Annie and the Old One (Hardcover)

~ Miska Miles (Author), Peter Parnall (Illustrator) "Annie's Navajo world was good-a world of rippling sand, of high copper-red bluffs in the distance, of the low mesa near her own snug hogan..." (more)
Key Phrases: weaving stick, Old One

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Annie, an Indian child, resorts to extremes in trying to prevent her dear grandmother from dying. The "old one" has said she will return to Earth when she has finished helping Annie and Annie's mother to weave their new rug, so the child does everything she can to delay the project. When the grandmother explains her beliefs, Annie understands and no longer attempts to hold back time. PW praised Miles for a story representing "a difficult challenge" and Parnall's pictures that "reflect the dignity of thetext," in the 1971 Newbery Honor book.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description

When Annie's Navajo grandmother says that when Annie's mother's rug is completely woven that the grandmother will die, Annie tries to hold back time by unweaving the rug in secret.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 44 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (July 30, 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316571172
• ISBN-13: 978-0316571173
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,115,058 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Natural way to explain death. Result, no fear of death!, June 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Annie and the Old One (Paperback)

Twenty years ago a child librarian recommended "Annie and the Old One" to me. I have explained death to small children using this book. Several are now adults. None have ever feared death. "Annie and the Old One will always remain part of my personal library.

Today, I send a copy of it to a dying grandmother to read to her small grandchildren. I am honored to send this gift to my friend, and thankful to the author, Miska Miles, for writing "Annie and the Old One" for all of us.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A touching story of a child dealing with death, December 4, 2001

By	Shanshad "shanachie_shadowfax" (Discworld) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Annie and the Old One (Paperback)

I'm a little puzzled by two negative entries in the review section for this book. The one by the second grade class seems to have missed the particular theme of this book and the second claims the story is predictable. Well, in a way, it is predictable. The grandmother's death is an inevitable event, and dealing with that death and loss is a story every child must deal with in their lives. The young girl in this book reacts with horror to the thought of losing her grandmother--and even tries to fight it--keep it from happening. In the end, she comes to an understanding and an acceptance of what death means and finds new strength for herself and her family. This is a wonderful book for those children who are dealing with the question of death in their own lives.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teaching children about death, January 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Annie and the Old One (Paperback)

This book gently explains to young children the reality and inevitability of death. I enjoy reading this book as much as my daughter enjoys hearing it.