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Peter #3
Peter's Chair
When Peter finds out that his blue furniture is being painted pink for his new baby sister, he takes the last unpainted item, a chair, and runs away.
40 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
20 people are currently reading
1343 people want to read
About the author
Ezra Jack Keats
122 books373 followersEzra Jack Keats was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. He won the 1963 Caldecott Medal for illustrating The Snowy Day, which he also wrote. Many of Ezra’s stories are about a group of friends growing up in the city. The neighborhood they live in looks like the streets where Ezra grew up in Brooklyn, New York.
He was born Jacob Ezra Katz, the third child of Polish-Jewish immigrants Benjamin Katz and Augusta Podgainy. The family was very poor. Jack, as he was known, was artistic from an early age, and joyfully made pictures out of whatever scraps of wood, cloth and paper that he could collect. Benjamin Katz, who worked as a waiter, tried to discourage his son, insisting that artists lived terrible, impoverished lives. Nevertheless, he sometimes brought home tubes of paint, claiming, "A starving artist swapped this for a bowl of soup."
With little encouragement at home, Keats sought validation for his skills at school and learned about art at the public library. He received a medal for drawing on graduating from Junior High School 149. Although unimpressive-looking, the medal meant a great deal to him, and he kept it his entire life. Keats attended Thomas Jefferson High School, where he won a national contest run by Scholastic for an oil painting depicting hobos warming themselves around a fire. At his graduation, in January 1935, he was to receive the senior class medal for excellence in art. Two days before the ceremony, Benjamin Katz died in the street of a heart attack. When Keats identified his father's body, he later wrote, "I found myself staring deep into his secret feelings. There in his wallet were worn and tattered newspaper clippings of the notices of the awards I had won. My silent admirer and supplier, he had been torn between his dread of my leading a life of hardship and his real pride in my work."
His father's death curtailed his dream of attending art school. For the remainder of the Great Depression until he was drafted for military service in World War II, Keats took art classes when he could and worked at a number of jobs, most notably as a mural painter under the New Deal program the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and as a comic book illustrator. At Fawcett Publications, he illustrated backgrounds for the Captain Marvel comic strip. He spent his military service (1943-45) designing camouflage patterns for the U.S. Army Air Force. In 1947, he petitioned to legally change his name to Ezra Jack Keats, in reaction to the anti-Semitic prejudice of the time.
Keats spent most of 1949 painting and studying in Paris, realizing a long-deferred dream of working as an artist. After returning to New York, he focused on earning a living as a commercial artist, undoubtedly influenced by his father's anxieties. His illustrations began to appear in Reader's Digest, The New York Times Book Review, Collier's and Playboy, and on the jackets of popular books. His work was displayed in Fifth Avenue store windows, and the Associated American Artists Gallery, in New York City, gave him exhibitions in 1950 and 1954.
In his unpublished autobiography, Keats wrote, "I didn't even ask to get into children's books." In fact, he was asked to do so by Elizabeth Riley of Crowell, which brought out his first children's title, Jubilant for Sure, written by Elisabeth Hubbard Lansing, in 1954. To prepare for the assignment, Keats went to rural Kentucky, where the story takes place, to sketch. Many children's books followed, including the Danny Dunn adventure series, by Jay Williams and Raymond Abrashkin, and an ethnographic series by Tillie S. Pine and Joseph Levine, beginning with The Indians Knew. All told, Keats illustrated nearly 70 books written by other authors.
In 1983, Keats died at the age of 67 following a heart attack. His last projects included designing the sets for a musical version of his book The Trip (which would later become the stage production Captain Louie), designing
He was born Jacob Ezra Katz, the third child of Polish-Jewish immigrants Benjamin Katz and Augusta Podgainy. The family was very poor. Jack, as he was known, was artistic from an early age, and joyfully made pictures out of whatever scraps of wood, cloth and paper that he could collect. Benjamin Katz, who worked as a waiter, tried to discourage his son, insisting that artists lived terrible, impoverished lives. Nevertheless, he sometimes brought home tubes of paint, claiming, "A starving artist swapped this for a bowl of soup."
