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Kensuke's Kingdom
When Michael is washed up on an island in the Pacific after falling from his parent's yacht, the Peggy Sue, he struggles to survive on his own. But he soon realises there is someone close by, someone who is watching over him and helping him to stay alive. Following a close-run battle between life and death after being stung by a poisonous jelly fish, the mysterious someone--Kensuke--allows Michael into his world and they become friends, teaching and learning from each other, until the day of separation becomes inevitable.
Morpurgo here spins a yarn which gently captures the adventurous elements one would expect from a desert-island tale, but the real strength lies in the poignant and subtle observations of friendship, trust and, ultimately, humanity.
Beautifully illustrated by Michael Foreman, Kensuke's Kingdom is a stylish, deceptively simple and magical book that will effortlessly capture the heart and imagination of anyone who reads it, ensuring that Morpurgo continues to stand tall amid the ranks of classic children's authors. (Ages 9 and over) --Susan Harrison
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
714 people are currently reading
7082 people want to read
About the author
Michael Morpurgo
630 books3,018 followersSir Michael Andrew Morpurgo, OBE, FRSL is the author of many books for children, five of which have been made into films. He also writes his own screenplays and libretti for opera. Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in 1943, he was evacuated to Cumberland during the last years of the Second World War, then returned to London, moving later to Essex. After a brief and unsuccessful spell in the army, he took up teaching and started to write. He left teaching after ten years in order to set up 'Farms for City Children' with his wife. They have three farms in Devon, Wales and Gloucestershire, open to inner city school children who come to stay and work with the animals. In 1999 this work was publicly recognised when he and his wife were invested a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to youth. In 2003, he was advanced to an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) in 2004. He was knighted in the 2018 for his services to literature and charity. He is also a father and grandfather, so children have always played a large part in his life. Every year he and his family spend time in the Scilly Isles, the setting for three of his books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,698 reviews
July 11, 2025
I don't know what's happening. Almost every book I picked up to read this week is making me cry. Do I regret it? Heck, no! I am so glad it's happening.
This book is so good. Being a children's book, I thought I would love it for the innocence in the writing and the illustrations. But heck, no (again!) I enjoyed it for what it is. Full of adventure, full of Robinson Crusoe vibes. The book offers a story about family, pets, animals, the sea and its numerous creatures, an island nestling a forest and its mysterious beings; an old man in his world building it to a kingdom of his own alongwith the orangutans and the gibbons; men and animals living together; separations and wars.
The first half is different from the later half of the book. The story is told from the perspective of a small boy, Michael, whose parents (ugh, the crazy father 😘) had decided to tour the world sailing a boat named Peggy Sue alongwith their sheepdog, Stella Artois. Yes, one of the most beloved characters in the entire book is the beloved dog.
The second half of the book details the separation of Michael from his parents and landing up on a small island where he is kept alive by a mysterious old man, Kensuke.
I simply love this book with it's illustrations and everything. The writing style is mature yet simple. The book talks a lot of sense and explores human nature very well.
Somehow this book makes me more considerate towards strangers and animals, specially; think more and makes my belief stronger that not all blood ties are family.
This was an emotional ride for me. My life is blessed.
This book is so good. Being a children's book, I thought I would love it for the innocence in the writing and the illustrations. But heck, no (again!) I enjoyed it for what it is. Full of adventure, full of Robinson Crusoe vibes. The book offers a story about family, pets, animals, the sea and its numerous creatures, an island nestling a forest and its mysterious beings; an old man in his world building it to a kingdom of his own alongwith the orangutans and the gibbons; men and animals living together; separations and wars.
The first half is different from the later half of the book. The story is told from the perspective of a small boy, Michael, whose parents (ugh, the crazy father 😘) had decided to tour the world sailing a boat named Peggy Sue alongwith their sheepdog, Stella Artois. Yes, one of the most beloved characters in the entire book is the beloved dog.
The second half of the book details the separation of Michael from his parents and landing up on a small island where he is kept alive by a mysterious old man, Kensuke.
I simply love this book with it's illustrations and everything. The writing style is mature yet simple. The book talks a lot of sense and explores human nature very well.
Somehow this book makes me more considerate towards strangers and animals, specially; think more and makes my belief stronger that not all blood ties are family.
This was an emotional ride for me. My life is blessed.
May 24, 2025
لمشاهدة مراجعة مصورة عن الكتاب ⬇️
ترشيحات كتب ناشئين| مملكة كِنسوكي الدقيقة 9:45
رواية صغيرة الحجم كُتبت بإيقاع رشيق ومتلاحق. لن تتركها
قبل أن تنتهي منها.
ربما كانت قصة عادية عن طفل ضاع في جزيرة نائية، وهذا يُذَكر أي قارئ لها بحكاية روبنسون كروزو الشهيرة. ولكن الاختلاف في تلك القصة هى علاقة الصداقة الفريدة التي ستنشأ بين ذلك الصبي وبين ساكني تلك الجزيرة. وهناك أيضا تفاصيل حياة أسرته "المُغامِرة" عندما يقرر والده أن يقضوا بقية حياتهم وهم يجوبون العالم في مركب صغير.
كنت أرى أن المؤلف كان يجب أن يعود بشكل ما للأب والأم خلال ضياع إبنهما، فقد كان ذلك خطاً درامياً لا يجب تجاهله. كان من الممكن خلق علاقة بشكل ما بين اختفاء الصبي وبين أبواه الباحثان عنه.
ترشيحات كتب ناشئين| مملكة كِنسوكي الدقيقة 9:45
رواية صغيرة الحجم كُتبت بإيقاع رشيق ومتلاحق. لن تتركها
قبل أن تنتهي منها.
ربما كانت قصة عادية عن طفل ضاع في جزيرة نائية، وهذا يُذَكر أي قارئ لها بحكاية روبنسون كروزو الشهيرة. ولكن الاختلاف في تلك القصة هى علاقة الصداقة الفريدة التي ستنشأ بين ذلك الصبي وبين ساكني تلك الجزيرة. وهناك أيضا تفاصيل حياة أسرته "المُغامِرة" عندما يقرر والده أن يقضوا بقية حياتهم وهم يجوبون العالم في مركب صغير.
