The Hundred Penny Box (Puffin Newbery Library) [Paperback]

Sharon Bell Mathis (Author), Leo Dillon (Illustrator), Diane Dillon (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up

This book tells the story of "a boy and his hundred-year-old great-great-aunt in . . . a quietly intense story, illustrated with sepia pictures that make dramatic use of chiarosciro" (The Horn Book). Newbery Honor Book.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sharon Bell Mathis lives in Fort Washington, Maryland. Leo and Diane Dillon live in Brooklyn, New York. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Puffin Books (October 7, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140321691
• ISBN-13: 978-0140321692
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #189,115 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We thought this was a great book--we loved it!, January 11, 1999

By 

Constance A. Sekaros - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hundred Penny Box (Turtleback)

The story of Michael and his great-great aunt Dew felt very real to us. We especially liked the part where they played the hundred-penny game together. We also liked the part where old Aunt Dew sings and dances to her favorite record. Dancing makes her feel younger and she forgets that she's a hundred years old. Michael loved Aunt Dew, and the author made us love her, too. Michael and Aunt Dew were very close. We thought that he understood her better than his mother did. We also liked the way that Michael stood up to his mother when she was about to throw away Aunt Dew's old box. We think that everyone should read this book because you can learn alot from it and you will enjoy it, like we did. Kids will understand their older family members better and may make them feel good and happy. [This review was composed and written by my fourth graders in Philadelphia)

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Hundred Pennie Box, May 12, 2000

By 

Jayme Ebner (Mott, ND USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hundred Penny Box (Puffin Newbery Library) (Paperback)

I like this story because it is about a boy that stands up for and loves his great-great aunt and he would protect her hundred pennie box so nothing would happen to it. If it gets lost, she gets lost. I would recommend this book to anyone.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Intergenerational Friendship, June 27, 2003

By 

TheRAWKidzReview - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hundred Penny Box (Puffin Newbery Library) (Paperback)

The Hundred Penny Box tells the story of young Michael and his Great-Great Aunt Dew.
Aunt Dew moved in with Michael and his family so that they could assist with her care
because her failing health made it impossible for her to stay in her home alone. Aunt
Dew is 100 years old and as proof she has a box, which she calls the "Hundred Penny Box"
which contains her collection of 100 pennies. The pennies in her collection represent
the years she has lived, and each birthday she adds a newly minted penny to her
collection. Michael and Aunt Dew play a special game where he counts the pennies while
she interjects memories about what was going on in her life during a that particular
year. Aunt Dew has told her nephew many times that if someone were to take her Hundred
Penny Box they would be taking her life. Because Michael's mother often makes decisions
without discussing them with Aunt Dew the two women do not have the closest of
relationships. When one of Michael's mother's decisions puts the Hundred Penny Box in
danger, what will Michael do to protect it?

While the illustrations in this book clearly reflect the abilities of the Dillon team
they seemed to miss the mark in this book. I felt the artwork took away from the story
considerably and overall it gave a heartwarming story an eerie vibe. Still this is an
enjoyable story about a special intergenerational friendship and love.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay...