When I Am Old With You (Orchard Paperbacks) [Paperback]

Angela Johnson (Author), David Soman (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Orchard Paperbacks

"A small child imagines a future when he will be old with his Granddaddy and will sit beside him in a rocking chair and talk about everything...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...The African American child and grandfather are...recognizable to anyone who has ever shared the bond of family love across generations." - School Library Journal, starred review

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An African American girl and her Grandaddy imagine many shared activities yet to come; PW noted, "The joy the two characters have in each other's company is richly evoked by Soman's vivid, burnished watercolors." Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1993 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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (March 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531070352
• ISBN-13: 978-0531070352
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 10.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,197 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #91 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Family Life > Multigenerational

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.