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Los hermanos Darling

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Guapos, educados y de buena familia, los hermanos Darling parecen los niños ideales... ¡pero son peligrosísimos! Iris, Narciso y Prímula, hijos de un rico hombre de negocios, siempre están al cuidado de frías niñeras. Y les encanta atormentarlas...

Hasta que aparece una institutriz muy estrafalaria que les enredará en una alocada aventura: vivirán en el barco de unos ladrones torpes, perseguirán un raro objeto robado y se enfrentarán a unos saqueadores muy brutos. Rodeados de malhechores, los hermanos Darling encontrarán una salida a sus respectivos talentos y disfrutarán de lo lindo metiéndose en tremendos problemas.

252 pages, Hardcover

First published March 25, 2004

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About the author

Sam Llewellyn

104 books49 followers
Sam Llewellyn is a British author of literature for children and adults.

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5 stars
69 (21%)
4 stars
98 (30%)
3 stars
102 (31%)
2 stars
44 (13%)
1 star
12 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Leo.
5,175 reviews670 followers
December 29, 2021
It was what I was looking for. A fun, quick and pleasent palette cleanser. But didn't have that "little extra" to get four stars. Still an enjoyable read though
Profile Image for Marta.
30 reviews2 followers
December 26, 2021
Releyendo libros de mi infancia como coping mechanism durante la cuarentena
Profile Image for Ruhama.
247 reviews6 followers
December 9, 2009
Another book to schlep to kids who like Lemony Snicket. The Darling children have known nothing but nannies for most of their lives, and know how to thwart most of them, too. Despite the nannys’ best intentions (burnt custards, being sent to bed early with no dinner, etc.), the children have managed to get themselves onto the nanny blacklist, and one evening, Mr. Darling is desperate for someone to watch the children while he and Mrs. Secretary Darling go out. He calls AAA Aardvark Child Minding and Security, and Nanny Pete is sent over, with intentions of robbing the house blind! The children stow away in his car, and soon are heavily involved in coaching the AAA Aardvark robbers of how to be effective nannies.

This is a funny parody of nannies, but the blatant connections to A Series of Unfortunate Events kept getting in the way. It also tried too hard to get things rolling—the character development is stiff and the cliff hangers are weak. It also was a bit predictable, as hard as he tried to make it confusing so you couldn’t figure it out by the end. Overall, I was disappointed, but I would bet kids love this book— it’s British, it’s similar to something they already know and love, there’s a bit of mystery, it’s got humor and it’s a quick read.
1 review
September 27, 2013
Had great potential, but didn't quite deliver.
I bought this book a few years ago and only managed to finish it now. It's a very hard book to read, and it took many tries. The reason is simply that it's /boring/. I loved the characters, I loved the idea, and yet it was written in a manner that I couldn't get into. It's one of those books that you read one page and you look at the book and think "ugh...do I really have to read this?". The only reason I forced myself to finish it was because I was curious as to how it would end, and yet even the ending didn't quite deliver, but since this is a children's book, I suppose the predictability of it can be forgiven.
The author did try his best to be engaging, that was clear from the frequent notes he wrote in a friendly, conversational manner, but those rare buts were, unfortunately, the only bits that were actually fun to read. The rest of the time, it was unengaging and dull.
So I'll give this book 3 stars - for the excellent idea and randomness of it, and take away 2 stars for the writing style.
Profile Image for Stephan.
463 reviews13 followers
February 8, 2021
Ni vet hur man ofta skyller barns dåliga uppförande på föräldrarna? Trots att Syskonen Raring är fruktansvärda odjur som hittills betat igenom 18 olika "nannys" (och skickat flera av dem till sjukhuset på köpet) så kan man omöjligen skylla det på deras föräldrar. Föräldrarna är ju aldrig där ens en gång! De spenderar faktiskt långt mer tid på olika galor, parties och karibiska semesteröar än med sina barn. Deras Styvmor kommer för den delen knappt ihåg vad barnen heter.
Så... ok, man kanske kan skylla på föräldrarna.
Viola, Oliver och Rose är varje nannys mardröm. De riggar huset med allsköns olika, livsfarliga, fällor och gör allt de kan för att driva varje barnvakt på flykten.

