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66th out of 74 books
—
10 voters
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...more
But where there's...more
Paperback, 32 pages
Published
April 1st 1988
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
(first published 1986)
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Almost experimental in its adherence to tedium, as a good 2/3rds of the book is dedicated to Irene's monotonous trek through a snowy forest to deliver her sick mom's handmade gown to the duchess in time for the ball; no supernatural intrusions, no animals, no mythic nomadic hunters, nothing, just Irene sruggling against the elements page after page; the sun goes down and the snow goes from white to grey (my daughter points at the greyly depicted nocturnal snow and calls it mud), the gown is blow...more
Irene is a little girl who risks her life in a snow storm to deliver a fancy dress to a wealthy duchess. Does that strike anyone else as a little odd? The message of bravery and devotion is nice, but the story was just okay for me. It isn't even in the same ballpark as Steig's Sylvester and the Magic Pebble.
May 13, 2012
Melanie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
children-s-literature,
picture-book,
mothers-daughters,
parent-child,
winter,
snow,
wind,
bravery,
duchesses,
adventure
Irene's mother, the dressmaker, finally finishes the dress for the Duchess, but she doesn't have the energy to get it to her in time for the ball that night. Irene promises her mother she can. She helps her mother to bed, wraps the dress up carefully and braves the winter storm to make the journey to get the dress to the Duchess for the ball that night.
Irene battles wind and snow piled higher than her ankles. But trudge on she does. But suddenly, a strong gust of wind whips the box out of her ha...more
Irene battles wind and snow piled higher than her ankles. But trudge on she does. But suddenly, a strong gust of wind whips the box out of her ha...more
First Impressions: I’ve known about Brave Irene for a long, long time and I was so happy to have the chance to review the audio book. I can remember reading Brave Irene, along with many other books written by William Steig back when I was growing up. To me, it is a classic story that teaches good morals to young girls and I will definitely be reading it to my own children one day. Not to mention, this audio book is narrated by Meryl Streep who is one of my all-time favorite actresses. Everything...more
Brave Irene
"An extroadinarily eloquent story about love and courage" - The New Yorker
The Duchess eagerly awaits the delivery of her ball gown by Irene's mother, Mrs. Bobbin, but the seamstress is sick in bed and can't possibly deliver the gown in time.
Enter Brave Irene! Through a ferocious snowstorm and deliberately treacherous winds, Irene sets out to save the day for her dear mother (who smelled like fresh-baked bread to Irene).
Most would turn back, too afraid to face such a frightening journ...more
"An extroadinarily eloquent story about love and courage" - The New Yorker
The Duchess eagerly awaits the delivery of her ball gown by Irene's mother, Mrs. Bobbin, but the seamstress is sick in bed and can't possibly deliver the gown in time.
Enter Brave Irene! Through a ferocious snowstorm and deliberately treacherous winds, Irene sets out to save the day for her dear mother (who smelled like fresh-baked bread to Irene).
Most would turn back, too afraid to face such a frightening journ...more
Sep 27, 2011
Katie
added it
Brave Irene by William Steig is one of determination. A young girl offers to take a dress her ill mother made to the duchess through a winter storm. Even through the struggles and challenges she faces against the elements of the storm (the wind, day turning to night) she never gives up. It is a heartwarming story of courage that many can relate to when it comes to overcoming adversity. Steig did a wonderful job illustrating the text. Most of the story takes us through her wintery adventure, show...more
Well, hmm, this book is sort of weird. I saw it on a shelf at the library and I liked the cover illustration and so I gave it a try.
I did like the pictures. My favorite is of Irene by the fire eating and the two dogs looking at her, and most of the outdoor scenes, but all of the illustrations were ones I’d have loved as a kid, including all the details of Irene’s and her mother’s house and the palace interior and people also.
But why the heck doesn’t the duchess send her people to come get the go...more
I did like the pictures. My favorite is of Irene by the fire eating and the two dogs looking at her, and most of the outdoor scenes, but all of the illustrations were ones I’d have loved as a kid, including all the details of Irene’s and her mother’s house and the palace interior and people also.
But why the heck doesn’t the duchess send her people to come get the go...more
Here is a true classic, a book that I'm sure has been weaved into the fabric of countless childhoods all across the United States and all over the world, too. Brave Irene was read to me more than once during my first few grades in school, and I remember the exciting storyline in vivid detail, with unflappable, determined Irene setting off to deliver her mother's package to the duchess in time for her party.
