Brave Irene (Sunburst Books) (Paperback)

by William Steig (Author, Illustrator) "Mrs. Bobbin, the dressmaker, was tired and had a bad headache, but she still managed to sew the last stitches in the gown she was..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
When her mother, a dressmaker, falls ill, indomitable Irene fights a raging snowstorm to deliver a dress in time for the duchess's ball. A Michael di Capua Book. Ages 3-up.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 1-4 Fans will enjoy this typical Steig myth, although it lacks the surprise and logic of his best stories. It isn't a fit night out for man nor beast when Irene pluckily forges on through wind and snow to deliver the ball gown that her ill mother has stitched for the duchess. The dramatic pictures of brave Irene's painful journey will engage children's sympathy, but children will also wonder why the dressmaker's child didn't stay home with her sick mother, however grateful the duchess was. The magic just isn't here. Anna Biagioni Hart, Sherwood Regional Library, Alexandria, Va.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (April 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374409277
• ISBN-13: 978-0374409272
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,486 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We read it over and over again., March 28, 2001

By	Barbara (Coral Springs, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brave Irene (Hardcover)

At age three I started reading Brave Irene to my daughter. She is now nine years old and it remains her all time favorite book. Back then we would read it at least tree times a week or more. Still, Now every once in awhile, Annie comes to me and says " can we read Brave Irene together". The story is about a young girl Irene who seems to be maybe nine or ten years old. Her mother is a dressmaker and has made a gown for the dutches for her ball.Unfortunatley her mother isn't feeling to well and can't get the gown to dutches in time for the ball.Irene being a very responsible, carring, and BRAVE child,Wants to help her mom. So she takes the gown to the dutches. She has some problems along the way, But because of her love for her mother, she is determined to get the job done. I feel that there are many lessons this book can teach a child. The main one being,CARRING. Our first copy of this book is so worn out, I recently bought a new one..

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A plucky fairytale, February 28, 2001

By	abigail kylie & julian (Glen Iris, VIC Australia) - See all my reviews

I really enjoy reading Brave Irene to my little girl for several reasons. The language used by Stein is beautiful - it's such a marvellous book for introducing new and unusual words for pre-school children. It also provides such inventive descriptions - also great for showing how you can apply your imagination to words! I completely disagree with those who think it puts children in a position of danger. Rot! It's a fairytale - not a story of reality. And fairytales allow children to enter worlds they would never have the opportunity to do so in real life and allow them to be brave and go on amazing adventures - this is precisely what Brave Irene does and it does it so well. Irene is so plucky and so independent and solves problems so well! And she's a girl! So nice to have a "girl" hero like this! And most of all - my three year old loves Brave Irene - she gasps in the right places and cheers her on and marvels at her determination. Brave Irene has opened yet another vista of opportunity for my little girl's imagination and love of books. Well done William Steig!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classroom pleaser, October 11, 2004

By	Shari Zychinski (st louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

my son's second grade teacher read this to the class when they were comparing "pesky" words vs. "flashy" words and this book is full of GREAT words that second graders need to hear. sure she's a child in a messy situation but that's the deal in fairy tales. it's up to irene to get out of trouble on her own but she does it, in a mighty plucky fashion too!