Tough Boris [Paperback]

Mem Fox (Author), Kathryn Brown (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1998 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Boris von der Borch is a mean, greedy old pirate--tough as nails, through and through, like all pirates. Or is he? When a young boy sneaks onto Boris's ship, he discovers that Boris and his mates aren't quite what he expected.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Boris the pirate is as mean, greedy and scary as they come. But when his parrot dies, he mourns like anyone else. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-Tough Boris is a treasure. This easy-to-read picture book features a repetitive, engaging text; a very popular subject; and an interesting subplot played out in the colorful illustrations. Boris von der Borch is a scruffy and fearless pirate who is nonetheless tender enough to cry when his pet parrot dies. While the brief text simply lists his attributes (and those of all other pirates), the energetic watercolors paint the larger picture. Boris and his crew dig up some buried loot and divide it (unevenly, of course), squabble over a prized violin, and enjoy the cabin boy's impromptu concert (after he's been caught stealing the instrument from Boris). As the story ends, the boy is taken ashore, mourning his exile from the ship but still clutching the precious violin. A compelling and entertaining tale of adventure.
Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152018913
• ISBN-13: 978-0152018917
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9.1 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Social Issues > Special Needs > Fiction
  • #8 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Obsessions > Pirates
  • #27 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Special Needs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars and beautiful illustrations, February 1, 2003

By 

W. K. Miller "kenmiller32" (NC, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tough Boris (Paperback)

Mem Fox's _Tough Boris_ is a picture book about Boris Von Der Borch and his gang of pirates. The text is very simple. Basically, it simply states "Boris was greedy." for one pair of pages, and then "All pirates are greedy." on the next pair, and then substitutes other words for greedy, like "massive," and "scruffy," etc.

The pictures tell the story, though. Boris and his group find a treasure chest, filled with treasure and a violin. The crew drags the treasure chest aboard the ship, and divvies up the loot. A boy steals the violin from Boris's room, and Boris seeks the boy out for punishment. The boy plays the violin so well, however, that Boris has him spared. Next, Boris' pet parrot dies, and gets a solemn and appropriate burial at sea, in the violin case. Boris and all the pirates are very sad, and, as the text states, "all pirates cry."

This book required repeated readings with my 3-year old to get the whole story. The simple text says so little, but in the end the text complements the illustrations well.

Kathryn Brown's illustrations are wonderful. The colors are bright, and the renderings of the pirates are fantastic. They are the best pirates I've seen in over a dozen pirate picture books. While I'm at it, I'll salute the author and illustrator together for creating a pirate picture book which doesn't include any battles, swordplay, cannons, or gunplay.

I give _Tough Boris_ 5 stars.

ken32

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a wonderful children's book. First graders enjoy it, September 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Tough Boris (Hardcover)

Tough Boris is a wonderful story which students love to read along with. The words such as scary, tough, and massive are rich with expression and children enjoy speaking those words. There is also a wonderful subplot which complements the main plot very well.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So you think you're a tough guy huh?!, November 27, 2005

By 

Treetop learning - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tough Boris (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful story about a pirate who's rough and tough on the outside, but has a soft side too. Death is treated matter-of-factly with no philosophical overtones (you fill in the blanks when they ask, "why did the parrot die", or "what happened when the parrot died?") and children identify with Boris about their self-concepts and reactions to conflict and fears in their life. In the end, Boris teaches children that it's okay to be a nice guy and still be tough, and that it's okay to be sad and cry sometimes. I recommend this book to children over the age of 4 (mainly because of the slightly scary pirate scenes involving angry faces, swords and scuffling-nothing gorry)- all the way through adulthood!