With little encouragement at home, Keats sought validation for his skills at school and learned about art at the public library. He received a medal for drawing on graduating from Junior High School 149. Although unimpressive-looking, the medal meant a great deal to him, and he kept it his entire life. Keats attended Thomas Jefferson High School, where he won a national contest run by Scholastic for an oil painting depicting hobos warming themselves around a fire. At his graduation, in January 1935, he was to receive the senior class medal for excellence in art. Two days before the ceremony, Benjamin Katz died in the street of a heart attack. When Keats identified his father's body, he later wrote, "I found myself staring deep into his secret feelings. There in his wallet were worn and tattered newspaper clippings of the notices of the awards I had won. My silent admirer and supplier, he had been torn between his dread of my leading a life of hardship and his real pride in my work."
His father's death curtailed his dream of attending art school. For the remainder of the Great Depression until he was drafted for military service in World War II, Keats took art classes when he could and worked at a number of jobs, most notably as a mural painter under the New Deal program the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and as a comic book illustrator. At Fawcett Publications, he illustrated backgrounds for the Captain Marvel comic strip. He spent his military service (1943-45) designing camouflage patterns for the U.S. Army Air Force. In 1947, he petitioned to legally change his name to Ezra Jack Keats, in reaction to the anti-Semitic prejudice of the time.
Keats spent most of 1949 painting and studying in Paris, realizing a long-deferred dream of working as an artist. After returning to New York, he focused on earning a living as a commercial artist, undoubtedly influenced by his father's anxieties. His illustrations began to appear in Reader's Digest, The New York Times Book Review, Collier's and Playboy, and on the jackets of popular books. His work was displayed in Fifth Avenue store windows, and the Associated American Artists Gallery, in New York City, gave him exhibitions in 1950 and 1954.
In his unpublished autobiography, Keats wrote, "I didn't even ask to get into children's books." In fact, he was asked to do so by Elizabeth Riley of Crowell, which brought out his first children's title, Jubilant for Sure, written by Elisabeth Hubbard Lansing, in 1954. To prepare for the assignment, Keats went to rural Kentucky, where the story takes place, to sketch. Many children's books followed, including the Danny Dunn adventure series, by Jay Williams and Raymond Abrashkin, and an ethnographic series by Tillie S. Pine and Joseph Levine, beginning with The Indians Knew. All told, Keats illustrated nearly 70 books written by other authors.
In 1983, Keats died at the age of 67 following a heart attack. His last projects included designing the sets for a musical version of his book The Trip (which would later become the stage production Captain Louie), designing
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 357 reviews
April 30, 2020
This is simple and to the point and there is truth in the story. There is a new baby in the house and Peter’s dad is repainting all Peter’s old baby furniture pink for his sister. Peter doesn’t like that, so he takes his baby chair outside to sulk. He realizes he no longer fits in it. He has a change of heart and then helps paint the chair with his Dad.
I was reading and it sounds like Ezra was using collage in his artwork with paint. All I know is that it’s beautiful. I just love the vibrant colors. I love reading an Ezra Jack Keats book.
The nephew really didn’t care about painting furniture. He likes Willie, the dog, but he has outgrown these stories, sad to say. His mom is an artist and she loves Ezra’s work. She is the one who got me onto Ezra. Nephew gave this 2 stars. He wasn’t impressed. I’m trying to talk with him about the art, but he doesn’t care. So it is.
I was reading and it sounds like Ezra was using collage in his artwork with paint. All I know is that it’s beautiful. I just love the vibrant colors. I love reading an Ezra Jack Keats book.
The nephew really didn’t care about painting furniture. He likes Willie, the dog, but he has outgrown these stories, sad to say. His mom is an artist and she loves Ezra’s work. She is the one who got me onto Ezra. Nephew gave this 2 stars. He wasn’t impressed. I’m trying to talk with him about the art, but he doesn’t care. So it is.
