Brave Irene: A Picture Book
4/5
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About this ebook
This ebook includes audio narration by Meryl Streep.
This winning heroine will inspire every child to cheer her on as she ventures through a bitter cold snowstorm in William Steig's classic Brave Irene
Brave Irene is Irene Bobbin, the dressmaker's daughter. Her mother, Mrs. Bobbin, isn't feeling so well and can't possibly deliver the beautiful ball gown she's made for the duchess to wear that very evening. So plucky Irene volunteers to get the gown to the palace on time, in spite of the fierce snowstorm that's brewing-- quite an errand for a little girl.
But where there's a will, there's a way, as Irene proves in the danger-fraught adventure that follows. She must defy the wiles of the wicked wind, her most formidable opponent, and overcome many obstacles before she completes her mission.
Brave Irene is a 1986 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year.
Adapted into a short film in 1989 from director Daniel Ivanick.
William Steig
William Steig (1907-2003) was a cartoonist, illustrator and author of award-winning books for children, including Shrek!, on which the DreamWorks movies are based. Steig was born in New York City. Every member of his family was involved in the arts, and so it was no surprise when he decided to become an artist. He attended City College and the National Academy of Design. In 1930, Steig’s work began appearing in The New Yorker, where his drawings have been a popular fixture ever since. He published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968. In 1970, Steig received the Caldecott Medal for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. His books for children also include Dominic; The Real Thief; The Amazing Bone, a Caldecott Honor Book; Amos & Boris, a National Book Award finalist; and Abel's Island and Doctor De Soto, both Newbery Honor Books. Steig's books have also received the Christopher Award, the Irma Simonton Black Award, the William Allen White Children's Book Award, and the American Book Award. His European awards include the Premio di Letteratura per l'infanzia (Italy), the Silver Pencil Award (the Netherlands), and the Prix de la Fondation de France. On the basis of his entire body of work, Steig was selected as the 1982 U.S. candidate for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Illustration and subsequently as the 1988 U.S. candidate for Writing. Steig also published thirteen collections of drawings for adults, beginning with About People in 1939, and including The Lonely Ones, Male/Female, The Agony in the Kindergarten, and Our Miserable Life. He died in Boston at the age of 95.
Reviews for Brave Irene
154 ratings22 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A girl agrees to face the elements to help her mother and deliver a dress to the queen in time for a ball during the middle of a terrible snow storm. Irene and the wind go head to head in the battle of wills. Despite many setbacks Irene preservers and makes it to the palace in time. The queen is thrilled and amazed at the little girl's strength both physical and mental. Irene shows commitment to her mother and to the job at hand. She beat wind and conquers her fears. This would be great book to demonstrate personification. The wind is written with many human characteristics. High interest and good themes.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great for teaching personification!
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Viewed the video version by Scholastic.Ages 4 and Up; Irene's mom has made a beautiful dress for the duchess, but then she's too sick to deliver it. Here comes Irene to the rescue! Irene offers to the deliver the dress to the duchess, even though there's a terrible storm she shouldn't go out in. After almost dying and losing the dress, Irene makes it to the humble home of the grateful duchess and is allowed to dance all night long with handsome royal men. The illustrations are typical of the author, but the story leaves much to be desired. Is Irene really brave to go out in the storm? To leave her sick mother? How could her mother, no matter how sick she is, let Irene wander around in a blizzard? To top it off, this story doesn't even have the excitement you might expect of a brave journey. The video version was pretty repetitive and I don't think it would interest today's children. Not recommended.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Book was used as a read-aloud for making predictions, details, and analogies
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5This was a nice book, and the title certainly fits the story. It was about a little girl named Irene who offered to take the dress her mother had made to the duchess even though there was a blizzard outside. The blizzard was very bad and the wind opened up the heavy box she was carrying and took the dress out of it. The snow got worse the more Irene struggled. Finally she saw the gleam of the palace ahead, and took the box and sled all the way down to it. On a tree in front of the palace was the dress. Irene stayed in the palace for the night and got special treatment and got to go to the ball. In the morning Irene made it back in a horse and carriage. I liked the illustrations even though they were not very detailed. I wasn't expecting the story to go as it did, so it kept me interested with each page. The language in it was pretty easy and there were paragraphs on every page so it's a good read. I would recommend it.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Brave Irene was one of my favorite children's books when I was growing up. The story is about a young girl who helps her mother in a time of need and endures into a winter blizzard and is determined to deliver her mothers dress to a duchess. Irene proves her bravery and never gives up even through the harsh storm, she will find a way to deliver the dress. She experienced many obstacles on her way but she fights through and in the end she safely delivers the dress to the duchess. This story will give children hope and inspiration to cheer on Irene. The writing is clear, organized and so well developed. It feels like you are there with her fighting through the storm. The author will keep you on your toes wondering what will come next. The message in this story is to keeping fighting and moving forward, even when there are obstacles there is a way to get through them.