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Urso Brunov
The Tale of Urso Brunov: Little Father of All Bears
Urso Brunov or Little Father, a bear the size of a thumb, saves a group of animals from a misguided baggy-trousered crybaby known as the Lord of all Sands. 25,000 first printing.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 29, 2003
2 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
Brian Jacques
260 books4,310 followers Brian Jacques (pronounced 'jakes') was born in Liverpool, England on June 15th, 1939. Along with forty percent of the population of Liverpool, his ancestral roots are in Ireland, County Cork to be exact.
Brian grew up in the area around the Liverpool docks, where he attended St. John's School, an inner city school featuring a playground on its roof. At the age of ten, his very first day at St. John's foreshadowed his future career as an author; given an assignment to write a story about animals, he wrote a short story about a bird who cleaned a crocodile's teeth. Brian's teacher could not, and would not believe that a ten year old could write so well. When young Brian refused to falsely say that he had copied the story, he was caned as "a liar". He had always loved to write, but it was only then that he realized he had a talent for it.
He wrote Redwall for the children at the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind in Liverpool, where as a truck driver, he delivered milk. Because of the nature of his first audience, he made his style of writing as descriptive as possible, painting pictures with words so that the schoolchildren could see them in their imaginations. He remained a patron of the school until his death.
Brian lived in Liverpool, where his two grown sons, Marc, a carpenter and bricklayer, and David, a professor of Art and a muralist, still reside. David Jacques' work can be seen in Children's hospitals, soccer stadiums, and trade union offices as far away as Germany, Mexico, and Chile (not to mention Brian's photo featured in most of his books).
Brian also ran a weekly radio show on BBC Radio Merseyside, until October 2006, where he shared his comedy and wit, and played his favourites from the world of opera - he was a veritable expert on The Three Tenors.
When he was wasn't writing, Brian enjoyed walking his dog 'Teddy', a white West Highland Terrier, and completing crossword puzzles. When he found time he read the works of Mario Puzo, Damon Runyon, Richard Condon, Larry McMurty, and P.G. Wodehouse. He was also known to cook an impressive version of his favourite dish, spaghetti and meatballs.
Sadly, Brian passed away on the 5th February 2011.
Brian grew up in the area around the Liverpool docks, where he attended St. John's School, an inner city school featuring a playground on its roof. At the age of ten, his very first day at St. John's foreshadowed his future career as an author; given an assignment to write a story about animals, he wrote a short story about a bird who cleaned a crocodile's teeth. Brian's teacher could not, and would not believe that a ten year old could write so well. When young Brian refused to falsely say that he had copied the story, he was caned as "a liar". He had always loved to write, but it was only then that he realized he had a talent for it.
He wrote Redwall for the children at the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind in Liverpool, where as a truck driver, he delivered milk. Because of the nature of his first audience, he made his style of writing as descriptive as possible, painting pictures with words so that the schoolchildren could see them in their imaginations. He remained a patron of the school until his death.
Brian lived in Liverpool, where his two grown sons, Marc, a carpenter and bricklayer, and David, a professor of Art and a muralist, still reside. David Jacques' work can be seen in Children's hospitals, soccer stadiums, and trade union offices as far away as Germany, Mexico, and Chile (not to mention Brian's photo featured in most of his books).
Brian also ran a weekly radio show on BBC Radio Merseyside, until October 2006, where he shared his comedy and wit, and played his favourites from the world of opera - he was a veritable expert on The Three Tenors.
When he was wasn't writing, Brian enjoyed walking his dog 'Teddy', a white West Highland Terrier, and completing crossword puzzles. When he found time he read the works of Mario Puzo, Damon Runyon, Richard Condon, Larry McMurty, and P.G. Wodehouse. He was also known to cook an impressive version of his favourite dish, spaghetti and meatballs.