Inte konstigt att familjen blivit svartlistad hos vartenda nannyförmedlare i staden. Vartenda, utom en! Och eftersom pappa och Sekreterarmamman ska iväg på ännu en tillställning så får man ordna med en ny barnvakt i rödaste rappet.
Och vilken Nanny de får sen! Nanny Pete kanske ser ut som en riktig nanny. Med klänning, plommonstop och snörskor. (vi får bortse från flinten och skäggstubben). Men istället för kall gröt och vidbränd vaniljkräm serveras det hämtmat till kvällsmat och istället för att kräva tystnad uppmuntrar Nanny Pete barnen att ställa frågor (och svarar på dem!). Barnen vet inte riktigt vad de ska göra med den nya nannyn... så de bestämmer sig för att stjäla hans bil helt enkelt. I ungefär samma veva upptäcker de att Nanny Pete är en erfaren inbrottstjuv, att han är en av flera hundra som håller till på ett lyxigt fartyg nere i hamnen (s/s Kleptomanic) samt att barnen mycket hellre slår sig i lag med brottslingarna än att återvända hem.
Slår sig i lag? Säg hellre att de börjar träna skurkarna!

Mycket humor, action och knasiga karaktärer gör det här till en härlig högläsningsbok som säkert kan roa många i mellanåldern. Det kanske inte är den djupaste eller mest minnesvärda bok jag läst, men tycker man om Lemony Snickets böcker om Syskonen Baudelaires olycksaliga liv så är det här något för er!
Profile Image for Chazzi.
1,142 reviews18 followers
May 2, 2024
The Darling children –
Daisy (12 ½), - oldest and a pro in nanny hating, and excels in managing things.
Cassian (11 ¼) – his expertise in the combo of mechanical/explosives is a major plus when he creates booby-traps and systems for special situations.
Primrose (10) – shines as a cook/chemist when she concocts some deadly recipes.
These talents become necessary when Papa Darling and his new wife leave the children under the care of Nanny Pete.

Nanny Pete is from AAA Ardvark Child Minding and Security. There is more to Nanny Pete than a brown bowler and the blue Mark 2 Jaguar parked on the curb. Nanny has an eye for expensive things such as silver, furnishings and the like. Seems AAA Ardvark nannies aren’t just your usual nannies. They also have some special skills which the three Darlings learn about, in real time, when they find themselves involved with a cruise ship of burglars, stolen goods, a stuffed teddy bear and other elements of a wild caper.

The various “skills” of the children come in handy in getting through the adventure and solving the mystery of the very rare teddy bear. To my there is a taste of Lemony Snickett and Raold Dahl with a British accent. Definitely not boring.
39 reviews
March 1, 2024
I love it.

I read it first time when I was a teenager and I started loving reading.
I read an other time in my twenties and now for my daughter.

I just love it. Its easy to read, the story goes fast, for me the writing style is just nice.
14 reviews
October 29, 2024
I can not speak for everyone, but as a child this was my favorite novel. I found it at the back of a library book-sale and I felt so blessed to have found it. Even though everyone might not enjoy it, I think it caters perfectly to the age range the author attempts to write for!
Profile Image for fiona  japko.
119 reviews1 follower
May 23, 2024
moja ulubiona książka jak byłam dzieckiem!!!!!!!! czytałam ją 100 razy
25 reviews
December 2, 2013
A very good book that i really enjoyed. A well told story for children

Three children named Daisy, Cassian and Primrose run away in the back of a robber's car who got into their house by pretending to be a nanny from AAA Aardvark. They rode in the back of the car to a cargo ship where they were discovered.

After making it clear that they were staying aboard they find out that the ship is broken down. The chief engineer's stuffed bear was torn into five pieces and the engineer refused to start the ship until his stuffed bear "the royal Edward" was restored.

