Old People, Frogs, and Albert [Paperback]

Nancy Hope Wilson (Author), Marcy D. Ramsey (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up

A boy overcomes his fear of reading and of the elderly

Nine-year-old Albert loves frogs, and he doesn't really have anything against old people -- he's just so uncomfortable around them, at least when they're sick. "Don't get too old," he writes to his grammy. Feisty Grammy holds her own, but elderly Mr. Spear, who helps Albert with his reading at school, is suddenly felled by a stroke and ends up in the very nursing home that Albert passes reluctantly on his way to and from school. Albert can hardly bear to visit Mr. Spear. Then, when Grammy sends him a book about frogs, Albert's reading reaches a new plateau -- as Mr. Spear had said it would -- and Albert races to the nursing home to share the news with Mr. Spear. Nancy Hope Wilson's pognant story is affectingly illustrated by Marcy D. Ramsey.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

Fourth-grader Albert has always been a little afraid of the Pine Manor Nursing Home, which he passes on the way home from school; the residents wave at him, but he just can't relax until he's well past it. When Mr. Spears--a school volunteer who helps Albert with his reading--has a stroke, he can no longer live alone, and moves into Pine Manor. Albert's wish to share his newfound ability to read with the elderly man helps him overcome his fear of the home. Wilson (Becoming Felix, 1996, etc.) pens a gentle story; the moment Albert reads to Mr. Spear, and finds the other residents listening in, is done without sentimentality. (b&w illustrations, not seen) (Fiction. 7-9) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

In this poignant story, a young boy overcomes his fear both of reading and of the old people in a nursing home. "Wilson artfully brings these generations together in a novel in which both the young and old find and supply empathy and support. Ramsey's full-page, black-and-white drawings effectively capture the mood of the story." --School Library Journal

"Fourth-grader Albert has always been a little afraid of the Pine Manor Nursing Home, which he passes on the way home from school; the residents wave at him, but he jusy can't relax until he's well past it. When Mr. Spears - a school volunteer - has a stroke, he can no longer live alone, and moves into Pine Manor. Albert's wish to share his newfound ability to read with the elderly man helps him overcome the fear of the home." - Kirkus Reviews

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (September 10, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374456151
• ISBN-13: 978-0374456153
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,036,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A teacher's treasure!, April 18, 2000

By 

L.F. (El Paso, Tx.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Old People, Frogs, and Albert (Paperback)

This is a touching story of a boy who learns to deal with the the pain of seeing a friend grow old, a fear of residents in an old folks home and his own struggle with reading. An excellent book in its own right, it is also a treasure for teacher's to read aloud to students of most ages. The writing can be used not only as an example of a well-crafted story but as examples of figurative language. It is short enough to read in class and interesting enough to hold the attention of students.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Old People,Frogs,and Albert, February 10, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Old People, Frogs, and Albert (Paperback)

This book isent the best book i have but not the warst. This book started out with Albert reading his grand maws lettres to Mr.Speer.Until Mr.speer was hert,then Albert took his letters to an old people home and old people listend.