A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams Vera B. Williams shows more than saving money to buy a chair. It's a story about beloved family and compassionate community. Written in the first person, the main character does not have a name nor any gender reference in the text. Readers learn that saving a small amount of money every day adds up over time. Adventurous adults can turn this family's trip to the bank into a math lesson with hand-made manipulatives; for example, how many quarters equal a dollar bill?
A lengthy flashback, a devastating story within a story, challenges children’s sense of time. Adults should be mindful that some readers may recall traumatic events from their own pasts. Ms. Williams' brightly colored illustrations radiate hope. The ending promises a safe and loving present. This book reveals a complex tale based on the pleasure of a chair, “A wonderful, beautiful, fat, soft armchair.”
This book is read aloud online by Story Time for All Kids.
