Once there lived a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster who had grown too old to be useful to their masters. Because their masters want to get rid o...
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Oct 19, 2011
Ginta
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“The Bremen Town Musicians” is a Grimm fairytale. It is the story of a donkey, dog, cat, and rooster who leave their respective homes because their masters are planning to kill them.
The story is a fairytale complete with traditional characters (heroes and rivals); plot (main characters have a dilemma they subsequently resolve); motif (villain and a house); and contrast (the animals are brave, the robbers are not).
Characters – The animals showed courage in not cowering from t More...
The story is a fairytale complete with traditional characters (heroes and rivals); plot (main characters have a dilemma they subsequently resolve); motif (villain and a house); and contrast (the animals are brave, the robbers are not).
Characters – The animals showed courage in not cowering from t More...
Jul 12, 2011
I think I actually read this in an English translation of the collections of the Brothers Grimm, or in one of the (color) Fairy Books. What I did NOT read was an illustrated version, so I can't speak to the quality of the illustrations in this edition.
The story of the Bremen Town Musicians is a perennial favorite. The discarded older animals make their own way in the world by cleverness and companionship. One point too many people seem to miss: the Bremen Town Musicians are convi More...
The story of the Bremen Town Musicians is a perennial favorite. The discarded older animals make their own way in the world by cleverness and companionship. One point too many people seem to miss: the Bremen Town Musicians are convi More...
Oct 20, 2010
Shanna
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This is a faithful retelling of the Brothers Grimm's timeless fable about four elderly animals who, upon learning of their impending demise, set out together to make their way in the world. They come upon a house of robbers in the woods and, by confronting and frightening them, gain the house for themselves and live together happily for the rest of their lives. The climax of the story, in which the robbers read their own fears into the animals' behavior and run away, brings a satisfying return
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Jan 19, 2011
Dolly
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Classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, retold and illustrated by Ilse Plume. We enjoyed this version of the tale and we compared it to a book we read recently with a very different version: Animal Crackers Fly the Coop by Kevin O'Malley. This is a good book, but I recommend that it be read to children ages 5 and over as there are several scenes and parts of the narrative that discuss the animals about to be killed by their owners. It's not too scary, but even our girls shuddered when we ta
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Aug 31, 2008
Connie
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The illustrations and text aren't very compelling, and neither my nieces nor I are very interested in this book. We'll swap it away soon.
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Mar 12, 2011
Amanda
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The donkey, dog, cat, and rooster each leave their homes because they are old and their masters are planning to kill them. On their way to Bremen-town, they find a house full of robbers. They scare away the robbers and eat the food. They scare away the robbers a second time. The robbers decide the house is guarded by a witch, a bandit, a monster, and a judge who yelled "catch the crook do" (rooster). The title's kind of a misnomer. They don't really sing and they never get to Bre
Aug 06, 2011
Giovaennchen
rated it: 
De los hermanos Grimm ... un cuento que habla de vencer el miedo, de no dejarse y encontrar amigos, (así era antes, y así es ahora) ... sacar las mejores características de cada uno ... trabajar en equipo ... apreciar, querer y respetar a los demás. Como en los demás cuentos, se trata de enseñanzas morales por medio de cuentos. Me siguen gustando mucho y ojalá que todos los niños y los no tan niños las lean.
Jul 15, 2010
Zack
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Not one of Zwerger's best titles, but nonetheless an engaging and beautiful book. The rendering of the animals is especially well executed: Each beast looks to have seen better days, but Zwerger is able to show there's still the spark of life (and later mischief) beneath the mange.
Aug 26, 2010
Carol
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Grades Pre-k -3
This tale of friendship, ingenuity and perseverence is illustrated with muted but full-color pencil drawings that bring the text to life. Each full-page illustration is opposite a short page of text that is mostly white space with yellow borders.
The text itself is more appropriate as a read-aloud for younger children, although it can be read silently in intermediate grades. The pace is fast-moving and the details are minimal. Children will enjoy the outcom More...