June 18, 2020
Peter's family is getting ready for a new baby. Peter feels a bit put out about his old baby furniture being used for the new arrival. Although Peter's parents weren't totally unsympathetic to his feelings I did think this one hasn't aged as well as the others. It would have been nice if Peter had been asked if the baby could use his old things and it seemed a bit stereotypical through todays eyes that the purple paint had to be replaced with pink because his sibling was a girl.
Read on open library.
Read on open library.
January 31, 2021
"When Peter finds out that his blue furniture is being painted pink for his new baby sister, he takes the last unpainted item, a chair, and runs away."
November 30, 2010
I love Keats' illustrations in this one! It's a gentle story about a young boy who is jealous of his baby sister getting all his old baby things, until his old toddler's chair helps him realize an important truth.
July 10, 2015
I would use this book for students who may have a sibling on the way. This is a great book yo use to prepare children for the arrival of another baby therefore creating a text to self connection.
March 5, 2020
Peter learns what it means to share with a new sibling in this book. I recommend it to any family with a second or third child just arriving. The older child will definitely benefit from this story.
June 23, 2016
With all the events of the last few months, I nearly overlooked the fact that this year is the 100th birthday anniversary of one of America's greatest children's authors: Ezra Jack Keats. This book is one of the many of his that I read in my early elementary school days. This books plot is to show young kids with younger siblings that they will be required to pass on some of their baby items to them. Keats' stalwart protagonist, Peter, has to learn, this lesson concerning his infant sister. the story is simple enough but what stands out to me, as always, is the art. EJK's main strength was his illustrations and it is on full display here. His style reminds me of a post-French impressionism (maybe? I am not an art expert).
Keats spent his whole pre-The Snowy Day career as a illustrator for various things including the background for the golden-age era Fawcett/DC Comics title Captain Marvel. Here is a reading of this story for anyone interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuZhS...
Keats spent his whole pre-The Snowy Day career as a illustrator for various things including the background for the golden-age era Fawcett/DC Comics title Captain Marvel. Here is a reading of this story for anyone interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuZhS...
October 5, 2019
Re-read this with my friend's son, who wants a baby sister to play with. I thought it might change his mind, LOL.
January 28, 2019
Peter’s Chair litterary essay By: Tanmay Patnayukuni
In life, there are problems with your siblings, like in the book Peter’s Chair By Ezra Jack Keats Peter got a new baby at home and doesn’t want her to be at home because his father is painting all of peter’s things pink. This is a story of a small boy named peter whose parents have just had a new baby.
In life, there are problems with your siblings, like in the book Peter’s Chair By Ezra Jack Keats Peter got a new baby at home and doesn’t want her to be at home because his father is painting all of peter’s things pink. This is a story of a small boy named peter whose parents have just had a new baby.
August 8, 2020
I love Ezra Jack Keats but running away because you're mad? Not the message I want to encourage.
January 24, 2020
Peter has a new baby sister. His cradle gets painted pink. His high chair gets painted pink. Even his crib gets painted pink. Peter doesn't want his chair painted so he grabs it and runs away. Runs away right outside of his house, that is, and is eventually coaxed home and offers to paint his chair.
While Peter does have a change of heart, I prefer introducing children to books with good attitudes and character to start with, so when they are in a similar situation, they know how to respond and there's no conflict over mimicry or their emotions. This one does end on the moral high ground so still shows what the proper response to a new sibling should be.
Ages: 4 - 7
Cleanliness: there is a picture of a baby with no diaper - no details.
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So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
While Peter does have a change of heart, I prefer introducing children to books with good attitudes and character to start with, so when they are in a similar situation, they know how to respond and there's no conflict over mimicry or their emotions. This one does end on the moral high ground so still shows what the proper response to a new sibling should be.
