The Great Quillow [Hardcover]

James Thurber (Author), Steven Kellogg (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 1994 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: HBJ Contemporary Classic

This contemporary fairy tale by one of America’s best-loved authors brings style and humor to the familiar folk theme of overcoming brute strength with intelligence and courage. “The artwork captures the bustle and the bickering of the story as well as the terror and the wonder. A fine choice to read aloud, even to children who could read it to themselves.”-Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With his typically effusive and cheerfully exaggerated illustrations, Kellogg (The Wizard Next Door) injects extra measures of zaniness into this 50-year-old David-and-Goliath tale by the legendary humorist. Because he is "a droll and gentle fellow" and produces remarkable toys, the villagers treat Quillow the toymaker with bemused tolerance. The town's sleepy complacency is shattered by the arrival of Hunder, an evil but none-too-bright giant. As the rest of the town scurries to accommodate Hunder's daily requirement of "three sheep, a pie made of a thousand apples, and a chocolate as high and as wide as a spinning wheel," the sly Quillow lulls the giant with stories, all the while plotting the ogre's downfall. The length and pacing of the story speak to a bygone age in children's publishing, in some places straining the picture book format. However, Kellogg often overcomes the challenge by "tiling" blocks of text among panels of art, varying the design on each spread. And nothing can diminish the humorous juxtaposition of Hunder's hulking gullibility and wide-mouth ugliness with Quillow's quirky professional affect. Ages 6-up.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-Pure Kellogg! Thurber's beloved classic, originally published in 1944, comes dramatically to life in the artist's capable hands. Done in his trademark whimsical, rollicking style, the acrylic, ink, and colored-pencil illustrations grossly exaggerate the moods and trappings of Hunder. This meddling giant terrorizes the countryside demanding daily rations of mammoth proportions. Despite their skepticism, the townspeople give their confidence to Quillow the toy maker, who has a plan to cleverly outwit the brute. The tiny hero, with his moplike white hair, looks like one of his own toy creations. The oversized format gives Kellogg free reign to provide details galore. The exciting page design is varied to enhance the printed text, yet always provides a vista for important action scenes. A delightful chuckle of a book!-Ronald Jobe, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1st edition (October 31, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152325441
• ISBN-13: 978-0152325442
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,263,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What happened to the Great Quillow???, November 21, 2000

By 

Michel F Cavallon (Hill, New Hampshire, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Quillow (Hardcover)

As a fifth grader,I was enthralled by this book, partially because of the illustrations in the orginal edition. I have thought of it often during the past 55 years (I am now almost 64) and was overjoyed when I found that it was avaiable, and in print. I ordered it, and waited for it to arrive with eager anticipation. Imagine my horror when it arrived with illustrations totally out of keeping with the spirit of the Great Quillow, and certainly a far cry fro the originals. The great Quillow was a peaceful person, did not require force of arms or strength to overcome the Giant. The ugly and distorted illustrations in the new editions are a travesty. Is there any way to find a copy of the original edition?

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Be aware there are two versions! 5 star book with 'new' illustrations, be sure you've got the one you want, March 21, 2009

By 

M. J. Green (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Quillow (Hardcover)

For me the ORIGINAL illustrations by Doris Lee are essential to the book. They're the ones chosen by Thurber himself. For many fond readers of the original, the most recent version (with the illustrations by Steven Kellogg) will be a sad disappointment. In a book like this where the illustrations are as important as the words, the wonderfulness of both in the original publication was particularly magical. Perhaps if one came upon the Kellogg version without being aware of the original one wouldn't know what was being missed, but for me it's like reading Laura Ingalls Wilder or E.B. White's 'children's' books without the Garth Williams drawings. It isn't clear to me why a publisher would do this. So at least be aware there are two versions and make sure you're getting the one you're expecting. Absolutely no offense meant to Mr. Kellogg (I certainly wouldn't want to be the 2nd illustrator of Stuart Little or Charlotte's Web or Little House in The Big Woods) but from my point of view I very much agree with James, an earlier reviewer who made the same point. The Doris Lee illustrations are magical and sweet in the best minimalist senses of the words. From the original reader point of view the new illustrations might even be said to miss the point of the words, or refute them, and are really rather frightening in comparison, in a way they shouldn't be. Very distressing to Quillowites.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story for ALL ages., June 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Great Quillow (Hardcover)

Marvelous illustrations. Great story about how brains can win out over braun. The Great Quillow is a character to be admired. Told with humor and feeling. I purchased my own copy to keep. One of the best.