كنت أرى أن المؤلف كان يجب أن يعود بشكل ما للأب والأم خلال ضياع إبنهما، فقد كان ذلك خطاً درامياً لا يجب تجاهله. كان من الممكن خلق علاقة بشكل ما بين اختفاء الصبي وبين أبواه الباحثان عنه.
September 27, 2025
This was one of the most heart-wrenching books I have ever read. I am now completely converted to the fiction of Michael Morpurgo. He also happens to be a favourite author for the IGCSE and IB boards which I am being trained to teach currently, and so I will make sure that I read more of his books in the coming days and weeks.
It will now be impossible for me to avoid him. He is an exceptionally brilliant writer of inspirational, animal, and school prose.
He creates this old-world charm of the 1970s, 1980s and my favourite 1990s which I adore. Reading his ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’ is like walking into a time machine and going back to a time when there were no irritating smartphones, no instant WhatsApp messaging-cum-harassment, no online shopping, no pandemics, no global warming, no incessant perpetual rains 24/7 and 365 days of the year, and most importantly, no strong men politicians-cum-despots trying to erase the smile from our face daily through communalism, racism, regionalism, casteism, sexism and whatever you may have next.
I felt one with the protagonist Michael as he spent his early school days playing a simple game of football or soccer with his male friends in an abandoned muddy field. I felt one with him as he spent his days sailing with his humble and non-ambitious family, fishing and feeling the cool sea breeze upon his face and blowing through the flimsiness of his T-shirt.
I felt one with him as he did his math homework after school and then simply went to play till dinner time or till the sunset, with his football friends, not on a pristine and expensive turf costing lakhs of rupees, but on a simple mud-watered swampy ground where getting muddy was more important than playing the game. I felt one with him when he would spend his early mornings doing paper rounds for the Indian newspaper seller living across the street from where he lived. That simplicity of life, that dedication to one’s job to gain a monthly allowance, and that sweet patience of spirit made me nostalgic of a time that has long passed me by.
I miss those days of the 1990s, when I too used to play in the mud with my school or vicinity friends, either a good game of fun-basketball or cricket – scraping my shin and having a blast getting dirty or chasing squirrels a plenty, and climbing trees till we reached a screech owl’s nest, who would then hoot us back down for our insolence. I remember cycling like the protagonist Michael for hours together with my building and school friends, having races for fun and then reading Goosebumps or the Famous Five or the Secret Seven or the Hardy Boys and trying to mimic the stories contained therein while we still sat upon our BSA cycle seats.
I miss birdwatching with my binoculars and Kodak camera. I miss swinging for hours in the playground of my school humming the Josie and the Pussycats theme songs as it was shown on Cartoon Network of the 1990s. I miss playing amateur baseball, serious but fun badminton, and doubles at throwball. I miss making sandcastles in the sands of the Patwardhan Park playgrounds and throwing small pebbles in the sea with my estranged dad at Jogger’s Park while watching the sunset.
I miss those fascinating and evergreen shows on Cartoon Network, the Kermit Channel, POGO and the Hallmark Channel that we kids of the 1990s loved.
I miss Captain Planet, The Centurions, The Adventures of Johnny Quest, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, Top-Cat, Yogi Bear, Cow and Chicken, Ed, Edd and Eddy, SWAT Cats, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, He Man and the Masters of the Universe, Wishbone, Ghostwriter, and so much more. So much more and such a long-long time ago that I cannot remember any more, but I can still remember how truly happy and blissful I was back then.
I have forgotten the names, but I remember the feeling.
The book ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’ had that type of feel to it. That old world type of feeling which I want back so badly that it hurts.
The book was exciting, a feel-good book, a fun-read, adventurous, suspenseful and yet so blissfully old school that it could make any Millennial or Gen-X kid cry. The ending is heart-breaking, but it could not have been done any better. It had to be that way, because that was the way we handled things back then; we analysed life with our hearts and not with our brains or our groin. And I can tell you, some of us born before the year 2000 have really got hearts that bleed in the right places all the time and every time to our constant determent, but we still show up with our hearts wherever we go. That is what Michael and old Kensuke were like. They were people with hearts of gold that still bled for the love and betterment of the other.
My favourite scene in the book was when Michael’s father decided to give up everything and take the plunge to travel around the world by sea. I rarely see dads or parents like that nowadays and I therefore loved that. I also loved the way he called Michael ‘Monkeyface’ as an endearment. It reminded me of my elder uncle who used to call me the same till when he was alive and with me…was it only 7 months ago that he passed away!? Seems like we’ve been separated for eternity.
My favourite character in this book was Michael because I was a carefree lad (okay lass!) like him many years ago too. I did not experience life as a kid. I lived life as a kid and I had a heart – that was awfully soft in many places. Too soft at times for my own good. I resonate with him a lot, especially when he was asked to remain quiet about his adventures for ten years. I would have done the same when I was a kid. Maybe I would do so even now, but I doubt that. The world and especially kids today have grown so cruel and vicious that other than their own selfish needs and wants, they cannot see anything else or beyond. We have stimulated their brains to focus upon their pleasure principle perpetually. They now think through their groins and loins and base passions, and not their hearts, their spirits, and their souls.
They ruin lives and kill their own fellow people. They start it all from the beginning and then carry that behaviour into adulthood – leading to the world you see before you today. The world of smartphones, and really stupid people. Period.
The book gets 5 stars from me.
The nostalgia created by the book gets 100 stars!
It will now be impossible for me to avoid him. He is an exceptionally brilliant writer of inspirational, animal, and school prose.
He creates this old-world charm of the 1970s, 1980s and my favourite 1990s which I adore. Reading his ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’ is like walking into a time machine and going back to a time when there were no irritating smartphones, no instant WhatsApp messaging-cum-harassment, no online shopping, no pandemics, no global warming, no incessant perpetual rains 24/7 and 365 days of the year, and most importantly, no strong men politicians-cum-despots trying to erase the smile from our face daily through communalism, racism, regionalism, casteism, sexism and whatever you may have next.