Ages: 4 - 7
Cleanliness: there is a picture of a baby with no diaper - no details.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
November 10, 2010
"Peter's Chair" by Ezra Jack Keats demostrates the importance of learning to share and helps children realize that, as they get older, they will not be able to do the same things as before. This story is about a little boy whose family is about to welcome a brand new baby girl; as a result of this, they are painting all of Peter's baby things pink. Well, naturally, he starts to feel left out, like all his baby things are being taken away from him for the new baby. So, he decides to save the one thing left, his chair. He even decides to run away with it. However, once he finally settles down and decides to enjoy his chair, he discovers that he's not able to fit into it at all. He has grown too big for it. So, he decides to go back home, and offers his chair to be painted pink for the new baby.
As a parent, I thought this story was great, and emanated a very important message. The one thing that I did not like was that it wasn't very interactive for my daughter. It was really a story that just allowed her to listen and take it all in so she kind of just looked at the pictures as I went along, but the pictures was great. That's another thing that I like about Keats' books. The pictures are always very colorful and vibrant.
I give it 4 stars.
As a parent, I thought this story was great, and emanated a very important message. The one thing that I did not like was that it wasn't very interactive for my daughter. It was really a story that just allowed her to listen and take it all in so she kind of just looked at the pictures as I went along, but the pictures was great. That's another thing that I like about Keats' books. The pictures are always very colorful and vibrant.
I give it 4 stars.
April 3, 2014
I really enjoyed the book, Peter's Chair" by Ezra Jack Keats. The story starts out with a little boy, maybe around the age of four, playing inside his house with his blocks. When his blocks crash down and make a noise, his mother reminds him to play quietly because they have a new baby in the house. His mother and father are using all of Peter's old things, such as; a crib, cradle, and high chair. Peter becomes jealous and upset that his new, little sister is receiving his old things and his parents are changing those things to pink. He decides to tell his dog that they should run away, so he goes outside with his dog, chair, toy, and his baby picture. Eventually he comes to his senses and wants his sister to have his old things.
Younger students in kindergarten and first grade will enjoy this book. It's at an appropriate reading level for them. I definitely would include this book into a classroom lesson on families. I'm sure many young students can relate to Peter's situation with a new baby in the house and all the changes that accompany it. The illustrations are realistic and easy to see, and how can you go wrong with a great author like Ezra Jack Keats?
Younger students in kindergarten and first grade will enjoy this book. It's at an appropriate reading level for them. I definitely would include this book into a classroom lesson on families. I'm sure many young students can relate to Peter's situation with a new baby in the house and all the changes that accompany it. The illustrations are realistic and easy to see, and how can you go wrong with a great author like Ezra Jack Keats?
August 11, 2024
Not sure how I missed this, when I was working through Keats' book for university. I like how Peter is loved, but not coddled; his parents don't make a great big fuss of 'now you're the big brother.' So thanks to Little Free Libraries for passing on these treasures!
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Reread. I love that Keats is subtle. It takes the reader a bit of time to realize why Peter takes the picture of himself as a baby with him when he runs away. And a bit to understand the game he plays when he goes back home. And of course I love the art. The only thing now is that painting all of Suzie's furniture pink is probably not a great idea. I certainly wouldn't have done it. My babies were raised with yellow & green furnishings, with clothing as gender neutral as I could find. (Born in 1985, 88, 96.)
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Reread. I love that Keats is subtle. It takes the reader a bit of time to realize why Peter takes the picture of himself as a baby with him when he runs away. And a bit to understand the game he plays when he goes back home. And of course I love the art. The only thing now is that painting all of Suzie's furniture pink is probably not a great idea. I certainly wouldn't have done it. My babies were raised with yellow & green furnishings, with clothing as gender neutral as I could find. (Born in 1985, 88, 96.)
Read
July 15, 2014Like Love You Forever I think this book would be good for learning about growing up and adapting to change. I think this book is very easy to relate to and is very relevant to the lives of many students mainly those who are getting used to having a new sibling. This book would be great for making personal connections and learning to express feelings an appropriate and constructive way.
