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Two donkeys and a bridge
German
- GenresChildrens
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
About the author
Ralph Steadman
160 books270 followersRalph Steadman (born Wallasey, May 15, 1936) is a British cartoonist and caricaturist.
Born in Wallasey, Cheshire, and brought up in Towyn, North Wales, Steadman attended Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan (high school), Abergele, East Ham Technical College and the London College of Printing and Graphic Arts during the 1960s, doing freelance work for Punch, Private Eye, the Daily Telegraph, The New York Times and Rolling Stone during this time.
Steadman is renowned for his political and social caricatures and cartoons and also for illustrating a number of picture books. Awards that he has won for his work include the Francis Williams Book Illustration Award for Alice in Wonderland, the American Society of Illustrators' Certificate of Merit, the W H Smith Illustration Award for I Leonardo, the Dutch Silver Paintbrush Award for Inspector Mouse, the Italian Critica in Erba Prize for That's My Dad, the BBC Design Award for postage stamps, the Black Humour Award in France, and several Designers and Art Directors Association Awards. He was voted Illustrator of the Year by the American Institute of Graphic Arts in 1979.
Steadman had a long partnership with the American journalist Hunter S. Thompson, drawing pictures for several of his articles and books. He accompanied Thompson to the Kentucky Derby for an article for the magazine Scanlan's, to the Honolulu Marathon for the magazine Running, and illustrated both Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72. Much of Steadman's artwork revolves around Raoul Duke-style caricatures of Thompson: bucket hats, cigarette holder and aviator sunglasses.
Steadman appears on the second disc of the Criterion Collection Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas DVD set, in a documentary called "Fear and Loathing in Gonzovision", which was made by the BBC in 1978, of Thompson planning the tower and cannon that his ashes were later blasted out of. The cannon was atop a 153-ft. tower of Thompson's fist gripping a peyote button; Thompson demands that Steadman gives the fist two thumbs, "Right now."
As well as writing and illustrating his own books and Thompson's, Steadman has worked with writers including Ted Hughes and Brian Patten, and also illustrated editions of Alice In Wonderland, Treasure Island, Animal Farm and most recently, Fahrenheit 451.
Among the British public, Steadman is well known for his illustrations for the catalogues of the off-licence chain Oddbins. He also designed the labels for Flying Dog beer and Cardinal 'Spiced' Zin', which was banned in Ohio for Steadman's "disturbing" interpretation of a Catholic cardinal on its label.
Steadman also illustrates Will Self's column in The Independent newspaper. Johnny Depp's anthology of songs, "Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys" (2006) surprisingly contains two contributions from Steadman. He sings lead on "Little Boy Billee", and sings backing vocals on Eliza Carthy's song "Rolling Sea". Depp played Raoul Duke in the film adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Steadman currently lives with his wife in Kent, England.
Born in Wallasey, Cheshire, and brought up in Towyn, North Wales, Steadman attended Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan (high school), Abergele, East Ham Technical College and the London College of Printing and Graphic Arts during the 1960s, doing freelance work for Punch, Private Eye, the Daily Telegraph, The New York Times and Rolling Stone during this time.
Steadman is renowned for his political and social caricatures and cartoons and also for illustrating a number of picture books. Awards that he has won for his work include the Francis Williams Book Illustration Award for Alice in Wonderland, the American Society of Illustrators' Certificate of Merit, the W H Smith Illustration Award for I Leonardo, the Dutch Silver Paintbrush Award for Inspector Mouse, the Italian Critica in Erba Prize for That's My Dad, the BBC Design Award for postage stamps, the Black Humour Award in France, and several Designers and Art Directors Association Awards. He was voted Illustrator of the Year by the American Institute of Graphic Arts in 1979.
Steadman had a long partnership with the American journalist Hunter S. Thompson, drawing pictures for several of his articles and books. He accompanied Thompson to the Kentucky Derby for an article for the magazine Scanlan's, to the Honolulu Marathon for the magazine Running, and illustrated both Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72. Much of Steadman's artwork revolves around Raoul Duke-style caricatures of Thompson: bucket hats, cigarette holder and aviator sunglasses.
Steadman appears on the second disc of the Criterion Collection Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas DVD set, in a documentary called "Fear and Loathing in Gonzovision", which was made by the BBC in 1978, of Thompson planning the tower and cannon that his ashes were later blasted out of. The cannon was atop a 153-ft. tower of Thompson's fist gripping a peyote button; Thompson demands that Steadman gives the fist two thumbs, "Right now."