So the three kids set out to find the bits before another band of robbers gets the pieces. In the end they tie having a two of the bear pieces each.They chose a champions to fight one another. The kids win and the chief fixes the ship.
Profile Image for Aiyana.
109 reviews18 followers
November 22, 2014
Little Darlings is the tale of three siblings Daisy, Cassian and Primrose who have had it with nannies. They have however gotten used to their father disappearing for months at a time, so, they basically live life on their own. Until they encounter a very strange nanny, who actually shows them kindness. This leads to an adventure that none of them expected. The Little Darlings will never need nannies ever again.

I picked this book up because I needed a humor book to read, and the cover looked interesting.

I finished this book because, unfortunately I have a rule about leaving books unfinished. The book was very boring and dreadful to read.

I recommend this book to Aran. I think the characters fit his personality.
Profile Image for Melissa Lindberg.
784 reviews3 followers
May 5, 2016
Cheerful, light, sick-day reading. Enjoyed it.

The three Darling children are horrible to their nannies. Until Nanny #19 shows up, and is actually kind to them ... and not at all like a nanny. When they attempt to make off with the new Nanny's car, they discover Nanny Pete is actually a burglar ...and so are off on an adventure of their own. And all their skills will come in handy ... .

Took this out from the library years ago for my kid to read. He was woefully uninterested, and we managed to lose it, and then had to pay for it. Years later we found it. He was still uninterested ... but now I have read it and it was as delightful as I thought it would be.
Profile Image for Kit.
24 reviews
July 13, 2012
I am in no way responsible for bringing up these children. This enables me to absolutely love all three of them. And all the rest of the characters, the narrator's friendly style of writing, and the entertaining silliness of the whole adventure.

I am in the process of bullying my little sister into reading it, because every good child should. And every parent, to put their children's behaviour into perspective. This book is going to stay as one of my favourites and I'll probably get distracted by it every time I pick it up for the rest of my life.
Profile Image for Anna Hirssig.
11 reviews14 followers
December 3, 2012
I do not know what I want to say about this book. It was very interesting, and the plot was really fun to follow, but I just do not know what I think about it. I rated it three stars because it engaged me as a reader, and it was very entertaining. The twists that the author throws in there were very weird, and made me feel awkward at times. I think that is why it was intersting. Great Job Llewellyn, it was a good read!
Profile Image for elbibliotafo.
187 reviews2 followers
January 30, 2014
No me agradó mucho. Una historia con poco argumento. Creo que no es ni interesante para los niños. Le falta algo y creo que tiene que ver con que los personajes son pobres. Las situaciones se perciben fuertes, pero no terminan de enganchar. Un mal libro. Lo único que me gustó fue... creo que nada. Ah, y tiene una fuerte inspiración en el libro de Lemony Snicket, Una serie de catastróficas desdichas, pero no le hace nada de justicia. Muy malo.
Profile Image for Meghan.
23 reviews
September 26, 2007
I loved this book but i think Sam lewellyn let himself down on the 3rd and 2nd ones they get boring too quickly!
Profile Image for Quigmeister.
15 reviews
October 5, 2008
Three mischevous kids, specializing in getting rid of nannies are captured by a not so ferocious band of robbers.
Profile Image for Traci.
517 reviews1 follower
April 23, 2009
Very very cute. I'm not sure that the children's age group that it was written for would understand everything, but it was really kinda good.
Profile Image for Bettie.
9,973 reviews9 followers
March 6, 2014


read by Lesley Joseph.

Cross between Travers and Snickett that doesn't work for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Debbie.
168 reviews18 followers
March 10, 2012
An interesting little tale in the vein of The Series of Unfortunate Events, though more sophisticated and less formulaic.
Profile Image for Christina.
10 reviews
November 4, 2012
I need to read this book agian. When I read it in third grade, I was too young to realy apreciate it.
Profile Image for ruth.
41 reviews
March 8, 2016
I read this book when I was younger and had been searching for its title for years. I loved this so much! I've ordered a new copy and am excited to reread it. Why does this sound so stiff, lmao.
Profile Image for Emily.
478 reviews
July 24, 2012
More than a little random, but you really had to wonder where the idea for it came from.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews