The Graves Family [Paperback]

Patricia Polacco (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

The Graves family has just moved to Union City, and they definitely don't fit in. With giant spiders in the living room, a voracious Venus flytrap named Phoebe in the kitchen, and a secret laboratory in the basement, the neighbors are afraid to visit! Except for Seth and Sara Miller, the kids next door, who decide to help them make friends. Maybe if Mr. Graves gives all the bald men in town his amazing hair-growing tonic, which he developed from the follicles of house cats? It seems like a great idea-until the tonic-dosed town council starts chasing birds and running up trees! And then Phoebe nearly devours the Ladies' Auxiliary Garden Club-will the Graves family ever find a way to fit in?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-When Doug and Shalleaux Graves and their children move to Union City and paint their house blood red, the villagers stay away. Then Seth and Sara, two young neighbors, visit and become friendly with young Hieronymus, and they explore the spooky house. Their mother invites Mrs. Graves to a garden club tea, where her baby Venus flytrap eats the lemon squares, the tea set, and the ladies' hats. After this fiasco, the Graves family's social standing declines further. Then Christopher Joel, a home-decorating guru, comes to town to judge the neighborhood House Show. After spotting the Graves's residence, he declares it the most perfect haunted house, and offers the family a magazine cover story. From that day on, the villagers declare that the Graves and their house "fit in." Polacco's fans may be disappointed in this story. It is lighter and less emotionally resonant than many of her other works, but it has fun and farcical moments, creative puns, and over-the-top descriptions. Unfortunately, the text goes on too long, causing some of the amusing episodes to drag. Polacco's illustrations, in her standard technique of pen-and-ink with watercolor washes, have a comic, cartoon look, also something of a departure from her usual style. While this title demonstrates Polacco's storytelling range, it is not a central title in her canon.
Rachel G. Payne, New York Public Library
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. After the Graves family move into the house on the hill, they paint it blood red, encourage spiders and bats to share their living quarters, and cultivate enormous Venus flytraps. They try to fit in with the neighbors, but Mrs. Graves' flytrap, Phoebe, kills the plants at the Ladies Garden Club Tea, and Dr. Graves' hair tonic makes its recipients scratch with fleas. Then a Hollywood decorator comes to town to select the best-decorated house of the year, and deems the Graveses' mansion best: "I've never seen such terrifying decor . . . ever!" Polacco uses a light touch--playing with character names and understating her humor--even as she makes the point that the world is big enough for all kinds of people. As always, her colorful artwork is delightful, filled with the denizens of small-town America who are in perfect contrast to the overpowering but well-meaning Graveses. Pair this with Jeffrey Swope's The Araboolies of Liberty Street (1989) for a another look at unusual neighbors. Kay Weisman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (August 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 014240635X
• ISBN-13: 978-0142406359
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #314,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( P ) > Polacco, Patricia
  • #66 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > Moving

More About the Author

Born Patricia Ann Barber in Lansing, Michigan, to parents of Russian and Ukrainian descent on one side and Irish on the other, Patricia Polacco grew up in both California and Michigan. Her school year was spent in Oakland, California, and summers in her beloved Michigan. She describes her family members as marvelous storytellers. "My fondest memories are of sitting around a stove or open fire, eating apples and popping corn while listening to the old ones tell glorious stories about their homeland and the past. We are tenacious traditionalists and sentimentalists.... With each retelling our stories gain a little more Umph!"Studying in the United States and Australia, Patricia Polacco has earned an M.F.A. and a Ph. D. in art history, specializing in Russian and Greek painting, and iconographic history. She is a museum consultant on the restoration of icons. As a participant in many citizen exchange programs for writers and illustrators, Patricia Polacco has traveled extensively in Russia as well as other former Soviet republics. She continues to support programs that encourage Russo-American friendships and understanding. She is also deeply involved in inner-city projects here in the U.S. that promote the peaceful resolution of conflict and encourage art and literacy programs.The mother of a grown son and a daughter, Patricia Polacco currently resides in Michigan, where she has a glorious old farm that was built during the time of Lincoln.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My 5th grade class loved it, September 9, 2003

By 

memade "memade" (Bronx, New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Graves Family (Hardcover)

I read this book as a read aloud to my class and they couldn't get enough. They loved the illustrations and the story. Patricia Polacco is one of their favorite author and this book shows you why.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Patricia Polacco is the best!, October 18, 2004

By 

E. Unkrich (Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Graves Family (School & Library Binding)

Two weeks ago, I was introduced to Patricia Polacco and "The Graves Family" when the PSAJ at my Library in Chagrin Falls, Ohio came out of the Staff Room laughing. I asked her what made her so joy-filled and she showed me this book. Well, I read it and since then have read every other book in our Cuyahoga County Library System that Patricia has written. I have ordered the book for several friend's grandchildren as well as one of my own. Patricia is a wonderful, creative author and illustrator and simply a quality human being. At 67, I am still a kid at heart and right now, it is my pleasure to know about her, read her books and introduce her and her life work to others.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I like it., February 23, 2009

By 

Diane Lewis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Graves Family (Paperback)

Great author and illustrator. Good story... but much too long. My students were ready for it to end.