Customer Reviews

Brave Irene

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

At age three I started reading Brave Irene to my daughter. She is now nine years old and it remains her all time favorite book. Back then we would read it at least tree times a week or more. Still, Now every once in awhile, Annie comes to me and says " can we read Brave Irene together". The story is about a young girl Irene who seems to be maybe nine or ten years old. Her mother is a dressmaker and has made a gown for the dutches for her ball.Unfortunatley her mother isn't feeling to well and can't get the gown to dutches in time for the ball.Irene being a very responsible, carring, and BRAVE child,Wants to help her mom. So she takes the gown to the dutches. She has some problems along the way, But because of her love for her mother, she is determined to get the job done. I feel that there are many lessons this book can teach a child. The main one being,CARRING. Our first copy of this book is so worn out, I recently bought a new one..

I really enjoy reading Brave Irene to my little girl for several reasons. The language used by Stein is beautiful - it's such a marvellous book for introducing new and unusual words for pre-school children. It also provides such inventive descriptions - also great for showing how you can apply your imagination to words! I completely disagree with those who think it puts children in a position of danger. Rot! It's a fairytale - not a story of reality. And fairytales allow children to enter worlds they would never have the opportunity to do so in real life and allow them to be brave and go on amazing adventures - this is precisely what Brave Irene does and it does it so well. Irene is so plucky and so independent and solves problems so well! And she's a girl! So nice to have a "girl" hero like this! And most of all - my three year old loves Brave Irene - she gasps in the right places and cheers her on and marvels at her determination. Brave Irene has opened yet another vista of opportunity for my little girl's imagination and love of books. Well done William Steig!

I love "Brave Irene"! I read it during first grade and it's still one of my favorite stories.

Mrs. Bobbin, Irene's mother is a dressmaker. She just finished making this beautiful dress and she has to get it to the duchess, the person who ordered the dress, because the duchess was having a party. But Mrs. Bobbin is feeling sick, she has a headache and her head is hot. So Irene volunteered to get the dress over to the duchess's house, Mrs. Bobbin protested because it was snowing a lot outside. Irene sets out to deliver the dress to the duchess. She battles with the wind and snow, while carrying the big box, holding the gown but would she be able to get the dress over to the duchess's house?

The reason I love this book is because of the dedication and love Irene shows for her mom. Irene would do anything for her mom and I find that really sweet of Irene. I recommend this to everyone and I hope they enjoy it, even if it IS a children's picture book.

my son's second grade teacher read this to the class when they were comparing "pesky" words vs. "flashy" words and this book is full of GREAT words that second graders need to hear. sure she's a child in a messy situation but that's the deal in fairy tales. it's up to irene to get out of trouble on her own but she does it, in a mighty plucky fashion too!

Brave Irene volunteers to carry out an important mission for her ailing mother, and succeeds beyond her wildest dreams. A believable, subtle story for first-grade or older girls and boys, with beautiful watercolor illustrations. Slightly scary, slight silly, all good.

Breve Irene is a wonderful book to share with young children. It is the story of a little girl who is determined and courageous. She must deliver a gown to a duchess for her mother who is sick and can not do it herself. Irene braves the bitter weather of a snow storm to get the job done against all odds. I love this book for two reasons. It reminded me of my daughter Irene who braved one of the worst snow storms to get me at the hospital and for the wonderful reaction and discussion I had with my students after reading it to them the first day back to school after a snow storm. I recommend it to parents and teachers to share it with young children ages 5 to 8 yrs. and strike up a good dicussion with your children.

This book came as part of a book club order for my daughter (maybe 15 years ago)... She ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!! It was always on the bedtime story request list. She thoroughly enjoyed my reading of it, the journey of Brave Irene, and the completing of her task... To help her mother! She even related the "wicked wind" to our winter storms! Today, she is 23 and still very fondly remembers this book and wants to get it for HER daughter. I am ordering it today! Hopefully, they will enjoy it as much as we did.

William Steig is not afraid to use the English language in a children's book. His vocabulary is wonderfully complicated, and reading these books to children familiarizes them with complex plot and sentence structures. Terrific fun and learning at the same time.

There is a kind of anxiety about class in many of Steig's books. Here the fact that Irene is in service to a Duchess is offset by the fact that it is to her mother that Irene is faithful and by the fact that it is her mother who knows "better than the Duchess" how good and brave Irene is.

There are a few sentences that should make the hall of fame of good English writing in each Steig book we have read. Here, the sentences that describe the dress flying away with tissue paper attendants is particularly noteworthy. Remember--this is children's literature. Literature. Not a marketing attempt.

I have a sister whose name is Irene. As I began reading the story of this BRAVE little girl, I knew I had to buy two copies, one for my sister and one for me. My mother was a seamstress and the little Irene in the story possessed the spirit of wonderfilled youth!

Willaim Stieg's artwork is mesmerizing. My sister and I keep this treasure out(on our coffeetables) all year long and know in our hearts that it was written especially for brave little girls but especially for little brave Irenes!

Thank you, Mr. Steig.

I love this story, with it's blending of topics that fascinate my 3-year-old girl (beautiful dresses and balls) with a portrayal of a strong, brave, determined girl. I do think I liked it better than my daughter did, though -- she was distressed by Irene's journey, and I'm not sure if it was because it's a bit scary or because Irene (temporarily) loses the beautiful dress.