Miz Berlin Walks

This is a book to keep and read time and time again, both for my reading pleasure, and to be read to the little ones who grace our door. A lovely tale of Miz Berlin who walks every night, the long way around the block. She is rather elderly and is noticed each day by a young black girl who as time goes by, waits each night.

Finally, she gathers courage to met the older white woman and together they walk and the little one listens as the elderly woman starts and stops, then begins again just where she left off. She weaves wonderful tales for the little one to listen and note the inflection and emotion.

Sadly, one night Miz Berlin does not take her walk. With the help of her mother, they go to Miz Berlin's house to learn she fell. Recovery show more is long and painful. As the elderly woman passes on, the young girl will always have the loving memories of stories told and hands held as in the early evening two friends walk side by side.

The illustrations of Floyd Cooper are incredible! And, Jane Yolen is one of my favorite authors. Her books are magical, each and every one! This book holds special meaning for me. It was an elderly librarian in a small NE Pennsylvania town who encouraged my love of reading. Just as the young girl in the story will always remember her mentor, I think of Miss Alice Blake often, and she will always hold a special place in my heart as each Saturday, she gave me suggestions of books to read, and then read some of her selections during story time.

Yes, no doubt Yolen was selective in choosing a elderly white woman and a young black girl to give power to the power that it took for the young girl to wait and walk in the hope she would be accepted.

For me, this is a story of trust, hope, and remembrance, and mainly the power of sharing stories, and learning to take the time to listen. It is wonderful to read a five star book as the 2018 reading year comes to a close. show less

Every day, a little girl watched Miz Berlin walk around the neighborhood through her window. One day, when she had nothing better to do, she worked up the courage to follow her. The old woman told many tales on her walk around the neighborhood. Whenever they reached the corner, the little girl knew that she was not allowed to walk any further. The two would continue the stories the very next day. However, one day, Miz Berlin did not show up for their daily walk together. The little girl went to her house only to find out that Miz Berlin had broken her hip. Not long after her fall, Miz Berlin passed away. The last two sentences of the book sum up its meaning. She says that, “Miz Berlin up and died soon after, and I think I know why: show more even good habits are hard to break. Hearts break so much easier.” She walked every day, but that still did not spare her from a broken hip. Also, the little girl was heartbroken from the tragedy of her new friend, Miz Berlin. If you listen really hard, outside in her neighborhood, you may hear the tales that she once told. show less

Miz Berlin Walks is a story about a young African American girl and an elderly white lady who we know as “Miz Berlin”. Miz Berlin walks the neighborhood every day and soon the young African American girl follows her and Miz Berlin begins to tell the girl lovely stories. Every day the young girl walks as far as she is allowed to go with Miz Berlin and listens to her amazing stories in awe. One day Miz Berlin falls and is unable to walk or talk and soon after she passes away. The young girl’s heart was touched by the elderly lady and she knew she would never forget the many stories she told her. I enjoyed the illustration of this book the most and feel as the illustrator, Floyd Cooper’s art was brilliant for this book. Floyd show more Cooper drew out the young girl’s imagination throughout the story, so each page we were able to get a sense of what the young girl was imagining while Miz Berlin was telling her stories. For instance, when Miz Berlin was telling the young girl a story about the time she was young and caught a gold feather, a young white girl was drawn on the page to represent Miz Berlin. On this page, we see Miz Berlin as a young child standing there holding a gold feather. Also, there was a young white girl drawn with angel wings when the young African American girl asks if the feather she had caught was an angel wing. I thought this book was bittersweet and could teach children the value of friendship, and you can be friends with anyone no matter their skin color or their age. show less

Miz Berlin Walks by Jane Yolen tells a story of Miz Berlin, a elderly woman, is always walking. One day, a little girl that sees her walking and she is curious about her neighbor. The little girl starts to walk with her and listen to the stories she tells. Pretty soon, the little girl looks forward to listening to Miz Berlin's stories everyday and telling her doll the stories so that she will not forget them. A day came where Miz Berlin did not walk past the little girl's house and she wondered why. She cried and cried and her mom tells her that Miz Berlin had fallen and broken her hip and could not walk or talk. She went to see her, but eventually she passes away. Although she had passed away, people would still say they "see" her show more walking with back and forth, giving the impression that she is gone but she is not forgotten. This book could open up a discussion about maybe people in their lives that have passed and if they remember that person by anything they did. Before my nana passed away she would wear the craziest t-shirts with the craziest sayings and she would make any and everyone laugh. She spent her time making sure that other people were happy and entertained. That's how I remember her and that is kind of how the little girl remembers Miz Berlin. show less

This is a book about a young girl - except, judging by the narration, I suspect that she's intended to be quite old at the time of the story, we just don't see that - who makes friends with the old woman who walks down the block every afternoon.

And every day the woman tells stories - true stories, tall tales, you name it. And the girl goes home and tells her doll so she can remember.

Until Miz Berlin doesn't show up, and doesn't finish her story. We're told that she broke her hip, and eventually she dies. But it's clear from the narration that there's acceptance there.

It's a realistic story about death, I do believe. Definitely recommended for any child starting to understand the concept of mortality.

Miz Berlin takes her walks every evening with her big black umbrella. A little girl always watches her and one day decides to walk with her. The women tells the girl all kinds of stories, some about herself, some folklore. The girl would go home and tell her doll so she could remember them. One day Miz Berlin didn't show up for her walk, she had broken her hip and later past away. And folks still say they can see that old women walking and telling stories with that big umbrella.

A elderly white woman and a little black girl make a connection during the woman's nightly walk around the block. The woman takes the girl on adventures through the stories she tells, and the girl is not likely to forget her even after the woman dies (because she can longer keep up her habit of walking, the girl surmises)