September 22, 2010
Peter comes to terms with his baby sister. Even though my son is mostly used to his sister, I still think these sorts of books help him understand that having a sister is something that little boys all over the world have to deal with.
April 10, 2011
Great book for students with younger siblings. I enjoyed reading this book because it is easy to relate to. It focuses on growing up, getting angry, dealing with frustration and sharing with a baby sister. Cute illustrations also. Great flow of events in the story.
April 27, 2017
First class presentation, this is.
February 28, 2020
Read for a Book Riot challenge.
I forgot how much I loved this book as a kid. I'm glad I still own it. <3
I forgot how much I loved this book as a kid. I'm glad I still own it. <3
April 8, 2019
Brandi Rotach
Book Commercial
Peter’s chair
Fiction Picture Book
By Ezra Jack Keats
Grades: K-2
Guided Reading Level: J
Lexile: 500
16 pages
Peter has a new baby sister! He is sad because his old crib and his high chair were being painted pink. He figures he will run away, and take his chair with him to prevent that too from being turned pink. When he arranges all of the things he has taken to run away with, Peter tries to sit in his old chair and realizes… he is too big for it. Peter then decides that a big chair suits him better and that he will paint the chair pink for his new baby sister.
Teaching Ideas: Bring 'n Brag Baby Pictures from Scholastic
When Peter leaves home, he takes his baby picture with him. Have the children examine Peter's baby picture and the illustration of Peter as he appears now. How are the two the same? How are they different?
Provide each student with an envelope (discarded “junk mail” envelopes will do), and have the children use the envelopes to transport their own baby pictures, plus a recent snapshot, to school. Use a paper border or yarn to divide a bulletin board in half vertically. Post the baby pictures in a vertical line on one side of a bulletin board. Then, post the children's recent photos on the other side of the board. Have children take turns trying to use lengths of yarn to match the babies with the older children. As long as they guess correctly, allow each child to continue to try making matches. When a student guesses incorrectly, allow another student to have a turn.
When all photo pairs have been correctly identified (and joined by lengths of yarn tacked to the board), ask children to notice physical features that are the same (e.g., hair color, skin color, etc.) and features that have changed (e.g., height, weight, etc.). What features do all the baby pictures and all the older children's pictures have in common, despite ethnicity? Can the children predict how they will appear in the future?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.5
Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
Book Commercial
Peter’s chair
Fiction Picture Book
By Ezra Jack Keats
Grades: K-2
Guided Reading Level: J
Lexile: 500
16 pages
Peter has a new baby sister! He is sad because his old crib and his high chair were being painted pink. He figures he will run away, and take his chair with him to prevent that too from being turned pink. When he arranges all of the things he has taken to run away with, Peter tries to sit in his old chair and realizes… he is too big for it. Peter then decides that a big chair suits him better and that he will paint the chair pink for his new baby sister.
Teaching Ideas: Bring 'n Brag Baby Pictures from Scholastic
When Peter leaves home, he takes his baby picture with him. Have the children examine Peter's baby picture and the illustration of Peter as he appears now. How are the two the same? How are they different?
Provide each student with an envelope (discarded “junk mail” envelopes will do), and have the children use the envelopes to transport their own baby pictures, plus a recent snapshot, to school. Use a paper border or yarn to divide a bulletin board in half vertically. Post the baby pictures in a vertical line on one side of a bulletin board. Then, post the children's recent photos on the other side of the board. Have children take turns trying to use lengths of yarn to match the babies with the older children. As long as they guess correctly, allow each child to continue to try making matches. When a student guesses incorrectly, allow another student to have a turn.
