The Bomb and the General

by Umberto Eco and Eugenio Carmi

An important general collects atoms and puts them into bombs that he stores in his attic in preparation for war, but the atoms prefer to live in harmony and sneak out. Full-color illustrations. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152097007
• ISBN13: 9780152097004
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt P
• Length: 39 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.8" x 10.9"
• Age Range: 7 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 2 and higher

Customer Reviews

A perfect way to start "The Conversation" on atomic war

This is a gentle first intoduction to the dreaded but inevitable talk in which a parent must reveal the realities of living in an age of nuclear weaponry. The illustrations and text are so superb that they are appropriate for any age, but do a particularly good job of introducing younger children to the dynamics of war. At the same time, the joyful ending makes it highly readable. It's made the top of my gift list.

They way children should learn the atomic war

It's hard for a child to imagine the consequences of an atomic war. But not so hard if it has a happy end. In "The Bomb and the General", the beautiful texts by Umberto Eco and Carmi's fantastic ilustrations teach what should be learn by everyone about wars: its better to have doormen than crazy generals, and vases than bombs.