The Little Books of the Little Brontës

I was a lucky winner from Library thing’s giveaway to receive The Little Books of the Little Brontes as I have long loved and lived the story of the Brontes, who made up stories as children and continued to do so their whole lives.

Sara O’Leary begins and ends her tale with an inviting point of view. Speaking in second person, she immediately draws the reader in. “Many years before you were born. a child named Charlotte Bronte made a little book for her little sister Anne. If you look through the window of this house… you can see the two of them there…” The illustration of the atmospheric moor and the view through the window of two adorable little girls engaged in bookmaking will charm any young reader, particularly show more booklovers.

Cleverly, O’Leary weaves together the life of the four young Brontes and the tales in the little handmade books they created. With an appetite for stories, the children not only devoured them as readers, but also invented characters to write about. Branwell’s toy soldiers inspired endless tales as well. Briony May Smith’s lush detailed art, in an earth tone palette, envelops readers into 19th century life from cobblestone streets to the windy moors. She also conveys the innocence of the young Brontes, who are “a world unto themselves.” In one particularly brilliant illustration, Smith portrays the four children in a bedroom engaged in imaginative play, and the shadows on the wall capture what’s in their minds and the stories they weave.

The text only briefly mentions the later literary accomplishments of Charlotte, Anne, and Emily but intentionally states, “Let’s leave them there now,” emphasizing the joys of the bookmaking and indeed inviting young readers to do the same, even including a spread in the backmatter: “How to Make Your Own Little Book.” Also in backmatter is an author’s note, timeline, and sources. This tour de force between O’Leary and Smith is a not-to-missed tale that will spark interest for young children to learn more and will delight fans of the Brontes’ story. show less

What an absolute delight! The story of the Brontës has always fascinated me, but this book makes it accessible to children. It focuses on their happy childhood along the moors and their love of making up stories. Their later years veered into tragedy and there is a summary and timeline in the back, but this story highlights the ways they connected and celebrates their imaginations. The detail in the illustrations is perfect. I also love the instructions for creating small books in the back. That was a great way to bring the kids even more into the story.

This book is a charming picture book introduction to the lives of the Brontë siblings - Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne. It focuses on their imaginative childhood spent creating stories and little books together. Briony May Smith's illustrations are truly the stars of this book. The soft, earth-tone coloured illustrations perfectly capture the spirit of the moors and of the Brontës' home (well, the spirit of how I imagine them anyway). I feel like I really came to know the Brontës as children - imaginative and intelligent, perhaps a bit lonely and challenged by poverty and poor health, but rich in their love for each other and for books and stories. As is appropriate in a book for children, author Sara O'Leary focuses on show more their childhood and only briefly mentions their later literary careers in the main text, while a timeline at the end of the book gives a few more details for older readers and interested adults. A tutorial at the end of the book shows readers how to make their own "little book" while the author's note gives bit more background on the story. I hope that this book will inspire children to create their own stories and imaginative worlds, and perhaps encourage them to read the Brontës' novels when they are a bit older. Adults who are fans of the Brontës will probably also enjoy this book! show less

The Brontes–Charlotte, Emily, Branwell, and Anne–are endlessly fascinating subjects for books, fiction and nonfiction. The fact that the Bronte children made little books for each other is a good focus for a book about the hunger for stories that we all have. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen any illustrations by Briony May Smith, although as I look she has illustrated other books. I’m a fan. The children look like real children , and yet the pictures have a fairy tale, once upon a time quality to them, too. It reminds me a little bit of one of my favorite modern illustrators, Brett Helquist, but Ms. Smith has her own distinctive, original, and recognizable style. “This is the story of the little Brontes, who lived in a house show more on the edge of the wild moors–and also in a world of their own imagining.” Sara O’Leary is also a new-to-me author, and she lovingly tells the story of the Bronte children with their pets and toy soldiers, miniature books and real books, and their hunger for stories. It’s a well-told tale, with added information in the back about how to make your own little book, an author’s note about books and the Brontes, and a timeline of the Brontes’ life and times. show less

Lovely!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about the Brontes' early lives as siblings living on the moors and without a mother. The illustrations are entirely charming, and in a few cases even have a significant emotional impact, like depicting the table from above to draw attention to the empty seats left by the missing mother and sister.

The focus was clearly on their collective childhood experiences, which adult readers will recognize as the seeds of their later literary careers, but as a picture book for children it is well crafted and thoroughly enjoyable.

It appears to be very thoroughly researched, and I can't wait to share it with my kids!

The power of sibling love and the imagination shines like a beacon of light through out the story.

While being a short picture book, the author manages to bring quite a bit of depth and life to the Bronte siblings. The sad family history is mentioned and sets a solemn atmosphere before launching into the more playful moments of the siblings. Each one is presented as their love for tales, the creation of their little books, as well as the special meaning of the toy soldiers settles in. They come across as average kids which makes them easy for listeners to identify with and connect to. Still, there special love for tales comes through and inspires. It introduces readers to the history without overloading and makes it 'touchable' instead show more of something far and distant.

The text is a little longer, so not for the youngest listeners. It does make a nice read-aloud. The ending was a bit more hazed, which I assume was an attempt to nod toward their adult lives without leaving the atmosphere of the childhood. Still, it works well to introduce young listeners to the Brontes and also is great for classroom or group settings.

As an extra bonus, there are instructions at the end of the book, which explain and show how readers/listeners can create their own tiny reads. This as well as the beautiful illustrations throughout the tale make in an inviting book to dive into and enjoy. show less

The Little Books of the Little Brontës is a gorgeous book about a remarkable family.

My first encounter with any Brontë was the Classics Illustrated Comic Books; presentation of Jane Eyre. It was one of my favorite stories and I first read the full novel in junior high. Over the years I have read all the novels by Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, and several biographies about the Brontës. I love how this book introduces children to these gifted siblings.

Charlotte, brother Branwell, Emily, and Anne were the surviving siblings after their older sisters died of tuberculosis. They had also lost their mother. The siblings were very close.

The illustrations show their small village and the vast moors that was their playground. They made up show more stories and poems while playing on the moor, or even while peeling potatoes for dinner.

The gift of wood soldiers to Branwell were a hit, each of his sisters claiming one, too. They became the focus of their make-believe tales.

Charlotte made the first tiny book for her younger sister Anne. Later, the children made little books for the wooden soldiers. The books were hand written and illustrated, bound and covered in wall paper scraps.

The Author’s Note offers more information about the little books, and a Timeline follows the Brontës lives, telling how the girls grew up to write novels and poems under pen names.

The author understands that children will want to make their own little books, and shows how to do it.

When I was a girl, my best friend and I played in what seemed to us a vast wasteland, a hilly, undeveloped terrain covered in patches of grass. We pretended we were orphans in Scotland, having adventures. We planned to start a newspaper in the ramshackle structure that had long ago been a chicken coop. We would have loved to learn about the Brontës and would have found them to be kindred spirits.

Perhaps this book will inspire a child in your life to imagine a writing life.

The cover and endpapers are so pretty, too.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book through LibraryThing. show less