When all photo pairs have been correctly identified (and joined by lengths of yarn tacked to the board), ask children to notice physical features that are the same (e.g., hair color, skin color, etc.) and features that have changed (e.g., height, weight, etc.). What features do all the baby pictures and all the older children's pictures have in common, despite ethnicity? Can the children predict how they will appear in the future?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.5
Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
May 6, 2021
This book is perfect. Charming paint, textured cut paper illustrations, charming relatable story, all the hallmarks of an Ezra Jack Keats experience. Peter's babyhood things are being co-opted and painted for the arrival of his baby sister. To cope, he and his dachshund Willie 'run away' with his crocodile, snacks and a picture of him as a baby (super charming) until he's ready to come back and not be the baby of the house anymore and get excited for his sibling's arrival. I want Peter's outfit and his dog but beyond that I want to live in the world of this book, full of love, colorful illustrations and a personal growth story for kids that isn't heavy handed or preachy.
March 11, 2021
Story about adjustment to a new sibling.
June 6, 2021
As always I adore Mr. Keats artwork but I really love this story, as well. It's a sweet telling of a big brother having to adjust to a new sibling.
June 21, 2023
HERE I AM
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2022
Text-to-Teaching Connection- This children text assisted me into formulating activities on social and emotional development. It the text we see where Peter has a new addition to the family and that was his new baby sister. We also see that Peter had a favorite chair in which his parents began to paint pink. Socially and emotion it brought curiosity to Peter where he would stand when the new a addition arrive. Teaching children how to express their emotions during life changes is significant to the structure of social and emotional skills.
January 27, 2022
Text-to-World
Peter's Chair is about an issue children experience in life. It is a beautiful story about how getting a new member of the family sometimes means sharing old items that use to belong to you. Peter notices how his dad took his crib and painted it pink for his new baby sister, then he noticed his highchair painted pink too. Peter felt that they were taking all his things and giving it to his little sister. However, there was one item they do not have to yet and that was his chair. Peter grabbed the chair and took it to a hiding spot. But when peter tried to sit in the chair, he realizes it was too small, so Peter took the chair to his dad and asked that they paint it pink so he could give it to his sister. The lesson Peter learned was it is ok to share your old toys with your new sibling. This is a lesson every child must learn so this is a remarkable story to read to your class so they can relate to Peter.
Peter's Chair is about an issue children experience in life. It is a beautiful story about how getting a new member of the family sometimes means sharing old items that use to belong to you. Peter notices how his dad took his crib and painted it pink for his new baby sister, then he noticed his highchair painted pink too. Peter felt that they were taking all his things and giving it to his little sister. However, there was one item they do not have to yet and that was his chair. Peter grabbed the chair and took it to a hiding spot. But when peter tried to sit in the chair, he realizes it was too small, so Peter took the chair to his dad and asked that they paint it pink so he could give it to his sister. The lesson Peter learned was it is ok to share your old toys with your new sibling. This is a lesson every child must learn so this is a remarkable story to read to your class so they can relate to Peter.
February 5, 2019
Yep, Jen doesn't get children's books.
So the basic story is that Peter is mad about his parents taking all of his old furniture and painting it pink for his new baby sister in a displaced-older-sibling kind of story, until at the end he and his dad repaint his chair together. Leaving aside the annoying reinforcement of gender expectations that is painting all of a boy's things blue and a girl's pink because Authorial Time Period, I still don't understand the story. I mean, I get the premise--older child feels like younger child is taking over his house and his stuff and his life, check. But apparently after not fitting in the chair, he's fine with everything. What? I get that this is short, but I don't feel like a child reading along with Peter's journey would understand why the sister is okay now. The subtlety's too subtle, I think. And what's with the hiding behind the curtain thing? That felt way disconnected.
The art is mixed media, which can be neat but here is sort of bleh. Also, some of the media is so intense the text is a little hard to read (thinking especially of one page where the walls are plaid and the black text just gets lost in it). The mixed visual textures gives kids more to look at, sure, but the adult needs to be able to see the sentences.
I am underwhelmed. I also wouldn't use this for kids trying to adjust to a new sibling; it seems to tell them that since they physically can't use stuff anymore, they don't have a right to it, which isn't quite how emotional attachment works.
So the basic story is that Peter is mad about his parents taking all of his old furniture and painting it pink for his new baby sister in a displaced-older-sibling kind of story, until at the end he and his dad repaint his chair together. Leaving aside the annoying reinforcement of gender expectations that is painting all of a boy's things blue and a girl's pink because Authorial Time Period, I still don't understand the story. I mean, I get the premise--older child feels like younger child is taking over his house and his stuff and his life, check. But apparently after not fitting in the chair, he's fine with everything. What? I get that this is short, but I don't feel like a child reading along with Peter's journey would understand why the sister is okay now. The subtlety's too subtle, I think. And what's with the hiding behind the curtain thing? That felt way disconnected.
The art is mixed media, which can be neat but here is sort of bleh. Also, some of the media is so intense the text is a little hard to read (thinking especially of one page where the walls are plaid and the black text just gets lost in it). The mixed visual textures gives kids more to look at, sure, but the adult needs to be able to see the sentences.
I am underwhelmed. I also wouldn't use this for kids trying to adjust to a new sibling; it seems to tell them that since they physically can't use stuff anymore, they don't have a right to it, which isn't quite how emotional attachment works.
December 5, 2018
Peter's life is different, now that he has a new sister. He cannot be as loud as he used to be, and all of his old things are being painted pink for his new sister! Eventually, Peter realizes he is too big for his chair and wants to help paint it for his new sister.
I really loved the simplicity of the text and illustrations. The text simply discussed Peter's story of him dealing with his new sister, and the illustrations focused on what was happening (him playing with his dog or stealing his sister's chair). The story was very sweet; I loved that Peter realized on his own that his sister should have his old chair.
I see a connection between this book and A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams. While the plots of the stories are vastly different, the commonality of the chair could spark an interesting discussion of what the chair means to the different characters and how the stories may appear similar in title but differ greatly beyond that.
" Not far away stood his old chair. "They didn't paint that yet!" Peter shouted. "
I really loved the simplicity of the text and illustrations. The text simply discussed Peter's story of him dealing with his new sister, and the illustrations focused on what was happening (him playing with his dog or stealing his sister's chair). The story was very sweet; I loved that Peter realized on his own that his sister should have his old chair.
I see a connection between this book and A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams. While the plots of the stories are vastly different, the commonality of the chair could spark an interesting discussion of what the chair means to the different characters and how the stories may appear similar in title but differ greatly beyond that.
" Not far away stood his old chair. "They didn't paint that yet!" Peter shouted. "
May 3, 2012
I really enjoyed reading this book as it teaches children about different concepts in life such a sharing, changes of getting older and also growing up. Peter’s parents are about to welcome a new addition to their family a baby girl and start to paint all of Peter’s baby furniture pink. He starts to get upset because he feels all his baby things are being taken away but doesn’t realise he no longer needs them anymore because he is growing up. He saves one item, his chair, but eventually when the family are celebrating and he goes to sit in the chair, he realises he does not fit into it. He realises he has grown and grown too big for the chair so he eventually offers his chair to be painted pink for his new baby sister. The book is very colourful and vibrant and allows for children to retell the story just by looking at the illustration.
March 21, 2018
This book was about a boy who started to realize that everything he had as a young boy, his parents started to give it to his new baby born sister. He was not happy about this because they painted everything he had pink for his sister. He seen one last thing that was still blue which was his chair, so he thought about running away and taking his dog with him until he realized he couldn’t fit in the chair anymore.
I like this book because it shows that everyone is attached to something no matter what it is. Even though he was he didn’t want to give anything away he did what was best for his sister and painted the chair pink with his dad.
Teach students that you can’t be selfish in this world, it’s better to give than to receive.
I like this book because it shows that everyone is attached to something no matter what it is. Even though he was he didn’t want to give anything away he did what was best for his sister and painted the chair pink with his dad.
Teach students that you can’t be selfish in this world, it’s better to give than to receive.
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