It's strange how sometimes the quietest, most unassuming books end up being the ones you fall in love with. This one's just a simple story about a girl, her mother, and her grandmother all saving up money in order to buy a comfy chair for them to relax on. All of their old possessions were burned in a fire. The family makes do with donations from their nice new neighbors, but when they finally save enough to buy something comfortable, pretty, and their own, it's a truly inspiring moment!

The illustrations are lovely; each two-page spread has a pretty tonal watercolor background in differing hues. The art is done in a flat-perspective, almost folkart style.

This is one of those picture books that is really a cohesive unit - both pictures and words combine to create an infinitely greater and more beautiful whole than they would otherwise provide. Just wonderful. ( )

This is a really nice book because it has a very stong family aspect. I love how the entire time the girl has a goal to save enough money to buy a comfortable chair for her mother. I like how it shows discipline and working and saving for a goal, it can teach all kids to do this.

This story of a family who has lost all their belongings in a house fire is a good read to children who may have lost their homes to the same circumstances. The family is given several items by friends and family for their new empty home. They put a jar on the table and begin to collect coins in order to purchase their very own recliner where the grandma can skin potatoes and speak to passer bys, during the day and the mother can rest her feet after work, and the narrator a little girl can be rocked in her mothers lap.

I like this book as a family read as well. It can be used to express hospitality and explain to young people what it is. It can also be a coping strategy for families in tough situations.

I would use this book with younger children and incorporate it as a lesson in citizen skills. I would ask them to tell me different things they can do to be a good citizen and then illustrate it. I could also have them make story books about good manners and citizenship skills.

This beautiful little book tells the story of a family's process of saving coins to buy a chair for the mother. Daughter, mother, and grandmother all live together and lost their comfortable furniture in a fire. With the support of their neighbors and friends, and with careful saving, they are able to finally buy a comfortable chair.

640L,GRL M,2 copies