I felt one with the protagonist Michael as he spent his early school days playing a simple game of football or soccer with his male friends in an abandoned muddy field. I felt one with him as he spent his days sailing with his humble and non-ambitious family, fishing and feeling the cool sea breeze upon his face and blowing through the flimsiness of his T-shirt.
I felt one with him as he did his math homework after school and then simply went to play till dinner time or till the sunset, with his football friends, not on a pristine and expensive turf costing lakhs of rupees, but on a simple mud-watered swampy ground where getting muddy was more important than playing the game. I felt one with him when he would spend his early mornings doing paper rounds for the Indian newspaper seller living across the street from where he lived. That simplicity of life, that dedication to one’s job to gain a monthly allowance, and that sweet patience of spirit made me nostalgic of a time that has long passed me by.
I miss those days of the 1990s, when I too used to play in the mud with my school or vicinity friends, either a good game of fun-basketball or cricket – scraping my shin and having a blast getting dirty or chasing squirrels a plenty, and climbing trees till we reached a screech owl’s nest, who would then hoot us back down for our insolence. I remember cycling like the protagonist Michael for hours together with my building and school friends, having races for fun and then reading Goosebumps or the Famous Five or the Secret Seven or the Hardy Boys and trying to mimic the stories contained therein while we still sat upon our BSA cycle seats.
I miss birdwatching with my binoculars and Kodak camera. I miss swinging for hours in the playground of my school humming the Josie and the Pussycats theme songs as it was shown on Cartoon Network of the 1990s. I miss playing amateur baseball, serious but fun badminton, and doubles at throwball. I miss making sandcastles in the sands of the Patwardhan Park playgrounds and throwing small pebbles in the sea with my estranged dad at Jogger’s Park while watching the sunset.
I miss those fascinating and evergreen shows on Cartoon Network, the Kermit Channel, POGO and the Hallmark Channel that we kids of the 1990s loved.
I miss Captain Planet, The Centurions, The Adventures of Johnny Quest, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, Top-Cat, Yogi Bear, Cow and Chicken, Ed, Edd and Eddy, SWAT Cats, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, He Man and the Masters of the Universe, Wishbone, Ghostwriter, and so much more. So much more and such a long-long time ago that I cannot remember any more, but I can still remember how truly happy and blissful I was back then.
I have forgotten the names, but I remember the feeling.
The book ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’ had that type of feel to it. That old world type of feeling which I want back so badly that it hurts.
The book was exciting, a feel-good book, a fun-read, adventurous, suspenseful and yet so blissfully old school that it could make any Millennial or Gen-X kid cry. The ending is heart-breaking, but it could not have been done any better. It had to be that way, because that was the way we handled things back then; we analysed life with our hearts and not with our brains or our groin. And I can tell you, some of us born before the year 2000 have really got hearts that bleed in the right places all the time and every time to our constant determent, but we still show up with our hearts wherever we go. That is what Michael and old Kensuke were like. They were people with hearts of gold that still bled for the love and betterment of the other.
My favourite scene in the book was when Michael’s father decided to give up everything and take the plunge to travel around the world by sea. I rarely see dads or parents like that nowadays and I therefore loved that. I also loved the way he called Michael ‘Monkeyface’ as an endearment. It reminded me of my elder uncle who used to call me the same till when he was alive and with me…was it only 7 months ago that he passed away!? Seems like we’ve been separated for eternity.
My favourite character in this book was Michael because I was a carefree lad (okay lass!) like him many years ago too. I did not experience life as a kid. I lived life as a kid and I had a heart – that was awfully soft in many places. Too soft at times for my own good. I resonate with him a lot, especially when he was asked to remain quiet about his adventures for ten years. I would have done the same when I was a kid. Maybe I would do so even now, but I doubt that. The world and especially kids today have grown so cruel and vicious that other than their own selfish needs and wants, they cannot see anything else or beyond. We have stimulated their brains to focus upon their pleasure principle perpetually. They now think through their groins and loins and base passions, and not their hearts, their spirits, and their souls.
They ruin lives and kill their own fellow people. They start it all from the beginning and then carry that behaviour into adulthood – leading to the world you see before you today. The world of smartphones, and really stupid people. Period.
The book gets 5 stars from me.
The nostalgia created by the book gets 100 stars!
January 17, 2024
هذا الكتاب استعرته لابنتي من ركن الأطفال في المكتبة، ولكن عندما وجدت اسم الدكتور عناني عليه كان لدي الفضول لقرائته.
لم يخب ظني فقد كان الكتاب رائعا حقا...علاقة انسانية جميلة ومؤثرة وأحداث سريعة متلاحقة.
بالطبع لن أتكلم عن الترجمة الجميلة، لكن الكتاب حقا يبعث على السرور بغلافه الرائع وشكله الأنيق، كتاب مبهج فعلا.
أحببته جدا ❤❤❤
لم يخب ظني فقد كان الكتاب رائعا حقا...علاقة انسانية جميلة ومؤثرة وأحداث سريعة متلاحقة.
بالطبع لن أتكلم عن الترجمة الجميلة، لكن الكتاب حقا يبعث على السرور بغلافه الرائع وشكله الأنيق، كتاب مبهج فعلا.
أحببته جدا ❤❤❤
July 9, 2007
Kensuke’s Kingdom is an adventure story about an eleven year old boy and his dog who get ship-wrecked on a remote island. The boy Michael has been on a pleasant sail around the world with his parents when suddenly he falls overboard in the middle of the night. Awakening on a beach, he has few survival skills and little hope. Mysteriously, food and water appear near his cave. Michael is not alone on the island, but his benefactor chooses to remain hidden. Only when the boy tries to build a signal fire does his companion appear. He is an aged Japanese man who wants nothing to do with an English boy or to be rescued. After a time, an accident intervenes, and the two slowly form a bond. Michael begins to give thought to the conflict between his loyalty to his friend and his desire to be rescued when an improbable rescue takes place.
