The little Brute family

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Title:

The little Brute family

Author:

Hoban, Russell, author.

Hoban, Lillian, illustrator.

Summary:

Members of the Brute family, who live on a diet of stick and stone stew, suddenly find their lives changed for the better.

General Note:

Reprint. Originally published: Macmillan, 1966.

"A Sunburst Book."

Edition:

1st Sunburst ed.

Physical Description:

39 p. : col. ill. ; 24 cm.

Genre:

Readers (Publications)

Author(s):

Hoban, Lillian,

Publisher:

Square Fish,

Electronic Access:

Contributor biographical information
Publisher description

Publication Date:

2002

1966

ISBN:

9780374444839

Publication Information:

New York, NY : Square Fish, 2002.

Call Number:

JR HOBAN

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607002678269	Juvenile Readers	HOBAN	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

They eat sand and gravel for breakfast and a stew of sticks and stones for dinner. No one says "please" or "thank you." Instead, they kick and yell and punch and shove. Then one day everything changes, when Baby Brute happens upon "a little wandering lost good feeling in a field of daisies." When he brings it home in his pocket, nothing is ever the same for the Little Brute Family.

Author Notes

Russell Hoban was born in Lansdale, Pennsylvania on February 4, 1925. He attended art school in Philadelphia and during World War II, he served in the Army and earned a Bronze Star. He taught art in New York and Connecticut, and also worked as an advertising copywriter and a freelance illustrator before beginning his career as a writer.

He began publishing children's books in the late 1950s, including What Does It Do and How Does It Work?, Bedtime for Frances and the six other books featuring Frances, The Story of Hester Mouse Who Became a Writer, What Happened When Jack and Daisy Tried to Fool the Tooth Fairies, and The Mouse and His Child, which was adapted as an animated film in 1977.

In 1973, he published his first adult novel, The Lion of Boaz-Jachin and Jachin-Boaz. His other books for adults include Turtle Diary, Pilgermann, and Ridley Walker. He received the John W. Campbell Memorial Award and the Australian Science Fiction Achievement Award for Ridley Walker. He died on December 13 at the age of 86. In 2015 he made the Kate Greenaway Medal shortlist for his title Jim's Lion wth illlustrator Alexis Deacon.

(Bowker Author Biography)

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 1-First published in 1966, and featuring the original art, The Little Brute Family can now be enjoyed as a newly formatted book for beginning readers. The Brutes are scruffy, grumbling creatures similar to trolls. They snarl and grimace when they eat and avoid pleasantries such as "Please" or "Thank you." They never laugh or smile. One day Baby Brute finds a lost good feeling in a field of daisies. He puts it in his pocket and shares it with his family. The good feeling becomes so much a part of their lives that they rename themselves the Nice Family. Next, Harry Cat and Tucker Mouse, favorite characters from George Selden's A Cricket in Times Square (Farrar, 1961), enjoy their days together. In the evenings, Harry Cat likes to go to the theater while Tucker Mouse prefers to stay in the drain pipe they call home. When the feline is offered a part in a Broadway play, he has little time for Tucker, who tells his friend how much he is missed. Tucker attends one of his performances and realizes that Harry has become a star, and he accepts the reality that their friendship is doomed. However, Harry forgoes the limelight, deciding to spend his time with his old pal. The Ivanovs' artwork is in the style of Garth Williams, illustrator of the original story. Large, bold, and vibrant ink and watercolor images grace each page. New readers will enjoy this introduction to the classic tale and be touched by the lesson about the importance of friendship. Both books are worthy additions to beginning-reader collections.-Diane Antezzo, Ridgefield Library, CT (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

Mama serves up ``a sand and gravel porridge'' and the family ``snarls and grimaces'' as they gobble it up; it's business as usual for the Brutes. Ages 6-9. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

Publisher's Weekly Review