The Funny Old Bag

by Lisl Weil

Big Howie gets his comeuppance at the same time the children finally find out what old Mr. Gugelhupf carries in his old black bag.

Genres: Picture Books

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Lisl Weil was a children’s author and illustrator, most remembered for her ink and felt pen drawings. She was born in Vienna, Austria in 1910, and it was during her Austrian childhood that Weil gained her first interest in the arts, particularly in music and the visual arts. It was an interest that became a life long passion and pursuit. While living in Europe, Weil worked as an illustrator for various European periodicals; after immigrating to the United States in 1939, Weil became a U.S. citizen, married Julius Marx, and began writing and illustrating children’s books, an occupation that she continued for 37 years. Lisl Weil illustrated over 100 books, many of which she wrote. She also pursued her love for music, channeling her energy into a musical venture for children. She involved herself in performance art and created life-size drawings that were choreographed to move rhythmically to a musical score. She called this “a real picture ballet” and the ballets were performed for children at concert halls around the U.S. Weil was also involved in the television and film industries; one of her children’s stories was made into a movie and she had a weekly television show for children during 1963-1964. Weil passed away in February 2006.

Reviews

[Elaine Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining and enjoyable! I learned new vocab, facts about the suffrage movement and a bit about growing up female in 1920’s England.

[Skylar Wisdom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has humor, good illustrations, and a very creative story that teaches the reader to not be so quick to judge and to be nice to others.