Irene and the Big, Fine Nickel [Paperback]

Irene Smalls (Author), Arene Smalls-Hector (Author), Tyrone Geter (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1996 | Age Level: 4 and up

Set in 1950s Harlem, this is the story of seven-year-old Irene who lives in a friendly, open community which loves its children. She joins her friends Lulabelle and Lulamae for some fun one sunny day and they even find a big shiny nickel to add to their excitement.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A spunky African American girl stars in this nostalgic story set in Harlem, illustrated with "warm [and] homey" paintings. "A good choice for family sharing," said PW. Ages 4-8.
- homey" paintings. "A good choice for family sharing," said PW. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-- An idyllic reminiscence of Harlem in the '50s, showing the human spirit that made this place welcoming and warm. Seven-year-old Irene is an independent youngster. Readers follow her through a summer Saturday as she visits neighbors, plays in the park and on city sidewalks, fights and makes up with friends, listens to the music drifting through open doors, and plants a fire-escape garden. The day's high point comes with the discovery of a nickel in the clean and normally empty gutter. Irene and her friends buy a raisin bun and, with the sharing of the food, cement their relationship. This is a quiet picture book with wide appeal; each spread includes a full-page oil painting illustrating the action and a page of fairly dense text. Geter's broad brush strokes are without outlines, letting the colors do all the work. Beautiful brown children are captured in rich tones and in natural poses, perfectly complementing the happiness described in the text. Irene's godmother sums up the story's sentiments best when she says, "God don't love ugly, bein' mean and fightin' is not the best thing to do." Amen to that. --Ruth Semrau, Lovejoy School, Allen, TX
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316798983
• ISBN-13: 978-0316798983
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 8.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,143,412 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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