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame
This was a great and marvelous classic. I was not dissapointed after reading it, and I am very choosy about books. The Disney Movie does not give it justice, and the book and movies differ dramatically. This is a sweet, sad, and witty book about a poor deformed waif, a dazzling gypsy dancer, a self righteous soldier, a jealous priest, a rather witty and sinicle poet, a goat the accomplice, and the mystery that enfolds them all. If you want an adventure, a romance, and an incredible realistic account of 15th century Paris, then read this book.

Read this great classic!
The book that I am reviewing is "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" written by Victor Hugo. I think this book deserves five stars. It's terrific because it is exciting. This book is about how Quasmodo loves Esmeralda, a gypsy girl, but she doesn't like him back. She likes an officer. She always thinks ofthis officer instead of Quasmodo. The problem is that people think that Esmeralda killed the officer. I'd recommend this book to people who like sad stories. Other books by this author include "Les Meserables."

Emerson, NJ; Fifth Grade Student

The Original Title Would Have Worked for Us
This epic tragedy pits a beautiful, earthbound angel against a venal, earthbound devil, and is set amid the squalor of Medieval Paris.Our protagonists alternately dance and skulk through the chapters, leading to a desperate and heart-wrenching conclusion.Could our angel be a witch; could our devil redeem himself?We desperately hope for any outcome other than the one we fear, and we cannot believe that Hugo would taunt us with such elemental beauty, and then destroy it before our eyes.Myonly complaint is not with Hugo, but with the translation of the title.Why couldn't we anglophones be trusted with "Notre Dame of Paris?"The book is less about Quasimodo than about the conflict between Medieval Paris's lofty aspirations for man and the depredations of daily life. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

My son loves this book
My son always asks for Quasimodo at storytime. Since we've had this book since infancy, the pop-ups have been torn out completely or taped back together and the story doesn't make much sense (to me) without Esmerelda and Dahli. So, I am here ordering another fresh copy because the illustrations are so bright and colorful and my son studies them intently. Most unfortunate is that the video is so sad, but this book ends just before the crowd turns on Quasimodo. We won't be watching the video anytime soon, but we do enjoy this book. ... Read more

Book Description

A stunning songbook featuring 10 songs from the movie and full-color artwork throughout. Includes the songs: The Bells of Notre Dame * Out There * God Help the Outcasts * Someday * and more. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Disney`s Quasimodo Shows True Friendship
With the Disney animated movie as inspiration for this story and illustrations, lonely Quasimodo, with only a trio of "Three Stooges"- like gargoyles for company, rescues a kitten, who becomes his friend. When he sees the sad little girl who lost the kitten, Quasimodo does what a real friend would do, despite the sacrifice to himself. Of course, there`s nothing like this in the Hugo classic, but it stands on its own as a warm children`s story. ... Read more