Customer Reviews

The Three Robbers

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Nope. I missed this one as a kid. It's funny, because though I clearly remember seeing images from this book on the walls of libraries, cut out in bookstores, and displayed proudly in textbooks, I never read it myself. And you know what? It's an absolutely wonderful book that I am repeatedly regretting and regretting not having read. This story is right up my alley, and it's an amazing tale. In effect, it is a book about the power of redemption and the simplicity of doing what is right, no matter how late in the game. Said author/illustrator Tomi Ungerer himself, "Whatever the color of money, it is never too late to make good use of it". For me, this book is the story of how to make the most of your goods while you've got `em.

The tale concerns itself with the doings of three fierce black-clad robbers. Outfitted with a blunderbuss, a pepper-blower, and a huge red axe, the three had a pretty good gig going. One robber would stop carriage horses with his pepper spray, another would stop the carriage completely by destroying the wheels with an axe, and the third would rob the passengers by holding them up with his blunderbuss. Honestly? I just like writing the word blunderbuss. That's a great word. Anyway, one day the men stop a carriage containing a small orphan on her way to live with a "wicked aunt". They rescue her and take her home to live with them. When the child asks them what they intend to do with all of their money, the men are stumped. Their solution is round up all the, "lost, unhappy, and abandoned children" they can find, buy a castle, and move in with all the children. In the end the kids grow up and build three tall high-roofed towers in honor of their foster fathers, the three robbers. The end.

I don't really know why I love this tale as much as I do. Partly I think it has to do with the illustrations. The robbers are black on blue, their white eyes floating in front of invisible blue faces. Their weapons, colorfully displayed against a sharp black background, are a beautiful mixture of oranges, blues, and swirling reds. Cheery and intense. After they move in with the children, however, the black and blue palette changes completely and suddenly it's all bright reds (as the children are wearing) and deep spring greens. Accompanying this adept change of pace is Ungerer's text. The book never really explains the robbers' change of heart. One suspects they robbed without entirely knowing why they did so. And isn't that the case of most rich robbers? It is apparent that their care for the children is true and tender. I was especially attached to the shot of the once malevolent robber cradling the sleepy orphan girl in his warm cape as he took her home to stay.

The tale has a moral that changes with every reading. Suffice to say, for me this book was about the human heart. Sometimes it takes very little to change behaviors that once seemed so cold and logical. Any picture book that can present such an interpretation deserves a close reading. "The Three Robbers" fits that bill nicely.

It's been years since I've read this book, but as I recall, it was one of the most popular childrens books in my entire elementary school (in the early 80's). It was almost impossible to find it on the shelf due to its popularity. The illustrations were wonderful and the book was fun. I recommend it highly.

The Three Robbers is a cute book about three robbers who transform into semi-respectable people. These robbers (like all robbers) robbed people for a living. This particular set of robbers robbed carriages.

One night the robbers make a mistake. Instead of stopping a carriage full of rich people with money or rich jewelry, they `stopped a carriage that had but one passenger, an orphan named Tiffany.' Well Tiffany was delighted, and since the robbers didn't know what else to do they took her home to their hide-out where she promptly turned their world upside down by asking them what they planned to do with their wealth.

Realizing that they were doing nothing with their horded wealth, and that this was really a waste, they decide to buy a castle and bring to it all the `lost, unhappy, and abandoned children they could find.' These children grow up and marry, but as a testament to their benefactors build three towers.

I realize that this summary doesn't make this book sound all that great, but I like it. Also this summary seems to completely conflict with the editorial review. The editorial review is not really one for this book. If you look closely it is really a review for `Crictor; Moon Man'. It only gives a passing mention to `The Three Robbers' at the very bottom. The illustrations are bold and more often than not the page is black and the writing white. The story is told in a style that endears the book to me.

Loggie-log-log-log

I remember the Three Robbers as having a dark wonderful appeal and my kids immediately responded the same way I had. After the first reading there was silence and then the call "AGAIN!". There's nothing PC about this book. It's about robbers who kidnap a little girl. There is a gun and a red axe not to mention a pepper spray that is used on horses, but who cares about being PC. It's a great story. If your kid is like most kids I know, this book will soon be a well worn fav.

I just can't say enough about Tomi Ungerer and his books.
I don't really run across too many of his stories and growing up, Crictor and Zerelda's Ogre were the only ones I remember as a child.
But I work with children now and I'm always trying to share with them some of the books from my youth that I adored.
I search for Ungerer's books at the libraries, when ever I'm able to I hunt them down and read them so finding The Three Robbers was really a surprise for me.
(If you're in Berkeley or have the ability to get there, the main library has a wonderful selection of his works by the way)
The Three Robbers, This story is just a treat. The images are dark yet not scary and the story takes these "bad" men and shows that they are really not that bad. Yes, stealing is wrong, yes scaring people is wrong. But when you take orphans and offer them a home, in a pretty castle? that's so right.
The little boy I work with (he's three) just adored the story. So much so that I found I was retelling it from memory to the best of my ability for weeks after we'd initially read it in the library. In fact, we picked it up today and I had to read it four times before we left the library, stop once more on the way home to read it, and then read it again when we got home.
I strongly recommend this story to everyone. Really.

Update: This book is now being published again by Phaidon and while I'm glad it's back out on the market, The children and I were deeply saddened to find that they had altered some of the story. It's not a complete butchering but it was enough that several of the children noticed changes in the words. I still recommend the story though, it's truly wonderful.

I remembered this book from my childhood and bought it for my 5 year old. The story is pretty short but he loves it. A four and maybe a 3 year-old would love it, too.

My daughter who is now 25 and serving in the army was talking to me about this book that she used to carry with her every where she went as a child. We would read The Three Robbers at least 6 times or more in a day. It was also the first book that she was able to read by herself. I thought it would make a specail birthday gift for her so I found one and it was in exellent shape for a gently used book. Now when my daughter has children of her own she can share a little bit of her childhood with them.

Just like i remember reading 30 years ago. Beautiful art and a unique story. Great to see this still being printed.

I was so happy this book was still in print, as it was a favorite of mine and my siblings growing up. I love the dark colors and the darkness of the story, as it details how the robbers hold up carriages (with one using a blunderbuss, which always brings a smile to my face). I read that someone called it pro-socialist but I never took it like that when I was a kid and I don't think my daughter is getting that message either. This is simply the story of three bad guys who meet a little girl who needs a family and are inspired to take care of more kids (which leads to them sharing their wealth). To me, it's more of a story of reform...and what's wrong with that message? I also love that this reform is inspired by a cute little girl who was being sent to live with a wicked aunt when the robbers encounter her. My 4-year-old loves the story because it centers around this little girl with a fairytale-type fate...yet the story gives me a break from all of the typical princess stuff she normally requests. Such a fun read!

An ALA Book award-winning story by Hans Christian Andersen Prize recipient Tomi Ungerer, The Three Robbers is a children's picturebook about three robbers who steal from carriages and terrorize the countryside. Until one day they abduct a little orphan girl who is glad to be kidnapped, rather than sent to live with her wicked aunt. She notices that they have hoarded all their ill-gotten gains without ever spending them! Finding a new purpose, the three robbers buy a castle where the girl and homeless children from all over can live; when the children grow old enough to found a village, it becomes a village that honors the three former bandits. The simple, stark drawings complement this minimalist-style story about unexpected change for the better in the unlikeliest of people.