Sadly, Brian passed away on the 5th February 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 28, 2021
I understand the long history of tales of heroes who are bigger than life and twice as unnatural and have gone more than 50 years without interrogating the concept. Now I find that I do not care for stories about a bold male who does everything better than everyone else.
Otherwise, the little bears are awfully cute. The story itself is quite long and rather verbose by modern standards, and the caricature of The Lord of All Sands may strike readers as racially insensitive or actively offensive.
Altogether, not interested in reading more Jacques, but eager to see more of Natchev's art.
Library copy
Otherwise, the little bears are awfully cute. The story itself is quite long and rather verbose by modern standards, and the caricature of The Lord of All Sands may strike readers as racially insensitive or actively offensive.
Altogether, not interested in reading more Jacques, but eager to see more of Natchev's art.
Library copy
April 23, 2023
Goodness gracious! This picture book is by Brian Jacques.
My husband read all the Redwall books aloud to our son, and they LOVED 'em.
Here begins an epic tale from a master of child-sized fantasy. Supplemented by the glorious illustrations of Alexi Natchev.
BEHOLD A SAMPLE OF THE MAGNIFICENT WRITING
I'm going to quote the "Brunov Wintersong":
Hark, the howling winds will blow
bringing ice and sleet and snow.
All the birds have flown away,
yet the Brunov Bears must stay.
Wise old Brunov! Urso Brunov!
He will keep us safe and warm.
We, the bears of Little Father,
do not fear the Winterstorm.
THIS THRILLING ADVENTURE
It's really like a novel, miniaturized into a picture book.
What a way to interest your child in the unique pleasures of reading books:
Not cartoons. Not TV shows. Nothing like a video game.
Instead Brian Jacques has delivered a thrilling adventure through that special pleasure skill called
R.E.A.D.I.N.G.
FIVE STARS, of course!
My husband read all the Redwall books aloud to our son, and they LOVED 'em.
Here begins an epic tale from a master of child-sized fantasy. Supplemented by the glorious illustrations of Alexi Natchev.
BEHOLD A SAMPLE OF THE MAGNIFICENT WRITING
I'm going to quote the "Brunov Wintersong":
Hark, the howling winds will blow
bringing ice and sleet and snow.
All the birds have flown away,
yet the Brunov Bears must stay.
Wise old Brunov! Urso Brunov!
He will keep us safe and warm.
We, the bears of Little Father,
do not fear the Winterstorm.
THIS THRILLING ADVENTURE
It's really like a novel, miniaturized into a picture book.
What a way to interest your child in the unique pleasures of reading books:
Not cartoons. Not TV shows. Nothing like a video game.
Instead Brian Jacques has delivered a thrilling adventure through that special pleasure skill called
R.E.A.D.I.N.G.
FIVE STARS, of course!
July 7, 2023
Happened upon this and picked it up cheap - I was unaware of Jacques' having done any non-Redwall picture books. As I expected, the original tale is done well. The illustrations are attractive, with plenty of detail and rich colors. Not essential by any means, but well above average in comparison to most new picture books of the past 25 years.
January 13, 2020
Love that he is a protector of all. Sometimes you want to read something that is all about justice and good over evil and injustice.
December 28, 2021
This was a cute story.
December 13, 2008
I've not read a whole lot of Brian Jacques books that weren't of the "Redwall" series, but I must say that I was impressed by this one. It was a very cute story about a charming little bear, "Little Father" of all Bears, who saves the day. Mr. Jacques as usual has brilliant descriptions of everything.
July 25, 2015
Another cute little story. I love bear books and this is a quick little read with great pictures!
September 2, 2008
pictures were great, very vivid colors
May 16, 2015
Magical... I can't wait to share it will all my loved ones...
December 17, 2012
It's a book about an arrogant tiny bear saving his fellow bears from captivity. A little wordy for our 3 year-old, but still held her attention. And bears for us.
October 8, 2016
I like the illustrations better than Jacques' text.
More story than most young children would like.
More story than most young children would like.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews