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    A Chair for My Mother and Other Stories
    A Chair for My Mother and Other Stories
    A Chair for My Mother and Other Stories
    Audiobook1 hour

    A Chair for My Mother and Other Stories

    Written by Vera B. Williams

    Narrated by Martha Plimpton

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    This classic and award-winning picture book was written and illustrated by the celebrated Vera B. Williams and was named a Caldecott Honor Book by the American Library Association. ""A tender knockout . . . it's rare to find much vitality, spontaneity, and depth of feeling in such a simple, young book.""—Kirkus Reviews

    After their home is destroyed by a fire, Rosa, her mother, and grandmother save their coins to buy a really comfortable chair for all to enjoy. A Chair for My Mother has sold more than a million copies and is an ideal choice for reading and sharing at home and in the classroom. ""A superbly conceived picture book expressing the joyful spirit of a loving family.""—The Horn Book

    Supports the Common Core State Standards

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateMay 12, 2009
    ISBN9780061805868
    A Chair for My Mother and Other Stories
    Author

    Vera B. Williams

    Vera B. Williams began her career in children’s books by illustrating Hooray for Me!, written by Remy Charlip with Lilian Moore. Her beloved A Chair for My Mother won multiple awards, including a Caldecott Honor, and “More, More, More,” Said the Baby also received a Caldecott Honor. Vera B. Williams was the recipient of the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award; she was awarded the 2009 NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s Literature; and she was the US nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2004. Vera B. Williams died on October 16, 2015, shortly before this book was completed.

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    Reviews for A Chair for My Mother and Other Stories

