Shirlee Petkin Newman (1924–2017)

This book tells the story of a young girl who has become very curious about what her parents were like when they were her age. I think this is a perfect example of a picture book where the illustrations tell much more about the story than the words do. With every question the girl asks, the answer seems fairly typical, yet the images the depict a grown man or woman in the childlike situations, as the young girl would have. SHe sees her parents as they are now acting like babies.
This is such show more a cute book that I remember thinking was hilarious when I was younger. I would use this book during a unit on families. I know children would really get a kick out of the pictures. show less

This book was a good example of a realistic fiction because the story centers on a young girl who goes to her grandparents (maternal and paternal) and asks what her parents were like when they were little. This story is realistic because a young child could go and do this. The characters and the plot both seemed possible.
The little girl was a static, flat character because we do not know much about her besides what she looks like, and that is only from the illustrations in the book. She is a show more static character because she does not change as the story progresses. She acts the same from beginning of the story to the end. This story was told in first person throughout. But there were different people (her grandparents) telling stories about the young girl’s parents in this book.
The media in this story was done with watercolors with pen outlines.
Age Appropriateness: Primary show less

Interesting old book about the different job duties of a city or town. Quick read.