The Three Robbers - by Tomi Ungerer (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

One the most memorable, entertaining and beautiful storybooks ever published, in which good triumphs over evil in a delightfully unexpected way

In this timeless tale, three robbers wearing tall black hats walk the roads at night, terrifying everyone they meet. But one day, they encounter an orphan girl named Tiffany, who isn't scared of them at all ...

An ALA Book award winner, this classic story of mystery and suspense celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Written and illustrated by one of the world's most acclaimed and award-winning children's authors, The Three Robbers has been translated into 16 languages and has sold millions of copies since it was first published.

Tomi Ungerer has been described as 'the direct natural descendant of the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen' and, like all the best fairy tales, The Three Robbers is by turns scary, charming and surprising.

Review Quotes

'Watch the children, the subversive is back.' - New York Times

'Tomi Ungerer has been proving the pen is mightier than the sword for six decades ... [A] style marked by great originality of illustrative technique, and a use of language that refused to patronise his young readers.' - Dazed & Confused

'His work was dark, wild, sometimes frightening. Maurice Sendak, a friend of Ungerer's, thought him the most original children's book writer of his time.' - Sunday Telegraph

'He has delighted children around the world with his scarily enchanting style.' - Independent

'Maurice Sendak described Ungerer's work as passionate and personal - it's marvellous and it's cuckoo and it's that kind of veracity that's always made for good children's literature' - The New York Times, Outside In, Inside Out

'You can see his work repeated by lots of illustrators, it's just so strong and graphically interesting, as in The Three Robbers. His images attract both adults and children and I can see the pictures without remembering the titles. It's art - illustration at the highest level.' - The Times

'Good news for children and fans of illustration alike ... This story of three black-hatted, cape-wearing thieves and their unexpected encounter with a little orphan girl has lost none of its charm. It's all inky shadows and night-sky blues, making for a refreshingly dark tale for youngsters... Robbing loot has never looked like so much fun.' - Creative Review

'Dark and delightful.' - Grafik

'Tomi Ungerer is highly original. This is a famous book, illustrated in a bold, simple graphic style. The robbers steal a girl called Tiffany, who asks them what they want to do with the money they've accumulated. Suddenly, as if by a miracle, they become good.' - Axel Scheffler, author of The Gruffalo, The Times, Saturday Review

About the Author

Tomi Ungerer (1931-2019) is a legend in the world of children's books. Born in Strasbourg in 1931, Tomi landed in New York in 1956 with $60 in his pocket and with a suitcase full of drawings. Overnight he became a star as a caricaturist, illustrator, and children's book author. He published more than 140 books for children and for adults in his prolific life. Tomi is a winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest achievable international award for children's literature, and was named Ambassador for Childhood and Education by the Council of Europe in 2003. The Musée Tomi Ungerer, a museum devoted exclusively to his work, opened in 2007 in Strasbourg, France. Tomi died in 2019 but up until his death he continued to create new art every day, and write stories in three languages - English, French, and German!