Irene Bobbin is the kind of girl that one can't help but cheer on to success. Despite th...more
Irene Bobbin is the kind of girl that one can't help but cheer on to success. Despite th...more
I needed a break one evening so College Girl took over bedtime duties. She also was trying to keep up with her school work too. If you have kiddos you know that reading a book is not always a quick read and tuck into bed. So College Girl pulled out "Brave Irene" which is both a book and story read on CD. I loved listening from my room as Meryl Steep told the story of Irene Bobbin delivering the duchesses ball gown to her through a horrid snow storm to help her mom the dressmaker. There was adven...more
The title of this book is misleading for young children. Although Irene shows bravery, I feel the book does not state the depth of the danger Irene endures and poor decision making by her mother. Allowing a child to walk to deliver a gown when it is clear a storm is brewing is in no way a wise decision.
I feel Irene's bravery is shown to make her way through the storm, in particular when she falls underneath.
However, I did not like this book as the young child should not have been allowed leave h...more
I feel Irene's bravery is shown to make her way through the storm, in particular when she falls underneath.
However, I did not like this book as the young child should not have been allowed leave h...more
Jul 05, 2010
Robert
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to Robert by:
Denise Ragone
Shelves:
fiction,
3-5,
mother,
snow,
time-order-words,
daughters,
clothing,
personification,
determination,
writing-project
I enjoyed the story until Irene made it to the Duchess' house. At that point the story was predictable and boring. Up until then, the language was rich, and I expected the unexpected.
Denise recommended this book. We are going to read it as the anticipatory set for a writing activity we will be doing. The plan is to read up until the gown blows away. Students will summarize the story at that point. Once satisfied, we will re-visit the story as the launch of speculative writing, having the student...more
Denise recommended this book. We are going to read it as the anticipatory set for a writing activity we will be doing. The plan is to read up until the gown blows away. Students will summarize the story at that point. Once satisfied, we will re-visit the story as the launch of speculative writing, having the student...more
“Brave Irene” is a beautiful book from the brilliant mind of William Steig and is about how a young girl named Irene decides to take the duchess’ newly made gown through a ferocious snowstorm after her mother becomes extremely ill. “Brave Irene” is surely a classic story about the true meaning of courage that will entice children to definitely read this book.
William Steig has done an excellent job at both illustrating and writing the story. William Steig’s writing is full of drama and adventure...more
William Steig has done an excellent job at both illustrating and writing the story. William Steig’s writing is full of drama and adventure...more
You must have read at least one of William Steig's books. This is not a funny one, but I thought I'd share that I've used this in a variety of ways, and lately for studying using strong verbs in writing. I taught the lesson to students who are 2nd and 3rd graders. It can also be used for predictions. It tells the story of Irene, who is taking a dress to a duchess from her seamstress mother, who is ill. The struggles she faces are tough, but Irene is a brave soul. It's just a terrific book with s...more
Is Irene brave? Why do you think she is brave? What is in the box she is carrying? Where is she going?
Would her so-called bravery have been called stupidity if the story had ended tragically? Could the story have ended tragically?
In real life, would the mother have asked the girl to embark upon such an arduous journey?
How does the author/illustrator show, through illustrations, the severity of the weather?
Was the errand important enough for the girl's well-being to be endangered?
Would her so-called bravery have been called stupidity if the story had ended tragically? Could the story have ended tragically?
In real life, would the mother have asked the girl to embark upon such an arduous journey?
How does the author/illustrator show, through illustrations, the severity of the weather?
Was the errand important enough for the girl's well-being to be endangered?
Brave Irene illustrates that a little girl can be courageous and steadfast. The story is full of innovative language that will broaden the young reader’s vocabulary, without becoming distracting. Irene is a caring young girl who loves her mother dearly. Irene must deliver a dress her mother has made for the duchess. She takes her responsibility seriously, battling wind and snow to finish her task. In the end, Irene is rewarded for her integrity. It is a modern and heartwarming fairytale!
Jan 17, 2011
Candice
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Sophie - when she's older
Shelves:
picture-books
I was introduced to William Steig's books when my daughter was little, and I think they are wonderful, mostly because of the language. Reading William Steig expands a child's vocabulary. This is not my favorite of his books, but it is an enjoyable tale of a brave and loving little girl who goes through a snowstorm to deliver a ball gown made by her seamstress mother (Mrs. Bobbin - love the name!) to the duchess.
