worldlibraries's review against another edition
1.0
It's astonishing to me that so few reviewers comment on the inequality of power between Irene and her mother with the duchess. Irene risked her life to deliver a ballgown for an upper class woman. Why was the chosen task she was risking her life for so frivolous? Why was it worth leaving her sick mother all alone for? Why on Earth would anyone want to teach young people risking your life to deliver a ball gown is a good idea? The power differential robbed the story of any joy to be had reading it. Maybe if Irene was delivering her sister's dress for her wedding, it might have worked, but this book seems designed to keep the plebes in their place. Moral of the story: plebes, your job is to keep the upper class happy at all costs to yourself.
a_manning11's review against another edition
1.0
I don't like the message this book sends. This kid almost dies in a snowstorm delivering a parcel. Nothing in the world justifies risking your life like that. And for all that, Irene is rewarded with food, a ball, and sleeping in the castle. And the next day, she even brings back a doctor for her mom.
calistareads's review against another edition
5.0
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 clothes and take the dress through a blizzard and the wilderness to the duchess. It's so windy that it blows the box away. Irene keeps going so she can tell the duchess what happened.
William Steig does some amazing artwork for this story. It feels like he really cares about Irene. It takes a third of the pages to show all the trials that Irene goes through. This is one of my favorite books by William. Irene has courage and pure of heart. She struggles and her struggles do pay off. She doesn't give up or in to despair. Irene is like a new little hero to me.
Nephew was into this story. He was gripped by the tension William sets up and he wanted Irene to make it. When he saw the dress on the tree he let out a big yes. He did ask why she didn't drive over there or at least walk on a road. He can't think of a life without all the modern trappings. He gave this 3 stars.
William Steig does some amazing artwork for this story. It feels like he really cares about Irene. It takes a third of the pages to show all the trials that Irene goes through. This is one of my favorite books by William. Irene has courage and pure of heart. She struggles and her struggles do pay off. She doesn't give up or in to despair. Irene is like a new little hero to me.
Nephew was into this story. He was gripped by the tension William sets up and he wanted Irene to make it. When he saw the dress on the tree he let out a big yes. He did ask why she didn't drive over there or at least walk on a road. He can't think of a life without all the modern trappings. He gave this 3 stars.
ashleylm's review against another edition
2.0
This was on a list of not-to-be-missed children's books, and I'd missed it, so that was my motivation for reading it!
I don't get the love. It's a tale of a young girl who (in my opinion) does something stupid, and dangerous, and then kind of saves the day completely accidentally. I wasn't a huge fan of the author's Sylvester and the Magic Pebble--hope I got the name correct--either, so perhaps we're just on different wave lengths. I didn't see anything particularly charming about it, the illustrations weren't so amazing that the story didn't matter, and the prose styling didn't dazzle. My seven year old self would have thought "that's kind of a dumb story," and I can't say I disagree with him.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
I don't get the love. It's a tale of a young girl who (in my opinion) does something stupid, and dangerous, and then kind of saves the day completely accidentally. I wasn't a huge fan of the author's Sylvester and the Magic Pebble--hope I got the name correct--either, so perhaps we're just on different wave lengths. I didn't see anything particularly charming about it, the illustrations weren't so amazing that the story didn't matter, and the prose styling didn't dazzle. My seven year old self would have thought "that's kind of a dumb story," and I can't say I disagree with him.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
kellyjcm's review against another edition
2.0
This was rather slow paced. I liked the story, but I don't know if it would work as a storytime book (which is why I read it).
andrew_petro's review against another edition
3.0
As suggested in [b:Excellent Books for Early and Eager Readers|26221386|Excellent Books for Early and Eager Readers|Kathleen T. Isaacs|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1443624593l/26221386._SY75_.jpg|46204333]
lara_lleverino's review against another edition
5.0
Great children’s book about doing my hard things and not giving up.