Author: - Vera B. Williams
Title: - A Chair for My Mother
Illustrator: - Vera B. Williams
Publisher: - Mulberry Books
Year: - 1982
Format: - Paperback
Genre: - Picture Storybook
Reading Level: - Assisted, Independent
Interest Level: - Elementary
Topics: - Caldecott Honor, fire, helpful neighbors, saving money, chair
Summary: - A young girl explains how she, her mother, and her grandmother want to get a big comfortable chair for their house for her mother to sit and relax in after work. All the spare change they have and all the tips they receive go into a savings jar. Once the jar is full, they can go buy a chair. However, a horrible fire consumes nearly everything inside of their home. Neighbors, friends, and family band together to give the family furniture and supplies that were necessary after the fire, but the family still was unable to get a special chair. When the coin jar is finally full, they go to purchase a chair, and it is exactly what they wanted.
The illustrations in this book are very unique. The vibrant colors and themed page borders draw and keep the reader’s attention.
Extension Activity: - Students will write a paragraph about something they saved up for, something they are currently saving up for, or something they want to save up for. They will draw one picture to complement their paragraph, using the same page border technique that the illustrator of the book used.
