Josias, Hold the Book [Hardcover]

Jennifer Riesmeyer Elvgren (Author), Nicole Tadgell (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Every Morning Josias is hard at work in the family's garden under the hot Haitian sun. And every morning he sees his friend Chrislove walk to school. When will you join us to hold the book? asks Chrislove. But Josias has a garden to tend and no time to learn to read and write, especially now that the garden is failing. Josias can't figure out why the beans aren't growing. Without beans, there may not be enough food for his family. He tries giving the beans more water. He tries working more fertilizer into the soil. Still, the garden shows no sign of life. One morning, when Chrislove asks again when his friend plans to come to school, Josias wonders if a book might hold the solution to his problem.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3–When the beans in Josiass garden wont grow, he must find a solution or his family will not have enough to eat. He tries giving the plants extra water and manure, to no avail. He asks a friend who is lucky enough to hold the book (attend school) if the answer might be found in a book. What Josias learns convinces him to ask his parents if, in addition to tending the garden, he can go to school. Elvgren has crafted a matter-of-fact snapshot of rural Haitian life. Tadgells muted watercolor spreads set the tone and enhance the text. Emotions are clearly depicted, giving the characters added dimension and believability. An authors note gives a detailed account of why rural Haitians often dont attend school and of a typical primary-school day.–Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 1-3. Josias lives in Haiti, where the people are poor and school is not always a possibility. It's Josias' job to care for the garden where his family grows sweet potatoes and peas. On their way to school, children ask him, "Josias, when will you hold the book?" But Josias knows he has no time for schooling. When the garden begins to fail, he tries adding first water, then dung, but nothing works. Then he has an idea. Perhaps the answer is somewhere in a book. A schoolteacher helps him with a book that explains that because the soil is tired, Josias must change crops. Now, Josias' father sees school as a good idea, though the boy's attendance will be a hardship. U.S. readers will get insight into a different culture, where poverty holds people back and schooling is a privilege--one that can make all the difference. Another interesting aspect of the story is that a child is helping lead his parents into modernity. The narrative is effective, but the pale watercolors take some of the intensity from a very different sort of story. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590783182
• ISBN-13: 978-1590783184
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 11.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,430,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful for teaching understanding of another culture, December 1, 2006

By 

Cathy "Multicultural Book Reviewer" (Lincoln, NE United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Josias, Hold the Book (Hardcover)

This is the story of Josias, a Haitian boy whose family depends on him to tend the garden, which is vital to their survival, instead of attending the local school. When the garden doesn't thrive, Josias and his family realize learning is vital to success with the garden and with life. Author's Note describes a schoolchild's day in Haiti.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Value of Literacy, June 13, 2006

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Josias, Hold the Book (Hardcover)

Set in rural Haiti, JOSIAS, HOLD THE BOOK provides a snapshot of life for children in a very different culture. Josias doesn't attend school, instead, it is his job to maintain the family garden. The garden is vital to the survival of his impoverished family because it provides them with food and some of the excess crops provide additional income. His parents work very hard, and have entrusted him with the care of the crops. Josias takes his responsibility seriously, and rises early in the morning to work. Each day he sees many of the children in the community walking to school. His friends often ask him when he will "hold the book," which refers to when he will begin attending school. Each day he waves them off, knowing his responsibilities at home take precedence over school.

One day Josias notices that the garden isn't thriving. After several attempts at remedying the problem, he decides to ask the friends if they can find the answer to the problem in a schoolbook. It is then he realizes the value of an education. After talking with his parents they all agree that sacrificing to send him to school now, may benefit the family more in the long run.

JOSIAS, HOLD THE BOOK is a warm and enlightening story. The muted tones in the illustrations mirror the warmth of the story and add considerable detail. I enjoyed the fact that Josias discovered the importance of education on his own, and then shared the realization with his family and convinced them he was right. He was truly an example of a child leading the family. I also appreciated the fact the author presented rural Haitian culture in a thoughtful way. The parents were not depicted as inadequate because they didn't send their son to school; even the youngest readers can recognize that the parents were doing the best they could under the circumstances. In addition, Josias and his family found a way to compromise; his going to school meant some sacrifice, but once he finished his school day he would still maintain some of his responsibilities in the garden. At the same time, he intended to use the things he learned in school to help his family, reinforcing his commitment to family. Josias is a wonderful example because he demonstrates persistence and the value of hard work. JOSIAS, HOLD THE BOOK is a thoughtfully written and beautifully illustrated book that teaches children about a life vastly different from their own and helps them appreciate education; something many children in the U.S. take for granted.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Haiti Mission Project, March 23, 2007

By 

Island Roamer (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Josias, Hold the Book (Hardcover)

In doing research for our Sunday School mission project on Haiti, I borrowed this book from the local library. I was so impressed with the story line and illustrations that I purchased a copy for the Church library. It brings awareness to the fact that education is a priceless gift and not a guarantee in many countries.