Customer Reviews

26 Fairmount Avenue: Books 1 and 2: 26 Fairmount Avenue; Here We All Are

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

26 Fairmont Avenue, simply written, is an easily understood example of writing from life experiences. I used this book as a read-aloud with my third grade class to introduce the concept of writing from memories and experiences. The students enjoyed hearing DePaola's story of his family's new house and were able to understand that the simplest things in our lives are often the best source of writing ideas.

In 1938, Tomie dePaola is five years old and things are really beginning to happen. His family is building a new house with two floors and will be moving out of the apartment he's lived in his whole life. He'll be starting kindergarten, hopefully learning to read, and he just can't wait. Walt Disney's Snow White is at the movies and everybody's excited about going to see it and that was the year the big hurricane struck Connecticut..... Told in the first person, Mr dePaola has written a wonderfully heartwarming, autobiographical story, full of humor, drama, suspense and just the day to day ups and downs of a little boy's life. His easy to read text is written in a gentle conversational tone and fans of dePaola will recognize characters from his picture books, (Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs). This continuity adds intimacy to the story and makes youngsters feel like a part of the family. Perfect for readers 7-11, 26 Fairmount Avenue is also a terrific read aloud family book and the first of a new series that shouldn't be missed.

"26 Fairmount Avenue" is the first of this author's chapter books. It tells about dePaola and his family as a child, moving into a new house and a tragic hurricane. Tomie tells the story with grade level words for early chapter book readers. And there are illustrations too. But they are in black and white, like alot of chapter books would be in. This book is great. It even won the Newberry Medal.

In reading this book to my first grade class, Tomie always left them wanting to know more about his life. This first book in the 26 Fairmount Avenue series takes Tomie from the summer before kindergarten through his first year at his brothers "big" school. The story focuses on experiences dealing with moving in to a new house and neighborhood, having his teacher mispronounce his name, starting tap dancing lessons and many other events that shape his beginnings at his new life at 26 Fairmount Avenue. My students enjoyed every page of this new series, cover to cover and ended up checking out the book at the library all year! We continued to read the next four books throughout the year and continue to discuss them when we see each other around school. This new beginning biography series is a must have for every primary grade classroom.

Excellent chapter book for read aloud and for young readers. This first chapter book by Tomie DePaola is the start of many to come. The book is a narrative of his childhood experience moving to a new home. Like his picture books, this one should not be missed!

26 Fairmount Avenue is a warm, personal story of popular children's author, Tomie dePaola. Young children are always curious about the authors whose books the read. Tomie's new book offers a delightful glimpse into his life as a child, something young readers will no doubtt find fascinating. His connections to his earlier picture books, especially those about his grandparents, will strike a familiar note with young and old fans, alike. I think 26 Fairmount Avenue provides an authentic springboard to students' writing of their own autobiographies, at any grade level (even with my university students).

We have seen so much of Tomie's life reflected in his picture books. Now he has provided older readers a place to revisit old favorites from a more mature perspective. His stories help us to realize that the events of our early lives do make strong impressions.

I can't wait for the next edition!

I read the book, "26 Fairmount" Avenue and I really, really liked it! My favorite part was when Tomie ate the X-Lax that he thought was chocolate candy. I liked that you visited your Grandmother upstairs. This is how I read the book: First of all I read it in one day! Then I read it waiting for the bus, read it on the bus, read it going up the street, and read it crossing the streets. I got home, went downstairs, sat on the couch - and I was still reading it, too. Took off my shoes and read the rest of the book. Tomie is my favorite author and I liked this autobigraphical book. My Auntie Lynne just bought me "Here We All Are" - I can hardly wait to start reading it! I hope Tomie dePaola writes more 26 Fairmount Avenue books!

26 Fairmount Avenue
By Tomie Depaola

Do you ever think that Tomie's house could get picked up in a hurricane just like in the Wizard of Oz? When Tomie was 5 years old his house was picked up by a hurricane. So then Tomie had to move to 26 Fairmount Avenue. Tomie's house was going to be on a new street. But workers came and made the street very deep so it looks like it was on a hill. Tomie's mom started to cry. Finally New Years Eve came and some of Tomie's friends came over for the celebration. The excitement doesn't end there.

I like this book because it is really relaxing and funny. The pictures are very detailed and the writing really keeps you interested.

The author taught me a lesson that you just have to be patient and something might come to you. Remember this book is a Newbery Honor book.

In a delightful extension to his autobiographical picture story books comes Tomie dePaola's first novel - "26 Fairmount Avenue." Drawing on childhood experiences all readers will relate to - moving house, a first visit to the cinema, time spent with grandparents, starting school - dePaola weaves a magical tale so reminiscent of his superlative picture story books. Warm and nostalgic, without lapsing into sentimentality, this book will be welcomed by all who love fine children's literature. I hope more tales of 26 Fairmount Avenue are to follow.

26 Fairmount Avenue is an autobiographical glimpse into thelife of young Tomie dePaola. In sharing some of the stories of hislife, Tomie, a natural storyteller, describes with utmost clarity and laugh-out-loud humor, what it was like for him growing up in Meriden, Connecticut. 26 Fairmount Avenue is a book about REAL events that happened to Tomie dePaola. As children hear or read this book, they will naturally make connections to the REAL events in their own lives.

The book makes a terrific read-aloud for classroom use, as Tomie dePaola's masterful use of descriptive language creates images that help us relive his memories of growing up in Meriden, CT. The stories flow off of the pages and connect so easily to children's present experiences that they will naturally want to share their own stories with each other. What more could we as teachers and parents want from a book than for our children to make solid connections with it and be inspired to share or create their own stories? This book does just that. Enjoy it. Learn more about Tomie dePaola as he revisits and shares some of the significant events in his life as a four and five year-old. Thanks Tomie! I can't wait to share 26 Fairmount Avenue with my daughter!