The Old Man and His Door [Paperback]

Gary Soto (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 26, 1998 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Who would bring the door, "la puerta", to a picnic instead of the pig, "el puerco"? An old man who's great at gardening but lousy at listening to his wife! "A playful original folktale that is sure to get laughs".--"School Library Journal".

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A Mexican ditty inspired this buoyant caper about an elderly man who grows "the hottest of hot chiles" and raises pigs "as plump as water balloons," but who is not very adept at listening to his wife. Leaving early for a barbecue with the neighbors, she instructs him to bring el puerco, the pig. But instead the preoccupied fellow removes la puerta from its hinges, and leaves home with a door on his back. It is a propitious mistake, since the well-intentioned man uses this item to perform several important services, among them entertaining a bawling baby and saving a drowning boy. And, as a result of his distractions, he accumulates a range of edibles that are eagerly consumed at his neighbors' feast. A fluid storyteller, Soto (Too Many Tamales) peppers this animated narrative with Spanish words, which are translated in a glossary that precedes the story. Working in an unusually warm palette of heated-up violets, rubies and greens, Cepeda (The Cat's Meow) relies on skillful use of color in broadly delineated compositions to flesh out el viejo's personality and augment the story's humor. Especially endearing are the images of one jovial, unquestionably plump pig who, thanks to the absent-minded hero, ends up being nobody's dinner. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreS?A playful original folktale that is sure to get laughs at story time. When an old man's wife asks him to take a pig (el puerco) to roast at a party, he thinks she means the front door (la puerta). As he lugs the heavy wooden door to the festivities, he assists various animals and people and manages to collect a hat full of honey, a goose egg, a fish, and two watermelons. When he finally arrives, his wife is not angry about the confusion because the food her husband brings makes for a fine feast, even without the pig. Cepeda's bold paintings, featuring a round old man, a feisty old lady in tennis shoes, and a smiling pink pig, are perfect for group sharing. A glossary defines Spanish words and phrases scattered throughout the text. Pair this book with stories about "Amelia Bedelia" (HarperCollins) for a story time about miscommunication.?Denise E. Agosto, Midland County Public Library, TX
Copyright 1996 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: Puffin (October 26, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0698116542
• ISBN-13: 978-0698116542
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.9 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 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: #446,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( S ) > Soto, Gary

More About the Author

Born in Fresno, California to Mexican American parents, Gary Soto learned the hard work ethic through his share of chores, including mowing lawns, picking grapes, painting house numbers on street curbs, and washing cars. His hard work paid off at California State University at Fresno, from which he graduated with an English degree, and later at the University of California at Irvine, where he earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.Gary Soto is an acclaimed poet, essayist, and fiction writer. The awards for this multi-talented author are many, ranging from the U.S. Award for International Poetry Forum in 1977 for his first published book of poetry, The Elements of San Joaquin, to a Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award in 1985 for Living Up the Street, his first published work of prose recollections. His short story collection Baseball in April, was named an American Library Association's Best Book for Young Adults. In 1993 Gary Soto received the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video for Pool Party, and in 1995 he was nominated for a National Book Award.His other credits include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the California Arts Council. Gary Soto is also one of the youngest poets to appear in the Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry. Several of his books have been translated into French, Spanish and Italian.Too Many Tamales was named a Booklist Books for Youth Editors' Choices of 1993. Hazel Rochman of Booklist said, "Gary Soto is an accomplished poet and adult writer, and his children's stories are widely popular. His first entry into the picture book genre is a joyful success."When he is not writing, Mr. Soto serves as a volunteer English teacher at his church. He also enjoys eating at new restaurants, which he does often with his wife, Carolyn, and their daughter Mariko. Other members of the Soto household include their two cats, Corky and Sharkie. The Soto family resides in Berkeley, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First graders loved this silly story!, April 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Old Man and His Door (Paperback)

How many ways can YOU think of to use a door? My first graders loved this silly story of an old man who thinks his wife told him to bring a door ("la puerta") to a friends's barbeque. Of course, she said bring "el puerco" -- a pig -- to the party. But the old man is too busy to listen carefully...and off he goes down the street with the door on his back! On the way, he meets with multiple adventures -- all of which require a door for assistance. By the time he gets to the barbeque, he has a few special gifts -- and a funny story -- to contribute. (But still no pig...) Like all Gary Soto books, the conversation is sprinkled with Spanish. The illustrations by Joe Cepeda are colorful and lively. This was (by a narrow vote) my student's favorite Gary Soto book.

4.0 out of 5 stars very funny, with illustrations that support the text well, September 16, 2010

By 

real-life momma "R. Klempner" (L.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Old Man and His Door (Paperback)

I love using this book with K-2nd graders...they really laugh at the grandfather's hilarious mistakes. Many children can identify with having a grandfather who is losing his hearing, as well. The Spanish is well-woven into the text, in a way that is friendly both to Spanish-speakers and non-Spanish speakers alike. Also, the illustrations match the text particularly well.

4.0 out of 5 stars Some people don't listen at all!, June 5, 2010

By 

Ulyyf "Connie" (NYC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Old Man and His Door (Paperback)

This book is apparently based on a Spanish song about how "el puerco" (the pig) and "la puerta" (the door) sound alike when you're old and deaf.

In the way of fool stories, the old man's silly mistake (bringing a door to a party when a little thought would've told him that's absurd and he should bring a pig!) turns out to everybody's benefit as he repeatedly stops to use his door to help people. It's astonishing how useful a door can be!

And so when he shows up late, without the pig but WITH the door and several useful things balanced nicely on it, his wife has no choice but to forgive him.

This is a good, funny story for kidlets.