    4.5/5

    50 ratings50 reviews

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    • 5/5
      This book was amazing. It was so sweet I wanted to cry. The content and moral of this book is so great to teach in your classroom. The pictures were really good also. I know for a fact that I am going to purchase this book and have it in my classroom.
    • 4/5
      I had mixed feelings about this book after reading it. I liked the book because the plot development was interesting. The mother and daughter would work together sometimes to be able to raise enough money to buy a comfy chair for their family. The family had most furniture, from other people donating to them after hearing about the fire, but this comfy chair was going to be special. For example, the author wrote what the chair is used for, “Now Grandma sits in it and talks with people going by in the daytime… I sit with [Mama] and she can reach right up and turn out the light if I fall asleep in her lap”(pg. 28). I didn’t like the illustrations in this story. On page 5, Mama looks larger than everyone and everything in the room. In addition, on page 9, Mama’s legs are crossed and it doesn’t look like they are drawn correctly. The big idea of the story is to strive for something and work hard at it.
    • 5/5
      I thought this book might be as sad as Fly Away Home, but it's really uplifting. In the beginning, a girl, her mother, and her grandmother survive a fire that destroy their apartment. They stay with relatives until a new apartment in their building is ready, but when they move in, it's really "empty." They buy "hard kitchen chairs," but they can't afford any nice, soft furniture that they could relax on. So her mother brings home a big jar from the diner at which she waits tables, and the three of them start to put all of their spare coins into the jar. Finally, they save up enough to get a big comfortable chair and the girl's mother can come home from work and put her feet up. It was a nice happy ending to the sad story.This is a good book for normalizing "working class" families or families who are "paycheck to paycheck." They experienced a traumatic event, losing their home. In addition to it being difficult emotionally, it's also a financial hardship. But the way the family reacts to it is that they work hard in order to buy an item that would restore a feeling of comfort and safety in their home.
    • 4/5
      The book tells the story of a little girl's family who lost everything in a fire. Since the fire, the young girl, her mother, and her grandmother have lived in an apartment with little to no furniture. The young girl's mother is a waitress who seemingly works her butt off. Together the three have been saving their change to purchase a chair in which they can all enjoy. After a year of saving, they finally save enough to buy their deserved, special chair. The book shares the story of a family who rebuilds their live after tragedy strikes them. It's encouraging for readers of all ages!
    • 4/5
      This story is about a young girl and her mother and grandmother who are staring their lives over after their house was burned down. The family is saving money to buy a new chair to put in their new apartment. The story talks about how they put their coins into a large jar in hopes that they will have enough money to buy a big comfortable chair.I like this story because it is very well written and easy to relate to. The author uses excellent descriptions so that her audience can easily picture the message she is trying to convey. the illustrations are also well done and enhance the text without being a distraction.
    • 5/5
      In A Chair for my Mother, the main character, a young girl, tells the story of a chair. Her family lost their home in a fire and, while the neighbors gave them many things with which to furnish their new apartment, they found that there was no comfortable place for the hardworking mother or beloved grandmother to rest after a long day. The family works diligently towards their goal of buying the perfect armchair.This is a great book. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful. The message is also wonderful. It brings together ideas about community, family, love, hard work, and overcoming adversity. It's a great book for a read aloud or for early readers.
    • 3/5
      This book is about a family who looses everything in a horrible fire. Ever since the fire, there isn't a comfortable place to sit in the apartment. everything is burned to charcoal and ash. Rosa, her mother and grandmother save up all their coins just to purchase a very comfortable chair for all of them to share. The point of the story is that they worked as a family and didn't give up on one another. They searched and searched until they found the perfect chair for all three of them.
    • 4/5
      “A Chair For My Mother” tells the story in first person of a family that have lost their house in a fire. As the family starts over and save to buy new furniture and things they continue to be a loving family. The story is told from the little girls point of view.
    • 3/5
      I think this is a good children’s book. The first reason why I like this book is because it shows the value and importance of money. After a fire destroys their home, Rosa and her mother and grandmother have to survive without anything because everything was burnt to “charcoal and ashes.” Their friends brought furniture to their new apartment, but nothing that was big or soft or even comfortable. They try to save up all of their coins just to buy a comfy chair for all of them to enjoy. Rather than spending all of the money, or wasting it on non-worthy things, they cherish the value of money, and save it just to buy one small couch. The second reason why I liked it is because of the beautiful illustrations spread across the pages. The illustrations are so colorful that they interest the reader. Even the cover itself attracts the reader to want to read it because of what is going on and because of the different colors. The big picture of this book is the hard-working, and loving family that can persevere through such a tragedy. If you work together towards a common goal, you can achieve it.
    • 2/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      I liked this book. There is so much for children to learn in it. They will learn about experiencing loss, the importance of community, hard work, saving, and investment. It is a little wordy so it would be a good book for 2nd and 3rd graders.
    • 4/5
      A little girl, her mother, and her grandmother all work together to save their money. They put the money into a jar every night. The money is being saved to buy a new chair. After experiencing a horrible fire, in which everything was ruined, their neighbors and family members pull together and get them almost everything they need to replace items from their old home. Everything except a chair. Words to think about: bargain, velvet, spoiled, charcoal
    • 3/5
      Sweet story and colorful illustratons.
    • 5/5
      A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams is a contemporary realistic fiction book because there could possibly be children who can relate to the characters in this story. A fire destroys the home of Rosa's, her mother's and grandmother's. All of their material possessions were lost in the fire and they had to move to a new and smaller home. The aspect of community is prevalent when they move because all of their neighbors were willing to help and donated everything for their house. Rosa's mother was a waitress and worked long hours. Often times when she got home she was so tired she would fall asleep before going to bed. Rosa's mother saved all of her change in a big jar. They were waiting to fill the jar to buy the perfect chair that they could all sit in.This would be a good book to read to young children, grades Pre-K-3rd. This book can be used when talking about community and giving to others. Other issues could be addressed as well such as the fire and poverty. A social justice piece could be brought into the classroom as well. Your class could discuss ways that they help others that are less fortunate was us.
    • 5/5
      The story of a young girl and her waitress mother saving money to buy a soft chair to relax on at the end of the day. A Caldacott honor book for it's beautiful watercolor illustrations.Classroom connections: This book could be used to introduce money and saving money. Also to talk about hard work and perseverance. The book can also be an introduction the the Caldacott award and the medium of water color for illustrations.
