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Talk About a Family: An Illustrated Chapter Book for Kids (Ages 8-12) About Family Tension, Change, and Love
A chapter book perfect for early independent readers about change, family tension, and the power of love, by legendary author Eloise Greenfield and with illustrations by James Calvin. Genny is hopeful that her brother's return from the army will magically stop her parents from fighting all the time. But when Larry's return doesn't produce the miracle she had counted on, Genny is angry. It takes a sympathetic friend to help her understand that change isn't necessarily bad—and that families can still love each other, no matter what happens. James Calvin's dynamic black-and-white illustrations perfectly complement Greenfield's kid-friendly text, making this chapter book perfect for early independent readers.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
2 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Eloise Greenfield
74 books54 followersGreenfield was born Eloise Little in Parmele, North Carolina, and grew up in Washington, D.C., during the Great Depression in the Langston Terrace housing project, which provided a warm childhood experience for her.[1] She was the second oldest of five children of Weston W. Little and his wife Lessie Blanche (née Jones) Little (1906–1986). A shy and studious child, she loved music and took piano lessons.[2][3] Greenfield experienced racism first-hand in the segregated southern U.S., especially when she visited her grandparents in North Carolina and Virginia.[4] She graduated from Cardozo Senior High School in 1946 and attended Miner Teachers College until 1949. In her third year, however, she found that she was too shy to be a teacher and dropped out.[5]
Greenfield began work in the civil service at the U.S. Patent Office. In 1950, she married World War II veteran Robert J. Greenfield, a long-time friend. She began writing poetry and songs in the 1950s while working at the Patent Office, finally succeeding in getting her first poem published in the Hartford Times in 1962 after many years of writing and submitting poetry and stories.[6] After joining the District of Columbia Black Writers Workshop in 1971, she began to write books for children. She has published more than 40 children's books, including picture books, novels, poetry and biographies. She says that she seeks to "choose and order words that children will celebrate".[5][7]
Dismayed by the depiction of blacks and black communities in popular media, Greenfield has focused her work on realistic but positive portrayals of African-American communities, families and friendships.[1] These relationships are emphasized in Sister (1974) a young girl copes with the death of a parent with the help of other family members, Me and Nessie (1975) about best friends, My Daddy and I (1991) and Big Friend, Little Friend (1991) about mentoring.[5] Her first book, Bubbles (1972), "sets the tone for much of Greenfield's later work: Realistic portrayals of loving African American parents working hard to provide for their families, and the children who face life's challenges with a positive outlook."[1] In She Come Bringing Me that Little Baby Girl (1974), a boy deals with feelings of envy and learns to share his parents' love when his baby sister arrives. The poignant Alesia (1981) concerns the bravery of a girl handicapped by a childhood accident. Night on Neighborhood Street (1991) is a collection of poems depicting everyday life in an urban community. One of her best-known books, Honey I Love, first published in 1978, is a collection of poems for people of all ages concerning the daily lives and loving relationships of children and families. Her semi-autobiographical book Childtimes: A Three-Generation Memoir (1979) describes her happy childhood in a neighborhood with strong positive relationships.[5] In the introduction to that book, she explains her interest in biography:
People are a part of their time. They are affected, during the time that they live by the things that happen in their world. Big things and small things. A war, an invention such as radio or television, a birthday party, a kiss. All of these help to shape the present and the future. If we could know more about our ancestors, about the experiences they had when they were children, and after they had grown up, too, we would know much more about what has shaped us and our world.[8]
In 1971, Greenfield began work for the District of Columbia Black Writers' Workshop, as co-director of adult fiction and then, in 1973, as director of children's literature. That group's goal was to encourage the writing and publishing of African-American literature. She was writer-in-residence at the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities in 1985-86 and taught creative writing in schools under grants from the Commission. She has also lectured and given free workshops on writing of African-American children's
Greenfield began work in the civil service at the U.S. Patent Office. In 1950, she married World War II veteran Robert J. Greenfield, a long-time friend. She began writing poetry and songs in the 1950s while working at the Patent Office, finally succeeding in getting her first poem published in the Hartford Times in 1962 after many years of writing and submitting poetry and stories.[6] After joining the District of Columbia Black Writers Workshop in 1971, she began to write books for children. She has published more than 40 children's books, including picture books, novels, poetry and biographies. She says that she seeks to "choose and order words that children will celebrate".[5][7]
