Unbeknownst to its owner, Mrs. Moffat's new red coat loses a brass button, and the button begins a long journey around the neighborhood, from bushes to birds' nests, before it is returned to Mrs. Moffat."
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3. Two parallel stories are rolled into one in this satisfying picture book. The first follows the adventures of a large brass button that is accidentally pulled off Mrs. Moffatt's beautiful new red coat; the second describes the romance that develops between Mrs. Moffatt and her recently widowed neighbor, Mr. Peterson. The button travels around the neighborhood from early spring until late autumn; it rolls under a bush, is swept down a rain-filled gully, goes from one house to another in a backpack, and is flown into a crow's nest. The autumn winds finally bring it back to its starting point, on Mr. Peterson's sidewalk. Meanwhile, Mrs. Moffatt and Mr. Peterson become better acquainted through frequent and interesting conversations over good meals. It is heartening to watch these two older people fall in love as their interests and their respect for one another bring them closer together. The story culminates in a joyful wedding. The design of the book is especially appealing, with short chapters and varied layouts of text and artwork. The full-page, gouache paintings are richly colored and the smaller illustrations, framing the text on the opposite page, show interesting details about the community in which the couple lives, as well as the many good hiding places for the traveling button. A charming story for the young at heart to share with the young.?Virginia Golodetz, St. Michael's College, Winooski, VT
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Ages 5-8. Mrs. Moffatt has a new red coat with bright, shiny buttons. She wears it to Mr. Peterson's house, where, unbeknownst to her, a button falls off. So begins a winding tale in which the button finds itself in the hands of various owners and, finally, in a crow's nest. Months later, the button is blown to the ground on Mr. Peterson's walk. Mrs. Moffatt, who has just taken her coat out for the winter, arrives at Mr. Peterson's and notices the missing button. Thinking it has just been dropped, Mr. Peterson recovers it. Children like stories in which an object passes from one hand to another, but not much happens to the button (it goes from backpack to accessory on a bathing suit to the crow); and whether children will be interested in the burgeoning romance between the elderly Mrs. Moffatt and Mr. Peterson remains to be seen. Paradise's watercolors are inventive, using arches, columns, and other design elements to show what is happening with the button, while also portraying what is happening with Mrs. Moffatt and Mr. Peterson. The long text makes this most appropriate for a primary-grade audience. Ilene Cooper
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More About the Author
Crescent Dragonwagon, the author of the James Beard Award-winning Passionate Vegetarian, The Cornbread Gospels, Dairy Hollow House Soup & Bread Cookbook, many children's books, and two novels, has just completed Bean by Bean.
Dragonwagon is a Southern Yankee: though born in New York, for 18 years she was innkeeper/chef/co-owner of Dairy Hollow House, an acclaimed country inn in the Ozark Mountain community of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where she resided for 36 years. But, since 2002, she has lived in Westminster West, Vermont.
Dragonwagon has the distinction of having prepared beans and cornbread for a president (Bill Clinton), titled royalty (Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia), a world-renowned feminist (Betty Friedan) and Marilyn Monroe's first biographer (Maurice Zolotow). She teaches two writing workshops, Deep Feast: Writing the World through Food, and Fearless Writing, around the world (the latter, she teaches once a year, in the Whole Enchilada version, from her own home hilltop in the Green Mountains). She has appeared on Good Morning America, Today, TVFN, & CNN.
She lives, writes, and cooks in the 1795 farmhouse which once belonged to her aunt, at which she spent summers when a child. She shares the place with her partner, filmmaker David Koff, and, often, numerous well-fed friends. An ardent gardener, she's currently growing 4 different varieties of bush beans, and 5 of pole beans. .. under the supervision of her large and amiable tabby cat, Cattywhompus (who can usually be found rolling in the catmint).
Dragonwagon is a Southern Yankee: though born in New York, for 18 years she was innkeeper/chef/co-owner of Dairy Hollow House, an acclaimed country inn in the Ozark Mountain community of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where she resided for 36 years. But, since 2002, she has lived in Westminster West, Vermont.
Dragonwagon has the distinction of having prepared beans and cornbread for a president (Bill Clinton), titled royalty (Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia), a world-renowned feminist (Betty Friedan) and Marilyn Monroe's first biographer (Maurice Zolotow). She teaches two writing workshops, Deep Feast: Writing the World through Food, and Fearless Writing, around the world (the latter, she teaches once a year, in the Whole Enchilada version, from her own home hilltop in the Green Mountains). She has appeared on Good Morning America, Today, TVFN, & CNN.
She lives, writes, and cooks in the 1795 farmhouse which once belonged to her aunt, at which she spent summers when a child. She shares the place with her partner, filmmaker David Koff, and, often, numerous well-fed friends. An ardent gardener, she's currently growing 4 different varieties of bush beans, and 5 of pole beans. .. under the supervision of her large and amiable tabby cat, Cattywhompus (who can usually be found rolling in the catmint).
Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book! Beautiful illustrations and lovely story.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Brass Button (Hardcover)
Crescent Dragonwagon weaves a charming tale of the journey one brass button takes in a years time. She also gives the reader insight into a charming neighborhood with eccentric characters and a sweet romance between two of its elderly neighbors. The illustrations alone could hold a child's interest, but I think the story is most apporpriate for primary grade children.
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of our favorites!,
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This review is from: Brass Button (Hardcover)
My 6 year old loves this book and has for almost 2 years. The story is charming, well written and I love the out of the ordinary subject of a couple discovering companionship and love in the later years of life. The illustrations are wonderful and I don't mind reading it over and over (and over and over!).
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