When I Am Old with You [Paperback]

Angela Johnson (Author), David Soman (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1990 | Age Level: 4 and up

A child imagines being old with Grandaddy and joining him in such activities as playing cards all day, visiting the ocean, and eating bacon on the porch.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"When I am old with you, Grandaddy," says a small black child, "I will sit in a big rocking chair beside you and talk about everything." And he does, rushing and tripping through all the activities they share--walking on the beach, riding the tractor, visiting friends. As in Johnson and Soman's Tell Me a Story, Mama , the success of this serene book depends on its portrayal of the relationship between a child and an adult. Although the repeated line "when I am old with you" is unnecessarily coy, and the plotless text is somewhat static, the joy the two characters have in each other's company is richly evoked by Soman's vivid, burnished watercolors. Yellow halos of light surround the fireflies, a summer wind blows embroidered curtains through a farmhouse window, morning sun reflects on the water--but most beguiling are the faces of the child and his grandfather, which shine with warmth and love. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

The bond between grandparent and grandchild transcends time, and sometimes transcends an adult's sense of logic, reaching a deeper level of truth. In this story, a small child imagines a future when he will be old with his Grandaddy and will sit beside him in a rocking chair and talk about everything. They will go fishing, drink cool water from a jug, and play cards "till the lightning bugs shine in the trees." The poignant reality that time will never allow these two to coexist at the same age is softened by the fact that they do not have to be the same age in order to share happy times. What the boy dreams of doing with his Grandaddy someday are the same things that they are doing now. This tender story is complemented by Soman's beautifully executed watercolors, which vibrate with life and love. The African-American child and grandfather are distinct individuals, yet also universal figures, recognizable to anyone who has ever shared the bond of family love across generations. --Anna DeWind, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Orchard Books (NY) (August 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531058840
• ISBN-13: 978-0531058848
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 8.6 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #566,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Angela Johnson is the author of the Coretta Scott King Honor picture book When I Am Old with You; as well as A Sweet Smell of Roses, illustrated by Eric Velasquez; Just Like Josh Gibson, illustrated by Beth Peck; and I Dream of Trains, which was also illustrated by Loren Long. She has won three Coretta Scott King Awards, one each for her novels Heaven, Toning the Sweep, and The First Part Last. In recognition of her outstanding talent, Angela was named a 2003 MacArthur Fellow. She lives in Kent, Ohio.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for grandparents, parents, and children, June 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: When I Am Old with You (Paperback)

This beautifully illustrated book brings back fond childhood memories of the precious childhood moments spent with a loving grandparent. Many people, young and old alike, can relate to this book because of its simple, yet touching message. The young child in the book could be a girl or a boy, depending on the reader's preference. This book is an excellent example of multicultural literature to be enjoyed by all who pick it up.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very touching, April 25, 2007

By 

A. Brooks (Maryland United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When I Am Old With You (Orchard Paperbacks) (Paperback)

I work as an assistant in a first grade classroom, and one day we read this book. The boy I assist wanted me to read it to him, but I only got about halfway through before having to hide in the bathroom until I got all the emotions and tears it conjured up out of my system. It brings back so many memories of grandfathers, and now that both of mine have passed away, the book carries with quite a weighted message. I've never had such a small book affect me this profoundly. Highly recommended to anyone who has a grandfather or anyone that misses one.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars We'll Enjoy Our Time Together Grandaddy!, September 25, 2000

By 

Paul Martin (Waukesha, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When I Am Old with You (Library Binding)

Ages 3-8 yrs. A tender, warm story spoken through the voice of a grandaughter to her grandfater. "When I am old with you, Grandaddy, we will play cards all day underneath that old tree by the road." When I am old with you, Grandaddy...[etc]." Neat pictures that blend well with the story. It's a nice story that makes for a great bedtime read.