Jacob Two-Two
Encyclopedia
Jacob Two-Two is the central character in a series of children's books, Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang (1975), Jacob Two-Two and the Dinosaur (1987) and Jacob Two-Two's First Spy Case (1995) written by Mordecai Richler
, and Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas (2009) written by Cary Fagan.
Jacob is the youngest child of five and has to say things twice because people don't hear him the first time. Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang has twice been filmed, in 1978 and in 1999, the latter film starring Gary Busey
. The titles by Mordecai Richler has inspired an animated TV series produced by Nelvana
, and seen in Canada
on YTV (English
) and VRAK.TV (French
), and in the United States
on Qubo
.
The character is said to have been inspired by Jacob Richler
, the author's youngest son. Every character in Jacob's family has the same name as their counterpart in the real Richler family.
In September 2009 Tundra Books
, the publisher of the Jacob Two-Two series, released a new fourth book titled Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas. Mordecai Richler had always planned to write new adventures and had started a fourth book before he died in 2001. With the full support of the Richler family, the new book was written by Canadian author Cary Fagan. Tundra will also re-release the previous three titles in the series with new art and covers by Toronto artist, Dušan Petričić.
Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas is the prequel to the first three books with the family sailing back to Canada from England after Jacob's father writes an important novel.
Mr. Dinglebat
Morty
Noah and Emma
Marfa
Daniel
Florence
Mordecai Richler
Mordecai Richler, CC was a Canadian Jewish author, screenwriter and essayist. A leading critic called him "the great shining star of his Canadian literary generation" and a pivotal figure in the country's history. His best known works are The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Barney's Version,...
, and Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas (2009) written by Cary Fagan.
Jacob is the youngest child of five and has to say things twice because people don't hear him the first time. Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang has twice been filmed, in 1978 and in 1999, the latter film starring Gary Busey
Gary Busey
William Gary Busey , best known as Gary Busey, is an American film and stage actor and artist. He has appeared in a large variety of films, as well as making regular appearances on Gunsmoke, Walker, Texas Ranger, Law & Order, and Entourage...
. The titles by Mordecai Richler has inspired an animated TV series produced by Nelvana
Nelvana
Nelvana Limited is a Canadian entertainment company founded in 1971 known for its work in children's animation. It was named by founders Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert and Clive A. Smith after a Canadian comic book superheroine created by Adrian Dingle in the 1940s...
, and seen in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on YTV (English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) and VRAK.TV (French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
), and in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on Qubo
Qubo
Qubo is a multi-platform children's television specialty channel endeavor operated as a joint venture between ION Media Networks, NBCUniversal, Nelvana, Scholastic Corporation, and Classic Media...
.
The character is said to have been inspired by Jacob Richler
Jacob Richler
Jacob Richler is a Canadian newspaper and magazine journalist, and the son of novelist Mordecai Richler and Florence Isabel Wood. He was the inspiration for his father's Jacob Two-Two trilogy of children's books....
, the author's youngest son. Every character in Jacob's family has the same name as their counterpart in the real Richler family.
In September 2009 Tundra Books
Tundra Books
Tundra Books is the oldest children's book publisher in Canada.Tundra Books was founded in 1967 by May Cutler, a Montreal-based writer and editor. Cutler established the publishing company in the basement of her home, becoming the first woman to publish children's books in Canada. The U.S...
, the publisher of the Jacob Two-Two series, released a new fourth book titled Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas. Mordecai Richler had always planned to write new adventures and had started a fourth book before he died in 2001. With the full support of the Richler family, the new book was written by Canadian author Cary Fagan. Tundra will also re-release the previous three titles in the series with new art and covers by Toronto artist, Dušan Petričić.
Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas is the prequel to the first three books with the family sailing back to Canada from England after Jacob's father writes an important novel.
Characters
Jacob Two-Two- The protagonist of the story, Jacob Two-Two is the youngest child in his family and tends not to be heard. As a result, he repeats everything twice automatically, which is the origin of his nickname.
Mr. Dinglebat
- Jacob's next door neighbour is an international spy, working for CMIST (Canadian Ministry of Intrigue, Spying, and Tattling). Jacob later helps Mr. Dinglebat and his agent Intrepid (a hamster) on top secret missions.
Morty
- Jacob's dad, the writer of the popular "Amazing Ronald" books is said to be based on Mordecai RichlerMordecai RichlerMordecai Richler, CC was a Canadian Jewish author, screenwriter and essayist. A leading critic called him "the great shining star of his Canadian literary generation" and a pivotal figure in the country's history. His best known works are The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Barney's Version,...
. He's fairly laid back.
Noah and Emma
- Jacob's older twin brother and sister respectively. The two of them are avid readers and wrestling fans, but they don't take Jacob seriously and treat him like a nuisance who can't keep up with them. They form a superhero team known as "Child Power" ("Kid Power" in the TV series) and refer to themselves as Fearless O'Toole (Noah) and Intrepid Shapiro (Emma). They pick on Jacob a lot.
Marfa
- Jacob's oldest sister, who is vain and short-tempered but very smart. While she and Jacob argue a lot, she is proud of his achievements and they care about each other.
Daniel
- Jacob's oldest brother, the epitome of cool in Jacob's eyes. He treats Jacob like a nuisance at times, but also seems to take him more seriously than Noah, Emma, and Marfa. He likes music, especially classics like the Beatles. (See Daniel RichlerDaniel RichlerDaniel Richler is a Canadian arts and pop culture broadcaster and writer. He is the stepson of author Mordecai Richler.-Biography:Born in London, England, his family moved back to his stepfather's hometown of Montreal when Daniel was 15...
.)
Florence
- Jacob's mother, who takes everything in stride.
External links
- Tundra Books website
- Cary Fagan, Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas, Toronto: Tundra Books, 2009 ISBN 978-0-88776-895-8
- Brian BusbyBrian BusbyBrian John Busby is a Canadian literary historian and anthologist. Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, he attended John Abbott College and Concordia University...
, Character Parts: Who's really Who in Canlit, Toronto: Knopf, 2003. p, 129. ISBN 0-676-97579-8, ISBN 0-676-97578-X