This tale of friendship, ingenuity and perseverence is illustrated with muted but full-color pencil drawings that bring the text to life. Each full-page illustration is opposite a short page of text that is mostly white space with yellow borders.
The text itself is more appropriate as a read-aloud for younger children, although it can be read silently in intermediate grades. The pace is fast-moving and the details are minimal. Children will enjoy the outcom More...
Apr 14, 2008
Maggie
rated it: 
CIP: "While on their way to Bremen, four aging animals who are no longer of any use to their masters find a new home after outwitting a gang of robbers."
A small group of barnyard animals join together after being cast away by their owners with the hopes of making a future as a band of musicians, with unpredictable results. The message of perseverance is subtle but important, and fact that the animals are being cast away by their owners can lead to interesting conversations More...
A small group of barnyard animals join together after being cast away by their owners with the hopes of making a future as a band of musicians, with unpredictable results. The message of perseverance is subtle but important, and fact that the animals are being cast away by their owners can lead to interesting conversations More...
Mar 19, 2009
Stephanie
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I still can't quite grasp why my students love this story so. Just like last year, it was a big hit. It seems they really draw out the comedy which is funny since when I read it for Folk & Fairy Tale class, I thought it was boring.
Apr 09, 2010
Angelia
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Wonderful! And if one travels to the town of Bremen in Germany, one will find a statue of the animals. It's a treat to behold.
Nov 01, 2011
Pafoua
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illustrated and retold by Ilse Plume; published by Doubleday; fiction; Caldecott Honor 1981
Aug 23, 2011
Kaethe
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Come on: who doesn't like a story about a random group of animals taking out the bad guys?
Jan 29, 2012
Pipit
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Ich muss leider sagen dass ich ein bisschen entäuscht von dieser Geschichte bin, da sie meine Vorstellung nicht getroffen hat. Zu viel Gewalt wurde in der Geschichte abgebildet und es war meiner Meinung nach schon fast übel. Aber die Geschichte ist nicht ohne. Sie hat erfolgreich dargestellt, wie Menschen sehr fähig sind, von ihrem richtigen Ziel im Leben sehr einfach ablenken zu lassen. Am Ende sind viele Leute zufrieden mit was sie zur Zeit in Händen haben und vergessen ganz was sie vorhin an
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Dec 19, 2007
Julia
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Every time I seen a new Lisbeth Zwerger book I know I'm in store for such a visual treat and this is no exception. It's another beautiful reinvention of a classic story full of gorgeous color, exciting compositions and unique details. Her pictures are so light and delicate but she always embraces the darker sides of her tales which gives the illustrations such a unusual and particular depth. I particularly liked the sequences of the animals' grim imagined fates before they hit the road.
Jan 09, 2011
Danann
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I remember being told this folktale as a young child. Haven't had the opportunity to read the book myself until now. Absolutely loved it! Wasn't sure if the story would hold up now that I'm an adult, but it sure did. Enjoyed the author's choice of words like "red-comb, whisker-face, and long-ears." One of my favorites!
Traditional Literature
Caldecott
(1 point)
Traditional Literature
Caldecott
(1 point)
Jan 09, 2011
Yates
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This book is about animals that work together to accomplish one goal. All of the animals come together to spy on and scare away the robbers. This book is about teamwork and the animals working together.
Aug 26, 2010
André
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Hah! The famous story of the Bremer Stadtmusikanten in Chinese, how cool is that?! I bought it on a trip to Bremen and did indeed read it. The translation is truly nice and it's quite easy to understand and even guess the words one is not familiar with. The drawings by Janosch are also very nice and funny.
Aug 02, 2007
Adrienne
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The telling and illustration are kind of formal, but I think it works in this telling that is just as much about appreciating the elderly as it is about outwitting thieves.
Nov 09, 2011
Mckinley
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I went to Bremen and saw the statue of these animals many years after reading this tale.
Caldecott honor
Caldecott honor
Apr 17, 2008
Kate
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Bremen Town Muscians is a funny story about faith and partnership defeating evil.
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