The Morning Chair (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Marcia Sewall (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3?More a mood piece than a story, this tale of a family's immigration to the U.S. retains the naivete and freshness of a child's perspective. Bram and his parents leave their small town in Holland to settle in New York City, and the narrative highlights the poignant incidents of this experience. Missing the familiar sights, sounds, and tastes of home, and trying to adjust to the different way of life that confronts all newcomers, Bram still manages to keep his spirits up. Although he refuses to like green olives ("typically American" fare), and searches in vain for a glimpse of the promised mountains and cowboys, he finds comfort in the familiarity of possessions from home. Especially important is the morning chair in which he and his mother share cups of tea with milk, Dutch cookies, and quiet time. The complexity of the emigration experience is conveyed to young readers in the simplicity of the warm text. Sewall's softly colored gouache illustrations, with objects and figures framed in hazy black outlines, complement the childlike mood of the narrative. They also emphasize the softness of the sentiments expressed. Although this book will not keep young listeners on the edge of their seats, it will be a useful accompaniment to family history and/or immigration studies.?Martha Rosen, Edgewood School, Scarsdale, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 5^-8. Based on her husband's experience emigrating from Holland to the U.S. as a young boy in 1950, Joosse's story juxtaposes the familiar sights and sounds left behind with the jarringly foreign images confronting Bram in his new home. The "soft sounds of neighbors" are overpowered by the noises of New York City; neighborly faces waving greetings are lost to hurrying people "looking at their feet and not at Bram." Then, finally, the family's furniture arrives, turning the stark, new apartment into a comforting home and allowing Bram to start his days sitting with his mother in their "morning chair." Bram no longer feels threatened by his new surroundings, which, once harsh, now hold the promise of welcome. The soft-edged gouache art is deceptively simple, its economical strokes conveying the emotion of upheaval and the drama of the journey. Even the use of colors heightens Bram's sense of isolation and intensifies the vivid images of his memories. Ellen Mandel

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books; 1ST edition (April 24, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395623375
• ISBN-13: 978-0395623374
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 9.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #956,014 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Good story about moving, November 9, 2009

By	Ulyyf "Connie" (NYC) - See all my reviews

Bram isn't just moving, of course, he's immigrating - from Holland to NYC! (I'm a sucker for any book mentioning my city.) The book neatly captures the anxiety most children would have at this sort of upheaval... and the comfort of having your old things with you when you notice new things (like policemen on horses) that you like about your new home.

It's a bit wordy. Maybe not suited for the wigglier set.