Sarah's Room [Library Binding]

Doris Orgel (Author), Maurice Sendak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1991

A beloved Sendak title finally available again to a new generation of children.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"On Sarah's wall, green trees grow tall, / and morning glories bloom," begins this beguiling verse about the rivalry--and ultimate reconciliation--between two sisters, delicately illustrated and presented in an enticing small-sized edition. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Doris Orgel was born in 1929 in Vienna, Austria. To escape the rise of the Nazi party in Austria, her family fled to Yugoslavia and finally to New York. She attended Radcliffe College from 1946 to 1948 and graduated cum laude in 1950 from Barnard College. Prior to 1955, Ms. Orgel worked in magazine and book publishing. Since that time she has written and translated several fairy and folk tales, as well as served as a translator for other authors. Her first original book, Sarah’s Room (1963) was published under the pseudonym Doris Adelberg. It was also republished in England and in Switzerland in German. In 1960, Ms. Orgel received the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award for her translation of Willhelm Hauff's Dwarf Long-Nose (1960). She also worked as a children’s book reviewer for "The New York Times".

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 48 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins (December 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060246065
• ISBN-13: 978-0060246068
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,706,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Children's Book, April 26, 2005

By 

Amy Senk "Read it, Loved it" (Orange County, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sarah's Room (Hardcover)

Poor Little Jen! She's too little and careless and messy to have a nice room like her big sister Sarah. In fact, she's banned from the room by a lock because she made such a mess out of it. But in a dream, Jen realizes she's grown enough to reach the lock. Later, while awake, she can in fact get inside and plays nicely. When she's discovered, she's praised and she too ends up with a beautiful bedroom of her own.

Maybe it's being a little sister, or perhaps it's Sendak's fantastic artwork or Doris Orgel's sweet rhymes, but this book always intrigued me as a little girl. I identified with Jen and was so happy for her for growing up. I also liked the idea of having a room in such beautiful, Sarah-like shape. Dollhouses all perfectly set up, glass animals on shelves, toys all in their place, wallpaper in pristine condition. I was always a slob and had to share a room, so this was a fantastic fantasy for me.

Children, especially girls, will love this simple and timeless story of sisters and growing up. It's a nice tiny edition that is a lovely gift for a child with a library or book collection. I had searched for it for years and am delighted to have it for my daughter.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful reading experience, January 17, 2002

By 

Amber Garcia (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sarah's Room (Library Binding)

I read this book as a child and loved it! It's the story of a little girl named Jenny who loves her sister "Sarah's Room".Reading about how she grows and learns in this story touched me so much that even after 20 years it still is my favorite childrens book.I would reccomend this book for any little girl.Praise for Doris Orgel!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sweet story about responsibility and caring, October 26, 2005

By 

S. Russell "A mom" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sarah's Room (Hardcover)

This was one of my favorite books when I was a kid, and I eagerly bought a copy when it was reprinted. The little sister has a plain room and yearns to visit her big sister's room, but she's kept out because she always messes it up. One day she reaches the latch and goes in, and her whole family finds out that she hasn't just grown in size, but also in responsibility. The book isn't preachy at all and doesn't use words like caring and responsibility, but that is why the message comes through so clearly and so poetically. Little Jenny imagines a glass cow wants a blade of grass and brings her a thimblefull of fresh grass. Big sister Sarah comes home shocked that her sibling is in her room, but finds the room clean. Jenny can now play in big sister's room anytime.

The story is beautifully written in a rhyming fashion that will appeal to young children, and Sendak's illustrations are, as always, wonderful to look at and also full of expression.