Dismayed by the depiction of blacks and black communities in popular media, Greenfield has focused her work on realistic but positive portrayals of African-American communities, families and friendships.[1] These relationships are emphasized in Sister (1974) a young girl copes with the death of a parent with the help of other family members, Me and Nessie (1975) about best friends, My Daddy and I (1991) and Big Friend, Little Friend (1991) about mentoring.[5] Her first book, Bubbles (1972), "sets the tone for much of Greenfield's later work: Realistic portrayals of loving African American parents working hard to provide for their families, and the children who face life's challenges with a positive outlook."[1] In She Come Bringing Me that Little Baby Girl (1974), a boy deals with feelings of envy and learns to share his parents' love when his baby sister arrives. The poignant Alesia (1981) concerns the bravery of a girl handicapped by a childhood accident. Night on Neighborhood Street (1991) is a collection of poems depicting everyday life in an urban community. One of her best-known books, Honey I Love, first published in 1978, is a collection of poems for people of all ages concerning the daily lives and loving relationships of children and families. Her semi-autobiographical book Childtimes: A Three-Generation Memoir (1979) describes her happy childhood in a neighborhood with strong positive relationships.[5] In the introduction to that book, she explains her interest in biography:
People are a part of their time. They are affected, during the time that they live by the things that happen in their world. Big things and small things. A war, an invention such as radio or television, a birthday party, a kiss. All of these help to shape the present and the future. If we could know more about our ancestors, about the experiences they had when they were children, and after they had grown up, too, we would know much more about what has shaped us and our world.[8]
In 1971, Greenfield began work for the District of Columbia Black Writers' Workshop, as co-director of adult fiction and then, in 1973, as director of children's literature. That group's goal was to encourage the writing and publishing of African-American literature. She was writer-in-residence at the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities in 1985-86 and taught creative writing in schools under grants from the Commission. She has also lectured and given free workshops on writing of African-American children's
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 27, 2008
Talk about a Family deals with the topic of a family feeling the stress of a dissolving marriage. While written for younger independent readers (it's a chapter book but only 60 pages long), it manages to do a lot in a little space. Characters are developed, the way in which a whole family dynamic shifts out of balance when parents argue is believably shown, and the hope of a younger sister that her older brother's return home from the military will make everything all right rings true for children. While the illustrations are nicely done, they do make this book which was written in 1978 look dated.
CIP: Genny is eager for her eldest brother's return from military service, convinced that he can fix everything-- even the growing rift between their parents.
SLJ: Set in large type with an easy vocabulary, this portrays a middle-income Black family facing change. Without denying the hurt and pain the divorce causes, it shows the warmth of family ties, the bond of friendships, and a strong sense of neighborhood. Moralizing is kept to a minimum and the characters are remarkable well developed, especially considering the confines of 64 pages.
CIP: Genny is eager for her eldest brother's return from military service, convinced that he can fix everything-- even the growing rift between their parents.
SLJ: Set in large type with an easy vocabulary, this portrays a middle-income Black family facing change. Without denying the hurt and pain the divorce causes, it shows the warmth of family ties, the bond of friendships, and a strong sense of neighborhood. Moralizing is kept to a minimum and the characters are remarkable well developed, especially considering the confines of 64 pages.
August 26, 2021
A short story that gives you a glimpse of something many children go through with their families when parents decide to separate. As this is a children's book I can't complain that I wanted to have it go more into depth. Perfect for the audience.
March 3, 2025
Wow really short book/story but good message at the end
March 14, 2010
Eloise Greenfield is one of my favorite author so would have to rate this book a five. This book is what happens to most kids at a young age when they parents divorced. And they have to choose who to live with it's very complicated and sometimes drives kids crazy. In this book the son commits suicide. so please read this book and don't make same mistake as the boy.
December 3, 2011
Genny's brother Larry is coming home from the army and she hopes he can fix their family. Mom and Dad have been fighting and Genny doesn't know how much more their family can handle. This is a good book for a family that is having issues at home or is separating.
May 2, 2013
This book talked about family and family issues. This would be a great book for students to read, because its a transitional chapter book, but its also a great book that touches on taboo family issues. Overal this was a great read for 3rd-5th graders to read.
December 16, 2007
A young girl deals with her parents' decision to separate.
60 pages with b/w drawings. Sentence style more for older kids...4th grade maybe. Style seems dated. Written in 1978.
60 pages with b/w drawings. Sentence style more for older kids...4th grade maybe. Style seems dated. Written in 1978.
July 19, 2010
This book can be used to demonstrate factors that can cause stress on family structures.
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April 20, 2017I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14509662
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14509662
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews