Bremen Town Musicians, The [Hardcover]

Grimm Brothers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 20, 1991 | Age Level: 5 and up

Four animal friends who are mistreated by their masters set out to become musicians in the town of Bremen and encounter a den of thieves.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The trademark lighthearted, somewhat cartoony watercolors by Wilhelm, himself a Bremen native, imbues this blithe retelling with a timeless, fairy-tale setting. A better choice for young readers than P. K. Page's version of the story (reviewed below), Wilhelm's ( Tyrone the Horrible ; I'll Always Love You ) book offers a shorter text, at once pithy and descriptive. The child-appealing prose is studded with such distinctive phrases as a depiction of the forlorn cat, whom the donkey and the dog find by the roadside, "looking as dismal as three wet days." When the feisty quartet interrupts a group of robbers in a thatched-roof cottage counting their money as they enjoy a feast, observant readers will notice that these bad guys look quite a bit like the animals' former owners. This is just one of the quixotic twists that make Wilhelm's spirited rendition so refreshing. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-- A fine adaptation of the classic story of four animals, cast out because of old age, who join forces to defeat a band of robbers and make new lives for themselves in the proverbial house in the woods. The text has the same authentic quality as Ralph Manheim's in Grimm Tales for Young and Old (Doubleday, 1983) but is even simpler. The full-page illustrations, inspired by Russian folk art, are highly stylized, brilliantly colored, and heavily outlined. Many spill over onto the adjacent pages of text (which may also include smaller renderings), and are a good match for the lively tale. In addition, Palecek's use of colored pencils over watercolors creates an attractively unique effect seldom seen in American picture books. A dramatic alternative to Ilse Plume's more subdued Caldecott Honor Book version (Harper, 1987). --Julie Corsaro, University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 36 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (August 20, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887080715
• ISBN-13: 978-0887080715
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,881,229 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Always a place in my heart, January 9, 2003

By 

"j_kane" (Brown University) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bremen Town Musicians, The (Hardcover)

Of all the stories my father read to me as a child, this was my favorite. Its endearing story of self-discovery is timeless, and not to mention quite humorous for a six year old boy. It reminds me of a time far less complicated and will thus always hold a special place of affection for me. This was the Catcher in the Rye of my Elementary years. I would highly recommend this to anyone with children looking for quite simply a flat out good story to read them that they will enjoy.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Tale, December 9, 2000

By 

Connie L. Reed "Oh Herd CR" (Huntington, WV, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bremen Town Musicians, The (Hardcover)

The Breman Town Musicians is a simple story that involves setting goals and team work. It has two things that children love, music and animals. What a combination!

As a 17 year childcare veteran, I highly recommmend this book. Kids today can use all the inspiration they can get. A great way to learn is to read. I read this book to my daughter when she was a child. Now I am getting a new copy for my grand daughter.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Favorite Story Beautifully Illustrated, January 9, 2007

By 

Helen B. Lane (Arlington, VA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bremen Town Musicians (Picture Yearling Book) (Paperback)

My children and grandchidren love this story. I bought the book to read to my youngest grandchild, who is 2 and a half. We love both the story and the pictures. We also have fun braying, barking, meowing and crowing like the heroic animals in the story. When her dad was her age we lived in Germany and visited Bremen and saw the statue of the animals.