Brave Irene, William Steig
Brave Irene, William Steig
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Brave Irene
A Picture Book

Author: William Steig

Narrator: Meryl Streep

Unabridged: 26 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/22/2011

Synopsis

This audio edition includes narration by Meryl Streep.

This winning heroine will inspire every child to cheer her on as she ventures through a bitter cold snowstorm in William Steig's classic 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 a will, there's a way, as Irene proves in the danger-fraught adventure that follows. She must defy the wiles of the wicked wind, her most formidable opponent, and overcome many obstacles before she completes her mission.

Brave Irene is a 1986 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year.
Adapted into a short film in 1989 from director Daniel Ivanick.

About William Steig

William Steig (1907-2003) was a cartoonist, illustrator and author of award-winning books for children, including Shrek!, on which the DreamWorks movies are based. Steig was born in New York City. Every member of his family was involved in the arts, and so it was no surprise when he decided to become an artist. He attended City College and the National Academy of Design. In 1930, Steig’s work began appearing in The New Yorker, where his drawings have been a popular fixture ever since. He published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968. In 1970, Steig received the Caldecott Medal for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. His books for children also include Dominic; The Real Thief; The Amazing Bone, a Caldecott Honor Book; Amos & Boris, a National Book Award finalist; and Abel's Island and Doctor De Soto, both Newbery Honor Books. Steig's books have also received the Christopher Award, the Irma Simonton Black Award, the William Allen White Children's Book Award, and the American Book Award. His European awards include the Premio di Letteratura per l'infanzia (Italy), the Silver Pencil Award (the Netherlands), and the Prix de la Fondation de France. On the basis of his entire body of work, Steig was selected as the 1982 U.S. candidate for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Illustration and subsequently as the 1988 U.S. candidate for Writing. Steig also published thirteen collections of drawings for adults, beginning with About People in 1939, and including The Lonely Ones, Male/Female, The Agony in the Kindergarten, and Our Miserable Life. He died in Boston at the age of 95.

About Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep is one of the most celebrated and award-winning actresses in the history of film.  She holds the record for the most nominations for Academy Awards--earning her 16th nomination for her role as Julia Childs in Julie & Julia--and has won twice, for Sophie's Choice and Kramer vs. Kramer.  She has also garnered two Emmy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and six Drama Desk Awards. In 2004, she was awarded the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award.  She recently appeared in the films Julie & Julia, The Devil Wears Prada, Doubt, Mamma Mia! and It's Complicated.  Meryl narrated the Grammy-nominated The One and Only Shrek! by William Steig for Macmillan Audio.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Calista on July 16, 2020

Wow, Irene really is brave. Irene lives up over a mountain with her mother who is a dress maker. She has completed a dress for the duchess who's party is tonight, the night of a vicious snow storm. Irene's mother takes ill and can't take the dress. Irene puts her mother to bed, wraps up in warm clot......more

Goodreads review by Patricia on December 16, 2018

Me lo leí en un ratito libro que tuve en el trabajo y me pareció supercuqui para los niños. Es un cuento donde nuestra protagonista, Irene, decide ayudar a su madre a cumplir una ardua tarea. Y es que tiene que entregarle un vestido a una ¿duquesa? (si no recuerdo mal) y su madre ha enfermado y no pu......more

Goodreads review by Lisa on October 19, 2022

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 o......more

Goodreads review by Carol Bakker on January 11, 2020

Bravo for Brave Irene!! Why I loved this book: 1. Mama's endearing nicknames for Irene: dumpling, cupcake, pudding 2. The solidarity between Mama and Irene. When Mama is too sick to get the dress delivered, she trusts her capable daughter to do it. 3. As in Goodnight Moon, the ever darker pictures refl......more

Quotes

“Despite a raging snowstorm, Irene, a dressmaker's daughter, offers to deliver the duchess's newly finished ball gown...With sure writing and well-composed, riveting art, Steig keeps readers with Irene every step of the long way.” —Starred, Booklist

“One of Steig's simplest stories [and] one of his best, a tale that has the force of a legend.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“William Steig's Brave Irene has the timeless quality of a classic fairy tale.” —Publishers Weekly

Awards

  • Horn Book Magazine Fanfare List
  • Booklist Editors' Choice
  • Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year
  • NYT Best Illustrated BOTY
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