This book is a very easy read: it is written with simple language, and moves briskly from event to event. The characters are not complex, and despite the dramatic nature of the situations, there is little emotional challenge to it. Kensuke is the most intriguing character, with a painful past, and a mission to protect the wildlife of the island. The unfolding of the relationship between Michael and Kensuke is definitely the crux of the book’s appeal. Although it has been well received, I was personally disappointed by how easily both mental and physical difficulties were overcome. The end in particular took me out of the book’s spell by being too unbelievable.
The language level, the speed of development of the plot, and the light touch with emotional issues make it both entertaining and mild. It would also be a good choice for younger readers with advanced reading skills, for whom more intense topics would be inappropriate.
This book is a very easy read: it is written with simple language, and moves briskly from event to event. The characters are not complex, and despite the dramatic nature of the situations, there is little emotional challenge to it. Kensuke is the most intriguing character, with a painful past, and a mission to protect the wildlife of the island. The unfolding of the relationship between Michael and Kensuke is definitely the crux of the book’s appeal. Although it has been well received, I was personally disappointed by how easily both mental and physical difficulties were overcome. The end in particular took me out of the book’s spell by being too unbelievable.
The language level, the speed of development of the plot, and the light touch with emotional issues make it both entertaining and mild. It would also be a good choice for younger readers with advanced reading skills, for whom more intense topics would be inappropriate.
July 17, 2013
حسنًا ، أنا الأن متأكدة
اليابان بتلاحقنى بالفعل فى كل حاجة xD
الرواية ديه أنا اخترتها بالصدفة كتخليص حق ههههه xD
حتى لم يشدنى الاسم و لا الغلاف أخدتها كده و خلاص
بس لما بدأت أقرأها عجبتنى أوووى
أحلى حاجة إن كان فيها كلمات يابانية و أنا كنت فاهماها :3 :3
و استغربت أوى قلت الناس هيفهموها ازاى
واكتشفت فى الأخر انها مترجمة فى الأخر ههههه
المهم انى فهمتها من غير الترجمة :3 :3
و ياااه بقى خلتنى أعيط معرفش ليه !!
بس عيطت :D
لحد أخر صفحة كنت متأكدة انى مش هأستفاد منها حاجة
بس فى حاجة اتغيرت جوايا
هى حاجة غريبة أنا مش هأعرف أكتب أنا استفدت ايه !
مش هأعرف أوصفه بالكلمات
هو إحساس غريب كده
+ أنا حاسة إنها حقيقة أوووى خصوًا الرسالة الى فى الأخر ديه مهمتى الآن أكتشف انها حقيقة أو لأ
المهم أكتر حتت عجبتنى هى ::
" كنت أشعر فى أعماقى انى شخص سيئ ، و أقول فى نفسى لقد مات كل أصدقائى ، و مات أفراد أسرتى جميعًا ، و أنا حى .لم أكن أريد أن أعيش. ولكن سرعان ما قابلت السعالى. كانت تلك القردة تشفق على . هذا مكان جميل جدًا ، مكان يسوده السلام . لا حرب هنا، لا أشرار. قلت لنفسى ، يا كنسوكى أنت رجل محظوظ جدًا لأنك حى .. "
" إنها بالغة الضآلة يا ميكا سان ، و لكنها شجاعة جدًا . إنها أشجع منى . إنها لا تعرف ما سوف تجده فى البحر ، ولا ما سوف يحدث لها ، ولكنها تخوضه مهما يكن الأمر . شجاعة بالغة . ربما تعلمت منها درسًا نافعًا . لقد استقر رأيى الأن . عندما تأتى سفينة يومًا ما ، ونشعل النيران و يعثرون علينا ، فسوف أرحل . سأرجل مثل السلاحف البحرية . سأذهب معك .... "
" سوف ينقطع المطر حين ينقطع و لا تستطيع أن توف هطوله بأن تريد له ذلك "
" ربما يكون ذلك فى القريب العاجل ، و ربما لا يكون فى القريب العاجل . لكن السفينة سوف تأتى . يجب ألا نقضى الحياة فى الرجاء دائمًا والإنتظار دائمًا . فغاية الحياة أن نحياها "
" وثانيًا : أن تفكر فى أحيانًا ، بل أحيانًا كثيرة ، بعد أن تعود لوطنك فى إنجلترا .إذا رأيت البدر المنير فى السماء فتذكرنى ، و سوف أفعل مثل هذا هنا و هكذا لن ينسى أحدنا الأخر أبدًا .. "
ملحوظة 1 : ده أول ريفيو أرغى فيه كده هههههههه
ملحوظة 2 : الإقتبسات ممكن متكونش ليها معنى لحد بس ليها معنى كبير أوى عندى لأنها فكرتنى بحاجات بأحبها <3
ملحوظة 3 : أيوة ديه رواية أطفال و أنا بأعيش طفولة متأخرة :P
حاجة كمان
جدير بالذكر انى حبيت المشاهد فى الجزيرة و وصفها جدًا و بقيت أحب القرود و السعالى
بس أكتر مشهد عجبنى بلا منازع بتاع السحالف :3 :3
اليابان بتلاحقنى بالفعل فى كل حاجة xD
الرواية ديه أنا اخترتها بالصدفة كتخليص حق ههههه xD
حتى لم يشدنى الاسم و لا الغلاف أخدتها كده و خلاص
بس لما بدأت أقرأها عجبتنى أوووى
أحلى حاجة إن كان فيها كلمات يابانية و أنا كنت فاهماها :3 :3
و استغربت أوى قلت الناس هيفهموها ازاى
واكتشفت فى الأخر انها مترجمة فى الأخر ههههه
المهم انى فهمتها من غير الترجمة :3 :3
و ياااه بقى خلتنى أعيط معرفش ليه !!
بس عيطت :D
لحد أخر صفحة كنت متأكدة انى مش هأستفاد منها حاجة
بس فى حاجة اتغيرت جوايا
هى حاجة غريبة أنا مش هأعرف أكتب أنا استفدت ايه !
