Peter's Old House [Hardcover]

Elsa Beskow (Author)

Book Description

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

Peter lives in a shabby old house in the village. He builds boats for the children, shows visitors around in ten different languages, and is the village doctor and handyman. One day an official tells him his house must be mended or pulled down.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Elsa Beskow (1874-1953) is the most popular children's illustrator in Sweden, where her picture books have been known and loved for over a century.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 28 pages
• Publisher: Floris Books; First edition thus. edition (October 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0863151027
• ISBN-13: 978-0863151026
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 8.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #493,064 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another wonderful Elsa Beskow book, February 2, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Peter's Old House (Hardcover)

"Peter's Old House" is a story about Peter, a man who lives in an old house in a village. He helps all of the other villagers in many ways, such as showing visitors around (because he speaks so many languages), mending clocks, locks, and people (the village doctor), making sailboats for the children, telling stories, etc. A village inspector tells Peter that he must fix his house or it will be torn down, but Peter does not have any money to fix his house because no one ever pays him for his services. When the village townspeople find out that Peter's house is going to be torn down, they all pitch in to help rebuild his house. Once the house is rebuilt, the village has a "topping-out" party.

I enjoyed this book with its wonderful illustrations and old-fashioned story. Stories like this are important because they teach that everyone has value and the importance of helping each other and working together.

I would give this book a 4 3/4 stars (if I could) ONLY because I have "Around the Year" by Elsa Beskow also. I like "Around the Year" better because the illustrations are brighter, and I enjoy the verses for each month of the year. Also, "Peter's Old House" has an illustration and text on only one page of each 2 page spread - the facing page is blank. Otherwise, the hardcover books are both wonderfully bound and beautifully illustrated. I enjoy all of Elsa Beskow's books and don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another wonderful Elsa Beskow book, February 2, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Peter's Old House (Hardcover)

"Peter's Old House" is a story about Peter, a man who lives in an old house in a village. He helps all of the other villagers in many ways, such as showing visitors around (because he speaks so many languages), mending clocks, locks, and people (the village doctor), making sailboats for the children, telling stories, etc. A village inspector tells Peter that he must fix his house or it will be torn down, but Peter does not have any money to fix his house because no one ever pays him for his services. When the village townspeople find out that Peter's house is going to be torn down, they all pitch in to help rebuild his house. Once the house is rebuilt, the village has a "topping-out" party.

I enjoyed this book with its wonderful illustrations and old-fashioned story. Stories like this are important because they teach that everyone has value and the importance of helping each other and working together.

I gave this book a 4 ONLY because I have "Around the Year" by Elsa Beskow also. I like "Around the Year" better because the illustrations are brighter, and I enjoy the verses for each month of the year. Also, "Peter's Old House" has an illustration and text on only one page of each 2 page spread - the facing page is blank. Otherwise, the hardcover books are both wonderfully bound and beautifully illustrated. I enjoy all of Elsa Beskow's books and don't think you can go wrong with any of them.