Bambi's Children

Bambi's Children is Felix Salten's 1939 sequel to his original work Bambi, a Life in the Woods. The book follows the lives of twin fawns born to Bambi and his mate Faline. The story tracks the growth and development of the twins from their early days as fawns through their journey to young adulthood in the forest. Salten wrote this sequel while in exile in Switzerland after fleeing Nazi-occupied Austria, and based the twin characters on his own children's personalities. The English translation differs notably from the original German text, with a softer tone and reduced violence compared to Salten's original manuscript. The book features appearances by Perri the squirrel, a character from one of Salten's previous works. Like its predecessor, the book explores themes of growth, survival, and the relationship between humans and nature through the lens of forest animals. The narrative continues Salten's examination of life cycles and natural law in the forest environment.

Readers view this sequel as quieter and more contemplative than the original Bambi, with less action and more focus on day-to-day forest life. The book maintains Salten's realistic portrayal of nature rather than Disney-style anthropomorphization. Readers appreciated: - Detailed observations of animal behavior - Environmental messages that don't feel preachy - The continuation of Bambi's legacy through his children - Salten's poetic descriptions of forest scenes Common criticisms: - Slower pace compared to the first book - Less emotional impact than the original - Some repetitive scenes of daily forest routines Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (124 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (15 ratings) Several readers noted the book is harder to find than the original Bambi. Multiple reviews mentioned the story works better for older children and adults who appreciate nature writing, rather than younger readers expecting a Disney-style tale.

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🌿 The book was published in 1939 during Salten's exile from Austria due to the rise of Nazi Germany, making it one of his last major works before his death in 1945. 🦌 Felix Salten based the twin fawns, Geno and Gurri, on his own children, Paul and Anna-Katharina, infusing their distinct personalities into the characters. 🌳 Unlike Walt Disney's adaptations, Salten's original works maintain a more realistic portrayal of forest life, including themes of death, danger, and survival. 🎬 While Disney adapted the original "Bambi" into an animated classic, "Bambi's Children" never received the same treatment, despite its rich narrative potential. 📚 The German title of the book is "Bambis Kinder: Eine Familie im Walde" (Bambi's Children: A Family in the Forest), and its darker themes were somewhat softened in the English translation.