مش هأعرف أوصفه بالكلمات
هو إحساس غريب كده
+ أنا حاسة إنها حقيقة أوووى خصوًا الرسالة الى فى الأخر ديه مهمتى الآن أكتشف انها حقيقة أو لأ
المهم أكتر حتت عجبتنى هى ::
" كنت أشعر فى أعماقى انى شخص سيئ ، و أقول فى نفسى لقد مات كل أصدقائى ، و مات أفراد أسرتى جميعًا ، و أنا حى .لم أكن أريد أن أعيش. ولكن سرعان ما قابلت السعالى. كانت تلك القردة تشفق على . هذا مكان جميل جدًا ، مكان يسوده السلام . لا حرب هنا، لا أشرار. قلت لنفسى ، يا كنسوكى أنت رجل محظوظ جدًا لأنك حى .. "
" إنها بالغة الضآلة يا ميكا سان ، و لكنها شجاعة جدًا . إنها أشجع منى . إنها لا تعرف ما سوف تجده فى البحر ، ولا ما سوف يحدث لها ، ولكنها تخوضه مهما يكن الأمر . شجاعة بالغة . ربما تعلمت منها درسًا نافعًا . لقد استقر رأيى الأن . عندما تأتى سفينة يومًا ما ، ونشعل النيران و يعثرون علينا ، فسوف أرحل . سأرجل مثل السلاحف البحرية . سأذهب معك .... "
" سوف ينقطع المطر حين ينقطع و لا تستطيع أن توف هطوله بأن تريد له ذلك "
" ربما يكون ذلك فى القريب العاجل ، و ربما لا يكون فى القريب العاجل . لكن السفينة سوف تأتى . يجب ألا نقضى الحياة فى الرجاء دائمًا والإنتظار دائمًا . فغاية الحياة أن نحياها "
" وثانيًا : أن تفكر فى أحيانًا ، بل أحيانًا كثيرة ، بعد أن تعود لوطنك فى إنجلترا .إذا رأيت البدر المنير فى السماء فتذكرنى ، و سوف أفعل مثل هذا هنا و هكذا لن ينسى أحدنا الأخر أبدًا .. "
ملحوظة 1 : ده أول ريفيو أرغى فيه كده هههههههه
ملحوظة 2 : الإقتبسات ممكن متكونش ليها معنى لحد بس ليها معنى كبير أوى عندى لأنها فكرتنى بحاجات بأحبها <3
ملحوظة 3 : أيوة ديه رواية أطفال و أنا بأعيش طفولة متأخرة :P
حاجة كمان
جدير بالذكر انى حبيت المشاهد فى الجزيرة و وصفها جدًا و بقيت أحب القرود و السعالى
بس أكتر مشهد عجبنى بلا منازع بتاع السحالف :3 :3
September 30, 2007
This book was amazing, anyone who reads it at first might or probably will find it boring, however it soon begins to get exciting. Plus the more you read it, the more you want to carry on reading. I found this book very fascinating and interesting and what i think of Michael Morpurgo is that he is a very talented writer and i do know that he has written many other books and he really has inspired and encouraged me to read more of his books. I really would recommend this to anyone aged from 9-11 (or possibly 10). Or even an adult, because this is just a magnificent book and i really enjoyed it.
September 7, 2021
سوف تأتي سفينة يوماً ما، ربما يكون ذلك في القريب العاجل،
و ربما لا يكون، لكن السفينة ستأتي.
يجب ألا نقضي الحياة في الرجاء و الإنتظار دائما،
فغاية الحياة أن نحياها.
عاش كينسوكي حياته كلها خائفاً من البشر، لهول ما شاهده من فظاعاتهم خلال الحرب العالمية الثانية، و اعظمها هو إلقاء القنابل النووية على هيروشيما و ناغاساكي، مما أفقده الأمل بالرجوع الى بلده المدمرة، لانه على ثقة بان زوجته و ابنه و اهله و كل من عرفهم قد تبخروا، و أفقده ثقته بالبشر.
إلى أن جاء مايكل الى هذه الجزيرة و غير مفاهيمه بطفولته و عناده ببعض الأحيان، فملأ قلب كينسوكي بالحب و الأمل، لكنه رغم ذلك، بقي وفيا للقردة و لم يتركها و يرحل عن الجزيرة.
كانت قصة مايكل و ضياعه و غرقه، و عيشه مع كينسوكي في جزيرته و مملكته، هي حكاية اليأس و الأمل و الإيمان، فمن يكن عنده الإيمان، يبقى لديه الامل دوما بالحياة و النجاة.
أحب قصص الاطفال التي تخاطب الكبار كما في هذا الكتاب، ابدع الكاتب بتبسيط الامور، و ايجاد قصة تمتلئ بالدروس و المفاهيم، كانت رواية رائعة جدا.
و ربما لا يكون، لكن السفينة ستأتي.
يجب ألا نقضي الحياة في الرجاء و الإنتظار دائما،
فغاية الحياة أن نحياها.
عاش كينسوكي حياته كلها خائفاً من البشر، لهول ما شاهده من فظاعاتهم خلال الحرب العالمية الثانية، و اعظمها هو إلقاء القنابل النووية على هيروشيما و ناغاساكي، مما أفقده الأمل بالرجوع الى بلده المدمرة، لانه على ثقة بان زوجته و ابنه و اهله و كل من عرفهم قد تبخروا، و أفقده ثقته بالبشر.
إلى أن جاء مايكل الى هذه الجزيرة و غير مفاهيمه بطفولته و عناده ببعض الأحيان، فملأ قلب كينسوكي بالحب و الأمل، لكنه رغم ذلك، بقي وفيا للقردة و لم يتركها و يرحل عن الجزيرة.
كانت قصة مايكل و ضياعه و غرقه، و عيشه مع كينسوكي في جزيرته و مملكته، هي حكاية اليأس و الأمل و الإيمان، فمن يكن عنده الإيمان، يبقى لديه الامل دوما بالحياة و النجاة.
أحب قصص الاطفال التي تخاطب الكبار كما في هذا الكتاب، ابدع الكاتب بتبسيط الامور، و ايجاد قصة تمتلئ بالدروس و المفاهيم، كانت رواية رائعة جدا.
October 6, 2011
My son is reading this book at school with his class and I decided to read it as well as he said he would like to be able to discuss it with me because he found it so exciting, I love to read a Michael Morpurgo book every now and again as I love his writing and one of my favourite books by Michael Morpurgo is Private Peaceful so was quite happy to read Kensuke's Kingdom.
