saidtheraven's review against another edition
4.0
I have read this book before! I actually read this book in Spanish and I loved it! I loved the pictures, the story and because of it, I remember that I started saving my money as well in a little jar. (: Pictures are nice, filled with vivid colors that capture the reader’s attention. The patters and the paint/watercolor detail to the pictures made it stand out. One thing I noticed, was the over simplification of the harsh times she’s living though. It sounds like she doesn’t know or understand like when she says when her mother only makes so much and then she “looks worried”. Not really that she doesn’t know, but it comes across that she’s a child and this is seen or at least told from her point of view. Reading along to it, I couldn’t imagine my house burning up and everything my parents worked hard for, gone. It was endearing to see that people were so willing to help them. It’s a simple little story about saving what you have and that with time and a little bit of help, one can start over even when it seems impossible. I really liked the last part, “After supper, I sit with her and she can reach right up and turn out the light if I fall asleep in her lap.” It was a nice little ending, with the rose patterned couch and mother and child together.
mrsbond's review against another edition
4.0
A family's possessions are destroyed by a fire. Family and community help with temporary housing and donated furniture. But the ladies long for a comfortable chair.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
A Caldecott Honor winning picture book about living after an apartment fire. The picture was okay but the words captured something real without overstating it.
manwithanagenda's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
mjanssen's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book, too. I remember reading it to Louisa!
rjvrtiska's review against another edition
5.0
So many helpful themes, gently treated. A small family works together toward the goal of buying a beautiful, cozy chair. The mother works hard at an honorable job and her daughter learns to pitch in. They save and count and anticipate their purchase. We learn they lost everything in a house fire. The trauma isn’t ignored, but quickly highlights the support and love they receive from family and new neighbors to get them back up on their feet.
Mother Tongue notes: This book can help recognize past trauma for students who had a difficult refugee experience. A further step might be a discussion about helping others who face sudden instability.
Mother Tongue notes: This book can help recognize past trauma for students who had a difficult refugee experience. A further step might be a discussion about helping others who face sudden instability.
monoton_iya's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
snowelf's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe this is a necessary read, but it is not a very enjoyable one. I would actually save it until ready to tackle a plethora of social issues with your child. I would have thought the story was more dated, but no, it's only from 1982 (although you could say 30 years is a long, long time) and I suppose we should presume the issues presented in the story are still to date. It is a bit hard to picture though, in this age of everybody buying all their heart's desires in a whim - on credit(!) The story is very realistic and forces the child to think in terms of other people's needs and desires, so it's a good lesson in altruism. But in many ways it's a bit too realistic for my taste, and I would prefer to spare my son having to worry about lacking money for basics, his parents being too tired from work to interact or play with him, or having his house burn down, until he's a little bigger, say 7-8 years old. Actually, I would rather not he have concerns about money at all, until he's quite a bit older (and I say this as someone growing up as the oldest sibling in a single parent household)!
Sadly though, this is probably a story kids should be reading, should it be sooner rather than later, and whether it's because this is their reality or because they're so completely detached from it ...
I hesitated between rating the book 2 or 3 stars, as I didn't take any pleasure from it and I didn't really care all that much for the illustrations.
Sadly though, this is probably a story kids should be reading, should it be sooner rather than later, and whether it's because this is their reality or because they're so completely detached from it ...
I hesitated between rating the book 2 or 3 stars, as I didn't take any pleasure from it and I didn't really care all that much for the illustrations.
bluenicorn's review against another edition
2.0
It's not a bad book, but I just don't care for this illustration style. Also, I struggle with what one could argue are "issue books"- like, for a child facing that issue, it's clearly helpful; but I just worry about worrying or scaring children not facing the issue. I also worry about how to help develop empathy in children, so I just don't have "the answer." The idea of saving every coin (some of which the child has to work for at a restaurant) in order to save up for a chair because all of your belongings burned up in a fire is kind of bleak. The elements of hope and community that are also there may not come through for all children.