There is no pretending here. Irene's task is hard. It isn't easily solved through the magic of storytelling. She struggles. She wants to give up. But she remembers her mother. She remembers the hard work her mom put into the dress she's delivering to the duchess. She keeps going. I kept thinking the author would create an easy path for her, a magical guide to show her the way.
I. Love. This. Book.
I plan to buy it and read it to my kids as often as they'll let me.
I. Love. This. Book.
I plan to buy it and read it to my kids as often as they'll let me.
A female heroine braves the cold as her mother, a dressmaker sends her on a mission through a blizzard to distribute a dress to the duchess. The emotion depicted in the illustrations as well as the eloquent wording brings children on an adventure full of problem-solving, courage and strong will. It's quite a long read aloud, but children will deliberate and narrate the strife that the main character encounters along the way...
I absolutely loved Irene's bravery, resourcefulness, and self-sacrifice in the face of deadly odds. Then there are the illustrations of what are essentially three different worlds: Irene's humble home, the duchess's lavish one, and the wintery wasteland between them. Most intriguing. All in all, get this book for the plucky, stubborn kids in your life!
What a book to read to students! If I did word of the day in my classroom, I would definitely read this book on the day we learned what perseverance meant. The message is so good, as we all need to be reminded even when we think things are not working out as we had planned, something great always comes out of a situation if we look hard enough to find it.
I don't like the message this book sends. This kid almost dies in a snowstorm delivering a parcel. Nothing in the world justifies risking your life like that. And for all that, Irene is rewarded with food, a ball, and sleeping in the castle. And the next day, she even brings back a doctor for her mom.
The classic story remains very charming! While I can't imagine a child being allowed to make the dress delivery trip in a snow storm in real life, it works in this story, and the illustrations are so cute! I love the facial expressions of the people throughout the story. Fun read, even after all these years!
This was my first daughter's "it" book around kindergarten-grade 1. It has lots of words, is not an easy read or a quick one, but I love the fact that it has a strong female who comes to everyone's rescue (though frankly, I would NOT send my daughter out in a blizzard as this mom more or less did).
This is a new addition to our children's library. It's a great book about perseverance and courage. Strong female roles are represented here, both in the mother and the daughter. Would probably be a particularly good book for a single mother/daughter household. Ideal for ages 4-6.
Um...this wasn't the best book I've ever read. It was a sweet story. Little Irene wanted to do whatever it took to help her mother and deliver the dress. But her mom was stupid enough to let her go out in a snowstorm?
My daughter enjoyed it, though, so I guess that's what mattered.
My daughter enjoyed it, though, so I guess that's what mattered.
This is a fairly long picture book. Irene must make a journey to deliver a dress made by her mother. she battles the swirling wind and falling snow. Ella didn't make it through the first time before falling asleep, but then we read it many times. She also loves Dr. DeSoto.
Another great "snow" book. Irene is full of sweetness and determination. A little serendipity helps her find a happy resolution. I love how Steig pauses to ask the reader, "Would you like to hear the rest?" My daughter responds enthusiastically every time.
Can Irene, the dressmaker's daughter be brave enough to deliver the special dress her sick mother made? Can she find her way through the blizzard and wind? Will she surrender to the storm and tough it out? A great story to read aloud to older children.
If you need to talk about courage, this is the book for you. Irene is the bravest girl I know and ends up rewarded for her bravery. The vocabulary is awesome and the pictures are great at helping you to figure out the nuances of the characters.
This is one of the best picture books for little children. I absolutely loved the message. It is so refreshing to hear loud and clear about a little child who was of service. She was braved bad weather and discomfort by delivering a special package.
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William Steig was born in New York City in 1907. In a family where every member was involved in the arts, it was not surprising that Steig became an artist.
He published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968, embarking on a new and very different career.
Steig's books reflect his conviction that children want the security of a devoted family and friends. When Sylvester, Farmer...more
More about William Steig...
He published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968, embarking on a new and very different career.
Steig's books reflect his conviction that children want the security of a devoted family and friends. When Sylvester, Farmer...more
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Jan 21, 2011 10:23am
Jan 21, 2011 11:07am