The story is about Michael a twelve year old boy who gets washed up on an island in the pacific, Michael struggles to survive as he learns the ways of the Island but he is not alone...
Kensuke's Kingdom is a lovely book and a great adventure story, I love the fact that in such a subtle way and without a child even realising it they learn so much from this book as throughout the story there are lots of interesting facts and information. I also love the emotions in this book and think it has wonderful discussion topics for children.
A great Children's story and I am looking forward to reading more of Michael Morpurgo books.
The story is about Michael a twelve year old boy who gets washed up on an island in the pacific, Michael struggles to survive as he learns the ways of the Island but he is not alone...
Kensuke's Kingdom is a lovely book and a great adventure story, I love the fact that in such a subtle way and without a child even realising it they learn so much from this book as throughout the story there are lots of interesting facts and information. I also love the emotions in this book and think it has wonderful discussion topics for children.
A great Children's story and I am looking forward to reading more of Michael Morpurgo books.
July 24, 2017
A deceptively simple and straightforward story - so brilliantly written and without a doubt up their with Morpurgo's very best. As with all classic 'children's literature' this transcends any confines of the genre.
December 1, 2018
Kensuke's Kingdom is a story of an eleven year old boy Michael who gets washed up on an island on the eve of his 12th birthday and meets an old man by the name of Kensuke who has lived alone on the island for 40+ years. During the months Michael is stranded on the island, he and Kensuke form a bond of close friendship and learn to live together as a family but at the same time Michael never loses faith and hope that he will meet his parents again one day.
I have made a pact with myself to read as many Michael Morpurgo books as I can. His writes very inspiring and touching stories. The basic theme that runs through all his books is about keeping faith and not losing hope even in the most adverse of situations; that is if both faith and hope are intact, a person will eventually find 'the light at the end of the tunnel'.
I have made a pact with myself to read as many Michael Morpurgo books as I can. His writes very inspiring and touching stories. The basic theme that runs through all his books is about keeping faith and not losing hope even in the most adverse of situations; that is if both faith and hope are intact, a person will eventually find 'the light at the end of the tunnel'.
March 9, 2025
In school, we used to have a special period once a week called "Rapid Reading", where we used to read aloud all those abridged S.Chand classic editions. This RR period probably sowed the first seeds of a strong love for the classics in my heart.
Two such books I was mesmerized by were "The Coral Island" by RM Ballantyne and "Swiss Family Robinson" by Johann Wyss. The common thread between these two books was that of humans being stranded on an island after a shipwreck. Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, arguably the most famous book in this genre, wasn't a part of the school RR syllabus but my Dad convinced me to borrow it from the library and give it a go. It seemed darker and more dangerous than the first two books (probably because I was reading the unabridged version) but I still enjoyed it.
After all these years, I have finally found a book that takes the same idea of being stranded on an island but targets it at slightly younger children: "Kensuke's Kingdom" by Michael Morpurgo.
The lead character of the book is a young boy of 10 who falls overboard his family ship and is rescued by the mysterious Kensuke who has made an abandoned Island his home. How they adapt to life in the island and adjust to each other forms the main story. The relationship between the man and the boy is nicely depicted and would serve as a nice discussion point if you intend to read it together with your kids.
The story is simple & straightforward enough, the characters are interesting & lovable enough, and the flow is satisfactory enough. Of course, you cannot expect the complexities of a Coral Island or Robinson Crusoe here because it is aimed at children after all. It's a pretty thin book at 176 pages. So I would say perfect for independent readers above 9 years. Good read-together option for the 7-9 age group. Might be scary or alarming for kids younger than that.
My daughter rates it a 5/5. I rate it 4.25/5 as a children's book.
*********************************************
Join me on the Facebook group, " Readers Forever! ", for more reviews and other book-related discussions and fun.
Two such books I was mesmerized by were "The Coral Island" by RM Ballantyne and "Swiss Family Robinson" by Johann Wyss. The common thread between these two books was that of humans being stranded on an island after a shipwreck. Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, arguably the most famous book in this genre, wasn't a part of the school RR syllabus but my Dad convinced me to borrow it from the library and give it a go. It seemed darker and more dangerous than the first two books (probably because I was reading the unabridged version) but I still enjoyed it.
After all these years, I have finally found a book that takes the same idea of being stranded on an island but targets it at slightly younger children: "Kensuke's Kingdom" by Michael Morpurgo.
The lead character of the book is a young boy of 10 who falls overboard his family ship and is rescued by the mysterious Kensuke who has made an abandoned Island his home. How they adapt to life in the island and adjust to each other forms the main story. The relationship between the man and the boy is nicely depicted and would serve as a nice discussion point if you intend to read it together with your kids.
The story is simple & straightforward enough, the characters are interesting & lovable enough, and the flow is satisfactory enough. Of course, you cannot expect the complexities of a Coral Island or Robinson Crusoe here because it is aimed at children after all. It's a pretty thin book at 176 pages. So I would say perfect for independent readers above 9 years. Good read-together option for the 7-9 age group. Might be scary or alarming for kids younger than that.
My daughter rates it a 5/5. I rate it 4.25/5 as a children's book.
*********************************************
Join me on the Facebook group, " Readers Forever! ", for more reviews and other book-related discussions and fun.
May 16, 2019
A wonderfully stirring story of companionship, love, hope and anguish, brilliantly told through the eyes of Michael - the book’s brave protagonist. There are light-hearted moments of joy and laughter, yet also moments of great sadness. An utterly compelling read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A recommended read for children in Upper KS2.
October 31, 2007
this book follows michael and his parents on a trip of a lifetime around the world. they give up thier jobs, pack their belongings onto the 'peggy sue' and off they set. sounds like a fairy tale doesn't it...
michael falls over board and ends up being washed up on an island with only one other inhabitant - kensuke!
this story is one of immense emotion and explores friendship and loyalty. it shows the true spirit of human nature and will bring a tear to the hardest 11 year old (yes, i cried too!)
even if you don't like children's books - read this, it is a special story that needs to be shared!
michael falls over board and ends up being washed up on an island with only one other inhabitant - kensuke!
this story is one of immense emotion and explores friendship and loyalty. it shows the true spirit of human nature and will bring a tear to the hardest 11 year old (yes, i cried too!)
even if you don't like children's books - read this, it is a special story that needs to be shared!
not-sure
August 23, 2019Note to Self - to read depends on what Scarlett thinks when she is finished with it. 😊
April 27, 2019
Children should always have at least one book about far-off adventures that involve the treacherous seas. This slim volume about a boy and his dog and orangutans on an island is just about a perfect read for child and/or adult.
The boy and his parents decide to set aside the usual landlubber life and take off on a voyage aboard their sailboat. Everything goes well until the boy and his dog fall off the boat and end up on an island full of mystery. There seems to be someone else living there, a remnant of WWII. The relationship that evolves between the two makes the book a treat, as each island inhabitant has to change their outlook.
I loved the adventure aspect and the idea that there is a desert island somewhere for each of us.
Book Season = Summer (coconut shells)
The boy and his parents decide to set aside the usual landlubber life and take off on a voyage aboard their sailboat. Everything goes well until the boy and his dog fall off the boat and end up on an island full of mystery. There seems to be someone else living there, a remnant of WWII. The relationship that evolves between the two makes the book a treat, as each island inhabitant has to change their outlook.
I loved the adventure aspect and the idea that there is a desert island somewhere for each of us.
Book Season = Summer (coconut shells)
February 21, 2021
7.9/10
For a long time Michael, his parents and the fourth member of the family a dog named Stella are having a great time sailing around the world in their yacht the Peggy Sue. Sure they had some rough times, very natural when you decide to do something like that, but they always had each other. Till one day, during a storm, Michael and Stella fell off Peggy Sue. When Michael opens his eyes again he finds himself in a very small island in the middle of nowhere.
That's where he will meet Kensuke and that is where the most interesting part of this story begins.
For a long time Michael, his parents and the fourth member of the family a dog named Stella are having a great time sailing around the world in their yacht the Peggy Sue. Sure they had some rough times, very natural when you decide to do something like that, but they always had each other. Till one day, during a storm, Michael and Stella fell off Peggy Sue. When Michael opens his eyes again he finds himself in a very small island in the middle of nowhere.
That's where he will meet Kensuke and that is where the most interesting part of this story begins.
January 1, 2020
2.5* read this for french class
October 22, 2019
4,5! I enjoyed this so incredibly much! If only it were a bit longer, so I could've spent more time with Michael and Kensuke instead of leaving them so early. The book reminded me of The Island of the Blue Dolphins (one of my favourite books as a child) in the best way possible, and I can't get over what an adorable and mesmerzing read it was. Truly magical in its beauty, with just the perfectly right amount of bittersweetness, melancholy and emotion without being too sappy or on-the-nose at the same time; a combination that too many other authors fail at. The book doesn't pretend to be something it isn't, it's a children's book after all, but that's so refreshing on its own! After all, sometimes even the most sophisticated books fade when you compare the both of them in enjoyment. The story is simple enough: the main character strands on an (almost) abandoned island together with his dog Stella - who would usually easily be my favourite character, if not all of them had been so amazing that I really can't choose between them. His company consists of Kensuke, an adorable yet complicated old guy and the only other human inhabitant, whom he grows to be friends with, as well as all kind of monkeys who entertain him as only monkeys can (now I understand why Filip loves the book so much; plus, there's this one baby Orang Utan that was so adorable that I just wanted to jump straight into the book and steal him). It's not the most exciting story ever been told, surely not. It's not exatly unique, everyone knows at least one similar book or has at least heard of Robinson Crusoe (unless you live behind some kind of rock...or on Kensuke's Island) The novel is extremely short too, there's not much happening or even some kind of plot twist and yet...None of that matters! On the contrary! It's not only one of those rare books that don't need any of that stuff - Kensuke's kingdom is beautiful exactly because of its simplicity. It's a very easy and fast read (it took me about 2 hours); the book draws you in extremely quickly and unfortunately spits you out almost exactly as quickly, but inbetween you have this really wonderful and almost magical journey. I don't know how the author did it, but his narrative made me feel immediately connected with the main character and everyone else in the book, something other authors (Deborah Harkness cough cough) can't even manage over the span of more than a thousand pages. Michael Morpurgo needed barely 150 (the book was written in a really big font size too). That's what I call proper talent. So while the book may not be super-special on paper, it's all the more special for your mind. Will I be so crazy as to describe it as "balm for your soul"? Absolutely! I just feel like it's the perfect description for it (not that I want to praise myself, but) It has this amazing quality of making you forget everything on your mind and capturing your whole attention, and after finishing the read you just feel really refreshed and cleansed somehow. I know it sounds totally insane, but that's what i felt like to me! And what makes the book even more perfect are the drawings in this edition, they are absolutely adorable and fit the whole theme and feeling of the book soooo well! I'm absolutely in love as you can see, and I'm so very close to buying it myself. Will my friend notice if I never give it back to him? I do wonder...
I'm not sure if everyone would enjoy this book as much (I know for a fact people who judge a book to hell if it doesn't have an exciting story or plot twist ending, something I never understood), but as long as you're aware that this book is a cute children's story and doesn't aim for anything else, you should be perfectly prepared for a wondrous journey to some remote island in the world :)
PS: Personally, I'd have given the book a sadder ending (not that it isn't bittersweet already); but that's such a minor point of complaint, especially given that it is a story for children after all, that I almost feel guilty for writing it! The world is cruel enough; a little bit of improbable luck, hope and happiness really don't hurt anybody.
I'm not sure if everyone would enjoy this book as much (I know for a fact people who judge a book to hell if it doesn't have an exciting story or plot twist ending, something I never understood), but as long as you're aware that this book is a cute children's story and doesn't aim for anything else, you should be perfectly prepared for a wondrous journey to some remote island in the world :)
PS: Personally, I'd have given the book a sadder ending (not that it isn't bittersweet already); but that's such a minor point of complaint, especially given that it is a story for children after all, that I almost feel guilty for writing it! The world is cruel enough; a little bit of improbable luck, hope and happiness really don't hurt anybody.
September 8, 2024
Decided to re-read on holiday, one of my fave childhood books. Extremely freaked out/ excited that is now in cinema !!!!
March 11, 2017
Received this reread for my birthday. Would highly recommend, it is a great book!
July 26, 2011
This enchanting tale is full of emotive storylines throughout - love, compassion, hope, despair, envy, trust, fear and jealousy are just some of the feelings that are expertly portrayed by the inimitable Michael Morpurgo.
The story tells of a 12 year old boy, Michael who lives with his parents and his dog - Stella Artois - in a normal family home. One day Michael's father loses his job, and as there are no more available where they live, the family decide to follow a dream and use dad's redundancy money to spend a year sailing around the world. Michael has mixed feelings at first - to be leaving his home and friends - but he soon realises what a fantastic opportunity it is.
A storm and an unruly Stella cause a disaster and Michael and Stella are lost overboard! Luckily for them, they drift ashore on a strange, isolated island where they are befriended by the island's strange inhabitant - Kensuke.
It takes a long time for Michael and Kensuke to come to like each other and to understand each other, and even more time for Michael to get used to the island. I won't tell you how the book ends but I will give you some advice.
YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!
The story tells of a 12 year old boy, Michael who lives with his parents and his dog - Stella Artois - in a normal family home. One day Michael's father loses his job, and as there are no more available where they live, the family decide to follow a dream and use dad's redundancy money to spend a year sailing around the world. Michael has mixed feelings at first - to be leaving his home and friends - but he soon realises what a fantastic opportunity it is.
A storm and an unruly Stella cause a disaster and Michael and Stella are lost overboard! Luckily for them, they drift ashore on a strange, isolated island where they are befriended by the island's strange inhabitant - Kensuke.
It takes a long time for Michael and Kensuke to come to like each other and to understand each other, and even more time for Michael to get used to the island. I won't tell you how the book ends but I will give you some advice.
YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!
November 20, 2008
Year 4 =.=
ooo i didn't like this at the start but then it got quite exciting then boring again.
but an OKAY book.
ooo i didn't like this at the start but then it got quite exciting then boring again.
but an OKAY book.
July 14, 2008
Kensuke's Kingdom is a wonderful story of survival and friendship as it takes you away as Michael, a boy out with his family on the ultimate adventure. Michael and his family are going to live aboard the Peggy Sue, (boat). His family consists of a mother, father, and dog, Stella Artois. Drifted away in a storm, Michael and Stella end up on an island and are reluctantly accepted into Kensuke's, (a World War II veteran who hasn't left the island since the war was over) world. Personally, the novel concluded with a moderately emotional ending for me, but this is a story I would recommend to anyone in search of a quick adventure.
December 29, 2012
اسم الكتاب: مملكة كنسوكي
الكاتب: مايكل موربورجو
ترجمة: د. محمد عناني
الناشر: دار بلسم
الكتاب في الاصل مخصص للأطفال، وأنا في الاصل احب قراءة هذه الكتب من وقت لآخر لذلك استعرته من اختي الصغيرة :).
الكتاب يحكي قصة الصبي مايكل الذي يبلغ 11 عاما ورحلته في البحر الذي انتهت به على جزيرة مع كلبته بعد ان سقط من القارب ليلا واهله نيام.
تحكي القصة عن كيفية بقاءه على قيد الحياة لمدة عام او عامين (نسيت بصراحة :$)وكيف عاد بعد ذلك إلى والديه.
من الممتع العودة لأجواء الطفولة من وقت لآخر.
لم اندم على قراءتها.
:)
الكاتب: مايكل موربورجو
ترجمة: د. محمد عناني
الناشر: دار بلسم
الكتاب في الاصل مخصص للأطفال، وأنا في الاصل احب قراءة هذه الكتب من وقت لآخر لذلك استعرته من اختي الصغيرة :).
الكتاب يحكي قصة الصبي مايكل الذي يبلغ 11 عاما ورحلته في البحر الذي انتهت به على جزيرة مع كلبته بعد ان سقط من القارب ليلا واهله نيام.
تحكي القصة عن كيفية بقاءه على قيد الحياة لمدة عام او عامين (نسيت بصراحة :$)وكيف عاد بعد ذلك إلى والديه.
من الممتع العودة لأجواء الطفولة من وقت لآخر.
لم اندم على قراءتها.
:)
June 16, 2025
๑A boy named Michael mysteriously disappears at night before his twelvth birthday.
He soon wakes up and yes, he finds himself washed up on a beach
Yes, yes always the SAME storyline 乁 ˘ o ˘ ㄏ
★But then he meets an old man and soon starts scavenging for food and resources along with kensuke, the old man i mentioned along with his dog.
This is a solid 3/10
I remember my old English classes where they used to pick out extracts from these kinds of books it was so nostalgic!!
✪But overall the story was beautiful and showed how we are so unappreciative of the nature around us 3/10!
He soon wakes up and yes, he finds himself washed up on a beach
Yes, yes always the SAME storyline 乁 ˘ o ˘ ㄏ
★But then he meets an old man and soon starts scavenging for food and resources along with kensuke, the old man i mentioned along with his dog.
This is a solid 3/10
I remember my old English classes where they used to pick out extracts from these kinds of books it was so nostalgic!!
✪But overall the story was beautiful and showed how we are so unappreciative of the nature around us 3/10!
Read
May 15, 2017ليس هناك أحوج من البالغين لقراءة أعمال هكذه، هل هذا كتاب أطفال؟!
June 5, 2017
كتاب جميل وذو فكرة محببة جداً، لكن الترجمة الرائعة والصقيلة هي ما الفتت نظري وابهرتني حقاً اكثر من انبهاري واستمتاعي بالكتاب وحبكته....
December 29, 2021
Reading it again only reminds me why it’s my favourite book ever.
May 31, 2020
"𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢."
A modern day Robinson Crusoe story for young people (9+) and their family. A really fab read, that I enjoyed reading with my children. I found it prompted lots of discussion which is a really great thing when reading with kids.
#recommendedread #adventurestory
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