The Stone Doll of Sister Brute

by Russell Hoban

Sister Brute has no one to love until she makes a stone doll and finds an ugly dog.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Russell Conwell Hoban was an American expatriate writer. His works span many genres, including fantasy, science fiction, mainstream fiction, magical realism, poetry, and children's books. He lived in London, England, from 1969 until his death. (Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came for Russell Hoban and Lillian Hoban, but I stayed for the ugly kicking dog.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a quirky, funny little story! It earned four stars from me for including the line "Love me or I will kick you very hard."

[Kellee Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read on IG by Mac Barnett 5/11/20

[Kara Rae Garland · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Love me. Love me or I will kick you very hard."

[Ani Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Brute Family books were absolutely brilliant - particularly for little boys! I'm sure children these days would love them but whether they would get past the censors these days I don't know :o) Kicking dogs with hobnailed boots, 'flinging themselves into ponds where they sank like stones because they could not swim', making dolls out of stones - they were brilliant stories. I used to read them to my brother and he loved them dearly and has a fondness for them still in his middle age. But they are probably best summed up by Baby Brute who 'found a little wandering lost good feeling in a field of daisies, and he caught it in his tiny paw and put it in his pocket. And he felt so good that he laughed and said "How lovely!"'. And that was how we felt reading about the Brutes. In a similar vein to 'Where the Wild Things Are'. Maybe one day the Brutes will be rediscovered in a film and a musical! Happy memories ...

[Malka · Rating 1 out of 5]

If there was a way to rate lower than 1 star, I would. This is a book that glorifies abuse as love, and it is incredibly disturbing to me that people find the line "love me or I will kick you very hard"...amusing? endearing? I don't know, I don't get the like. Yikes. Sometimes people's abuser tendencies and apologism just jump out huh.

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, quirky book. The illustrations are fantastic.

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

The precursor to the pet rock.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather strangely endearing story about a little monster (Sister Brute) who looks for someone to love.

[Kelly Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Hoban's. I grew up on Francis and the Brute family and still love them today.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kept looking through the illustrator's titles and found this. I know I read this one. The stone doll and dog in boots.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been my favorite children's book for me and my children. Well worth getting a copy of it.