Customer Reviews

Saturdays and Teacakes

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is so well-illustrated that the pictures literally pop out at you on each page. It's not hard to imagine yourself in the scenes of a small town filling station or in grandma's kitchen complete with a red formica topped 1940s or 1950s dinette set and a vintage range. The artist admits that he was inspired by Norman Rockwell and his pictures show that influence.

The story is a gentle, nostalgic memory of a boy's visits to his grandmother's house. This book would make a great gift for a grandchild who shares this love of visiting grandma's house. It would also be a pleasant trip down memory lane for any babyboomer generation member.

A teacher at my son's school recommended this book. The story is about a boy making memories with his grandma. My 7 year old son and 3 1/2 year old daughter love the book. The illustrations are amazing. It is the type of story that can stand the test of time. It doesn't matter when it was written, making summer memories with your grandma (mom, dad, uncle, aunt, etc.) is a special thing. Love it!

This book is a particular favorite in our house - it reminds my husband of his grandmother. My kids (9yrs, 7yrs and 4yrs) have all enjoyed this book; the 4 year old says "pedal, pedal pedal" when he rides his bike.

A lovely story accompanied by absolutely beautiful illustrations! For those of us old to understand and cherish this kind of childhood, and for those lucky enough to still live in a place that hasn't been completely overtaken by everything electronic - this is bliss. I know every generation says . . . "when I was a kid." Well, it is true. Each generation seems to get less and less innocence and less and less of a childhood. I'm sorry, the times were better for everyone when it was like this.

Great story to share with children how relationships develop between family members. The "teacake" recipe helps involve the students with the story.

This story, told in the voice of a nine- or ten-year-old boy, tells of his weekly trip to his grandmother's home, where she waits for him on her front porch with a cup of coffee. They enjoy a simple breakfast, he cuts her grass, and together they bake teacakes for him to eat. The rituals of time spent together, chores performed lovingly, and shared food sustain their relationship in a sweet and beautiful way.

The story is rich in tactile sensations and concrete details, grounding the narrator in his world through physical experience: the bump of his bicycle tire over the hose at the Phillips 66 crossing reminds him to look both ways lest someone tell his mother. The sight of flour and sugar sifting through Mammaw's fingers and the smell of teacakes on the hot cookie sheet are almost tangible to the reader. Combine the excellent writing with Soentpiet's splendid watercolors depicting an impeccable 1950's home, and you have a visual and verbal feast.

The book ends with a personal tribute from the author, letting us know the story is autobiographical. Included in the back cover is a web link to a recipe for the teacakes. While the mood is somewhat idyllic, the story portrays a timeless relational scene where two family members care for one another in a stable, loving relationship. I especially appreciate the way the boy models cheerful manual work in service of someone else. A wonderful read.

I used this book as a "jumping off" activity with my 7th grade language arts class. I read the book aloud to them and we discussed what they liked about the book. Then they wrote their own memoirs. It was a huge success!

What a wonderful, gentle, gracious book for today's kids and tomorrow's. And what gorgeous illustrations! A book that truly belongs in a heritage library to be passed on from generation to generation!

If this book doesn't take you back to the days of your Grandmother, nothing will! It's beautifully written, but the illustrations completely make the book. Chris Soenpiet is fabulous.

I bought this audiobook expecting it to come with a physical book so that my children could read along. Unfortunately, it is only the cd. It's a good story, I just wish it had been a book and cd pack.