Duff the Giant Killer

Author Profile:

Title	Duff the Giant Killer
Publication Type	Book
Year of Publication	1997
Authors	Wilson, Budge, and Kim LaFave
Series Title	First Novels: The New Series 6
Publisher	Formac Publishing
City	Halifax
ISBN Number	0887803822 (pbk.)
Descriptors	Chapter Book; English Language; Illustrated; Nova Scotia; Novel; Police; Theatre
Abstract	This illustrated chapter book is the first book in the "First Novels" series about Duff, a little boy with a very active imagination. He and his best friend Simon decide to put on a play about killing a giant. A neighbour, Mrs. Fogo, sees what is going on and, not realising that the boys are having a game of make believe, calls the police. When the mix up is sorted out, Duff and Simon get in a lot of trouble, but their creativity remains unbridled. This story is adapted from Nova Scotia author Budge Wilson's earlier chapter book, Going Bananas and is written in third person, past tense. The illustations, by Kim LaFave, are cartoonish, black and white pencil sketches with watercolour washes.
Jurisdiction	Nova Scotia
Age Range	6-9

Quotation:

"'Never mind,' said Simon. 'Even if we're convalescing, I bet you can think of something neat to do. Let's go over to Hastings Park and swing on the equipment until you get a brain wave.'
'A brain wave,' said Duff, 'is when you get an idea that's so spectacular that it almost blows you over.' 'I know that, dummy,' said Simon. '
It was me that said it.' Duff was fun--the most fun person that Simon had ever known. But he sure was pushy'" (13)

"'Then,' said Simon, 'we'll have a sad scene while the giant is dying. He'll be saying--no, he'll be gasping--pathetic things about their being friends forever. His voice'll be all choked up and raspy.'
'And Jack'll be like a wild person, beating his head with grief and sorrow!' Duff started beating his own head. He could hardly wait to get started.
'It'll be a very sad play,' he said. 'A TRAGEDY!'" (25).

Reviews, Awards and Further Information

Themes:

Friendship; Imagination; Childhood Interests

Analysis:

Imagination: Artists, such as William Shakespeare and the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, have theorized for decades that imagination is inherent. One explanation is how often children, like Duff and Simon in Duff the Dragon Killer, are so immediately imaginative; as soon as children are old enough to play, they are old enough to imagine. Pablo Picasso has famously said, "all children are born artists. The problem is to remain an artist as we grow up," an idea furthered by creativity expert Ken Robinson in his popular TED lecture, "Schools Kill Creativity": "[W]e don’t grow into creativity, we grow out of it, or rather we get educated out of it." He further observes, "children dance all the time if they’re allowed to, we all do." These ideas are inherent in Budge Wilson's book. Though Duff and Simon's play-acting inevitabley gets them into trouble, their parents' reactions, such as Simon's father stating, "Look, Simon, couldn't you and Duff maybe do something normal and ordinary for a change--like read, or play ball, or even watch TV--instead of all the crazy things you're always doing?" (56) undermine the importance of a child's imagination/creativity. Telling a child to stop imagining is akin to telling a human to not breathe or be hungry; imagination is a natural part of being human; thus, despite the problems that may arise from creative play, it is important for adults to encourage rather than discourage imagination.

- Nicole Dixon, BA, BEd, MA, MLIS

Reviews: Boer, Fred. "Review of Duff the Giant Killer." Quill and Quire (July 1997).

Gordon, Irene. "Review of Lilly to the Rescue, Duff the Magic Killer and Go For It, Carrie." CM Magazine 4.2 (September, 1997).

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Duff the Giant Killer