This was my favorite childhood book. I read this book over and over again. It is humorous and quite a tale!

I can't believe this great book is out of print! Robert McLoskey's pictures are hilarious, and at the same time nostalgic. Waking up one morning to discover that his head is missing, our poor man tries various substitutes. As he visits the county fair, his friends and neighbors hardly seem to notice that he has substituted a pumpkin or a turnip for his missing head. The story's ending is safe and predictable as he finally wakes up in bed with his own head properly in place. For the sake of the current generation, I hope publishers will rediscover this lost classic

The first time my father read me this book, he fell of the chair laughing! I was right behind him!

What I thought of the book is that it was good. It was short but I liked it. In the beginning it is not very interesting, but after you get into the book its not so bad. What I like the best about this story is it is suspensful and keeps you wonder what is going to happen next. It also makes you realize how hard it was on those kids during those time.

I loved this book as a child, came across it again as an adult in my parent's attic, and still love it. In retrospect the overall themes are somewhat heavy: Nazi's, hiding fugitives at the risk of your own life and children keeping life or death secrets, but as a child I didn't grasp the greater issues, and it didn't matter to the storyline. Based on a true story, twenty children at a convent are asked by the nuns to help them conceal ten Jewish children from the Nazi's. When I read this as a child I basically had NO religious education, and knew little about WWII except for what my father told me, and that Nazi's were bad. That's all you need. It's a short, but gripping story, and for the children of today who have so much, it's glimpse into the lives of others in the past who didn't. I highly recommend this book to anyone who reads.

I read Twenty and Ten when I was a 3rd grader (about 30 years ago), and is my lifetime favorite book. The story, based on an actual situation, describes how 20 Christian children used their wits and compassion to hide 10 Jewish children from the Nazis during World War II. The children's experiences are truly an adventure, yet do not trivialize the Holocaust. Although I do not recommend teaching young children about the Holocaust's grim details, this book opens the discussion about people's responsibility to one another regardless of differences. I have yet to find a child or adult who can put the book down once they start reading it

I love this book, and I am appalled by this book. I don't think it is racist at all or that it promotes racist stereotypes. However, I had completely forgotten that it was all about execution and methods thereof!

I remembered the 5 brothers, their unique gifts, and specific pictures from the book from when I was a child quite vividly (the picture of the one brother's cheeks swollen from the sea and the ocean floor scene are particularly vivid). But somehow I had forgotten about the boy's drowning and the fact that the brother would be put to death for it!

Here is the appalling part: I don't want my child exposed to capital punishment, particularly when it is so clearly unfair. I don't want him envisioning various ways a frustrated townspeople might resort to executing: beheading, drowning, fire, suffocation. This is not appropriate material for my little ones!

So I am completely torn: I fondly remember the story, the images, and the ingenuity of the brothers, but I am really uncomfortable with the underlying premise (execution) of the story!

I remember always wanting to check out this book every time we went to the library when I was in Kindergarten through first grade. I was fascinated by it. To be honest it has been quite a long time since I have read it (I'm 24 now) , but I still remember the basic story. As for fostering racist stereotypes, that is ridiculous. I wasn't "damaged" by it. Or even tramautized by the "capital punishment" aspect (as another reviewer termed it).
But just look at some of the folk lore and Grimms tales that children all over the world have been exposed to in olden times. This is tame in comparison.
Obviously there is a limit to what they should and should not be exposed to. But stories like this aren't one of them.
Children are impressionable but not stupid. And it is the parents' responsibility to teach morals and non-racial values. I feel sorry for anyone who let's media and literature raise their child for them. This book with it's simple cartoonish drawings are not going to warp their minds. And I'm sure that I will get it for my 2 year old daughter when she is a few years older.
Please, people, find something else to criticize. It isn't enough to worry about the presentday, some have to get all worked up about a children's book from the 1930's. There is enough negativity in the world as it is.

Of course we all have differences and similarities. I just don't understand why it is so important to focus on the differnces.

This is one of my absolute favorite children's stories. I would always make my mother get it from our public library. I know the story by heart, and I haven't heard it or read it in over 10 years!! The story is simple but so entertaining. I remember being amazed at the 'special powers' each brother had. I also thought it was nice how the brother would always ask for permission to say goodbye to his mother and brothers before each new execution attempt. This is a great folk tale that easily captivates the attention and imagination of young children. The illustrations are wonderful as well, and make this book great for story time....