The Brave Little Tailor [Hardcover]

Andrej Dugin (Author), Olga Dugina (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

In the tradition of Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Brugel the Elder, Andrej and Olga Dugin have created a world that is not quite ours-filled with intriguing characters and entrancing places. Within this fantastic framework comes the much-beloved Grimm Brothers' story The Brave Little Tailor.

When a tailor kills seven flies with one swipe of his cloth, he proudly stitches "Seven Killed With One Blow" on his belt. The villagers and the king mistakenly believe the "seven" refers to men, not flies. Fearful for his throne, the king orders the tailor to accomplish several impossible tasks. In the end, however, the tailor overcomes all the obstacles and earns the right to inherit the throne.

Each page of this richly illustrated book is almost a universe unto itself, containing stories within stories that virtually leap off the page. These captivating images and the lively tale of the brave little tailor will provide hours of engaging and imaginative reading.

ANDREJ DUGIN, born in Moscow, studied at the Surikov Arts Institute and worked as an illustrator for Russian magazines and publishing houses. His wife, OLGA DUGINA, graduated from the Moscow Arts College and worked as a graphic designer and illustrator. They live in Germany.

32 pages of illustrations in full color, 81/2 x 12"

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-Artistic elegance in both format and illustrations and a highly readable narrative make this retelling a standout. Wearing a wide belt tooled with the slogan "Seven at one blow," the little tailor allows even the king to assume that his victims were men when, in fact, they were flies. His quick wit and good fortune enable him to cause the death of two giants, to capture an annoying unicorn and a destructive wild boar, and to scare off the king's soldiers in order to save his own life. The fanciful, tapestrylike, watercolor-and-gouache illustrations reflect the eccentricities of the tale. Some of the pictures fill a page; others cover half to all of a double-page spread. All are edged in thin gilt-colored frames. These paintings and the large decorations that form vertical borders on some pages are filled with an assortment of such peculiar creatures as flower people, armored snails, horses with hornet legs and tails, tiny elephants, a griffin, and various mutations of musical instruments. The painstaking detail that invites close scrutiny of each piece of artwork and careful attention to the enjoyable story make this a first-rate selection.
Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 4-8. In this familiar tale from the Brothers Grimm, a tailor kills seven flies with a cloth and makes himself a belt to commemorate the event. The belt, decorated with the words Seven at one blow, sets off a chain of misunderstandings and adventures that culminates in the tailor's becoming king. The story teaches subtle and valuable lessons about having faith in oneself and the importance of using intelligence and wit instead of physical force to solve problems. It's the Brueghel-like illustrations that set the book apart. In delicate earth tones, the extraordinary watercolors picture a world both substantial and surreal, and each painting is rich in details that add to the text and also suggest other stories. The book is a visual feast for nonreaders as well as an entertaining story to read aloud. An illustrator's note explains the techniques used to create the illustrations, which took more than six years to complete. Marta Segal
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810941139
• ISBN-13: 978-0810941137
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 8.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #608,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars stunning timeless illustration throughout, September 19, 2000

By 

"tuscadero" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Brave Little Tailor (Hardcover)

This retelling of the Brave Little Tailor is a suitable vehicle for the breathtaking illustrations throughout. Subtle details hide on every page waiting to be discovered. While I was rendered breathless by the depth of each drawing, my son thought the book was scary. He didn't really follow all the mollusks and creatures. That's ok though, there is a sophistication to this children's book that makes it more at home on my coffee table than on his bookshelf. Well worth a look.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars perfect, January 12, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Brave Little Tailor (Hardcover)

This book is a beautiful masterpiece, with a subtle influence from Hieronymous Bosch. They don't make them like this any more. Very few illustrated children's books show the level of love and care put into this one. It would be a lovely addition to a child's book collection, or for anyone who loves and appreciates art.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clever thinking, August 26, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Brave Little Tailor (Hardcover)

The little tailor has to kill two giants to win the King's daughter and half the kingdom. He does this by using the kings soilders and clever thinking. This book shows that no matter how big the job is you can get it done.