As well as writing and illustrating his own books and Thompson's, Steadman has worked with writers including Ted Hughes and Brian Patten, and also illustrated editions of Alice In Wonderland, Treasure Island, Animal Farm and most recently, Fahrenheit 451.
Among the British public, Steadman is well known for his illustrations for the catalogues of the off-licence chain Oddbins. He also designed the labels for Flying Dog beer and Cardinal 'Spiced' Zin', which was banned in Ohio for Steadman's "disturbing" interpretation of a Catholic cardinal on its label.
Steadman also illustrates Will Self's column in The Independent newspaper. Johnny Depp's anthology of songs, "Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys" (2006) surprisingly contains two contributions from Steadman. He sings lead on "Little Boy Billee", and sings backing vocals on Eliza Carthy's song "Rolling Sea". Depp played Raoul Duke in the film adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Steadman currently lives with his wife in Kent, England.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 10, 2015
Theo is a kid who lives on one side of the river. Dmitri is a kid who lives on the other side. They each have a donkey. Sometimes they stop with their donkeys and yell at each other. After a while, they discover they've become quite friendly. It would be fun to meet up, but there's no bridge.
Theo and Dmitri's fathers are the local mayors. Each kid makes the same suggestion to his dad. "Hm!" says Theo's father. "I've heard they grow good pumpkins on the other side. Maybe there are business opportunities."
"Hm!" says Dmitri's father. "People tell me they've got great radishes. A bridge might pay for itself after a while."
The two politicians go to the spot where the river is narrowest and yell. After a while, they've worked out a deal. Work starts on the bridge. The men go to the forest and cut down big trees. The women bring them tea and cookies. (This book was written in 1972). Finally, the bridge is ready. The politicians meet in the middle and shake hands. They put up a sign saying
THIS BRIDGE WAS BUILT BY
FRIENDSHIP AND GOOD WILL
The boys are finally able to meet up in person! Many other people are delighted to start fraternizing with their new neighbors. The vegetable trade takes off. There are regular dances. But one day, tragedy strikes. A farmer at one of the dances discovers that someone has stolen his radishes. He's furious. He and his friends form a raiding party. They cross the bridge and steal some pumpkins to even the score. Within a day, a minor war has broken out. The men throw rocks at each other. The women bring them tea and cookies.
The two politicians decide it would be best to destroy the bridge. But when they see the sign that they'd put up in better times, they can't quite bring themselves to do it. They compromise by just covering it with barbed wire. Theo and Dmitri can't meet up any more with their donkeys. They are sad. They yell over the water that when they're grown up they'll do a better job.
Moral: Children think European integration will be straightforward. Adults find it's harder than they expected.
Theo and Dmitri's fathers are the local mayors. Each kid makes the same suggestion to his dad. "Hm!" says Theo's father. "I've heard they grow good pumpkins on the other side. Maybe there are business opportunities."
"Hm!" says Dmitri's father. "People tell me they've got great radishes. A bridge might pay for itself after a while."
The two politicians go to the spot where the river is narrowest and yell. After a while, they've worked out a deal. Work starts on the bridge. The men go to the forest and cut down big trees. The women bring them tea and cookies. (This book was written in 1972). Finally, the bridge is ready. The politicians meet in the middle and shake hands. They put up a sign saying
THIS BRIDGE WAS BUILT BY
FRIENDSHIP AND GOOD WILL
The boys are finally able to meet up in person! Many other people are delighted to start fraternizing with their new neighbors. The vegetable trade takes off. There are regular dances. But one day, tragedy strikes. A farmer at one of the dances discovers that someone has stolen his radishes. He's furious. He and his friends form a raiding party. They cross the bridge and steal some pumpkins to even the score. Within a day, a minor war has broken out. The men throw rocks at each other. The women bring them tea and cookies.
The two politicians decide it would be best to destroy the bridge. But when they see the sign that they'd put up in better times, they can't quite bring themselves to do it. They compromise by just covering it with barbed wire. Theo and Dmitri can't meet up any more with their donkeys. They are sad. They yell over the water that when they're grown up they'll do a better job.
Moral: Children think European integration will be straightforward. Adults find it's harder than they expected.
Displaying 1 of 1 review