    • 5/5
      A girl and her family save coins to buy a chair after they lose their furniture in a fire. This realistic fiction is wonderful to start a discussion about equity, family, or community service. It's a great eye-opener for young children to the lives of those around them. Best for k-4th.Media: watercolor
    • 5/5
      In my opinion, “A Chair for My Mother” is an extraordinary picture book for children to read. It is one of the warmest children’s books that I have ever read. The plot is the best part of the story because it is very relatable for many children. The story tells of a mother and little girl who live together in the city. The mother works as a waitress at a diner, and she struggles to pay the bills. The little girl and her mother had recently lost everything they owned in a fire. The little girl sometimes meets her mother at the diner and helps. They put their coins that they get from the job into a jar. They want to get a chair with the money once they have enough. The mother’s feet are always hurting her from work, and she really just wants a big, comfy chair. The writing is very appealing because the book is entirely narrated by the little girl in the story. The little girl’s point of view makes the story so much more endearing. For example, the little girl says, “Sometimes my mama is laughing when she comes home from work. Sometimes she’s so tired she falls asleep while I count the money into piles. Some days she has lots of tips. Some days only a little. Then she looks worried. But each evening every single shiny coin goes into the jar.” The colorful, eye-catching illustrations are very engaging. The illustrations consist of fine paintings that capture the various emotions that the little girl and mother feel throughout the book. Towards the end of the story, the girl and her mother have enough coins to go get the chair that they want. The mother and daughter lay in the chair together and fall asleep. This story pushes readers to broaden their perspectives about what is really important in life. The big idea is to teach students that “It is not what you have that matters. The people that are by your side matter.”
    • 4/5
      A little girl, her mother and grandma are saving to buy a new chair. All their belongings were destroyed in a fire so every piece of change goes into a savings jar. I liked this book because it showed how they all worked together and even took a family picture in the new chair. We also discovered that unlike other children's books, this book has flashback. It took us to the fire scene which was very helpful to capture the scene.
    • 3/5
      This was a fiction picture book for students in 1st grade. It is appropriate for these students because they could read most, if not all, of the words and comprehend the themes in the book. First graders would also enjoy this book. A young girl and family is saving all of their extra money in a jar. They are saving to buy a big, comfy, rose covered, arm chair. They didn't have one because they had a fire in their home. It was a good book because it showed making some positives out of a negative situation, a community and a family uniting in a time of need, and perseverance.
    • 5/5
      This story is about a little girl and her mom who are trying to save up money to buy a chair so her mother can come home from working at the diner and relax. However, a fire burns down their home and they lose their money. This story teaches children the value of money, hard work, and everlasting love.
    • 5/5
      This is a wonderful children's story about rising above tragedy. The main character's family was devastated by a tragedy. This story is about how this family did not let that tragedy destroy their hopes. With teamwork and help from neighbors they rebuild their lives and achieve their goal--a great chair for the family to bring normalcy back to their lives.
    • 4/5
      A little girl notices her mother needs a comfortable place to rest after working so hard to provide for her family. After a devastating fire, everything this family own is destroyed. The community comes together to donate the everyday things this family needs to live. The girl, mother, and grandmother continue to save all spare change to save up for a chair. At last they save enough and purchase a big, beautiful chair for their new apartment.
    • 5/5
      This is a classic story by now. I tear up every time I read it when we get to the part about the whole neighborhood helping them move into their new house after the old one burns down. It's a wonderful example of community, and very realistic.I will note that this book is a bit wordy, and may not hold the attention of children under the age of 5 or so. If your kiddo has a short attention span, wait a year before reading this one.
    • 5/5
      When you read aloud a book that you love to your child, your love of the book will be contagious. This is a heartfelt story of a daughter, mother and grandmother's struggles, closeness and ability to save together for a chair for mama.
    • 5/5
      This Caldecott Honor book is appropriate for the grades pre-k through first. The book is colorful and not too lengthy. The narrator who is a young girl starts off by saying that she sometimes goes to the diner where her mother works after school. There her mother's boss Josephine gives her small jobs to do and then compliments her and pays her. The narrator lives with her mother and her grandmother. Their house caught on fire a year ago so they now live in a small apartment. They don't have much furniture so they are saving up for a nice comfy sofa. At the end they fill up the coin jar and end up getting a nice sofa that her mother could rest on. Uses in classroom:- Talk about the different families that people can have.- I would have students write a story about their family and make a poster to share with the class.
    • 5/5
      A chair for my mother is a story about a little girl who lives with her Mom and grandma. She talks about how hard her mom works as a waitress and how sometime she will go to the restaurant and help out and gets payed. Every time she gets payed she puts half on a jar and when her mom comes home she puts all change from tips. She is saving to buy a beautiful chair for her mother because the one they had burned in a fire where they lived before. the she tells how all the neighbors and family helped them move and get new stuff, but they needed a sofa where her mom could rest when she comes home tired. The day finally came they had enough money to buy the chair. They went to look for it and found the perfect one, she got to try it on back of the truck and was happy to finally have a chair for her mother.Ages 3-6Head Start
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      I think this book is good to include in the classroom and children would like this book because it has a happy ending. After all of their hard work, the little girl, her mother, and grandmother get the chair they saved up for! I would use this book in a 3rd grade classroom and would use it in a lesson about saving money by taking just a small portion out of hat you make and put it away, just as the girl did. I would also use this book in a lesson on generosity and would teach students about giving to children or families in need.
    • 4/5
      It’s a great story with so much to learn in it. It is based on how family pulls together through good times and bad. It is a good way to show children responsibility and learn about how people experience loss, and the importance of hard work through the story.
    • 5/5
      Genre: critical IssuesMedia: Acrylic Mixed mediaUse: this book would be a great read aloud especially at the beginning of the year when I might want to get to know my students better. I could ask questions pertaining to life and to who my students live with or what they have experienced. Critique: this book tells a loving story of three generations of women (well,and girl) whose home is destroyed in a tragic fire, but they stay positive and start saving their coins for a comfortable chair. It's a great progression and the artwork is fantastic. Very well done. I also like that it is about a house burning down, I don't think that is a particularly large topic covered in children's literature.