My Chair

by Betsy James, Mary Newell DePalma (Illustrations)

A joyful celebration of two essential childhood the imagination to go anywhere, and a special place to take off from.

On a sunny morning in the city, children gather in the park with their chairs. Tall chairs. Small chairs. Wiry chairs. Squashy chairs. Tires and boxes and sofas and swings, chairs with rockers and chairs with wheels. As the kids come together, they each say what they love about their chairs and show the places their dreams can take them. But why is everyone meeting in the park? And what's in the wrapped present that hides in every picture?

An extraordinary collaboration between two gifted artists, MY CHAIR is a celebration of the importance of community and the power of imagination.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Award-winning author-illustrator Betsy James has written and/or illustrated more than a dozen books for children and young adults. She lives in New Mexico where she hikes, grows corn, and shares the shade of a cottonwood tree with one small ground squirrel and several toads.

Reviews

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book uses chairs as a way of explaining how people are different. While being different chairs still have one purpose but can still express how people are. Every child chose a chair that expresses their personality. While using their imagination and creativity the children create a new place their chair can take them.

[zunggg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather an odd book, this. A vivid extended riff on the theme of imagination which rings true except for the absence of humour, set in some kind of utopian urban neighborhood.

[Cara Noyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet story of community and inclusion.
I liked its creativity and flow.

[Dabeinchoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

For kids eyes, even chairs can be everything. It can turns into a cave and surfing board. This book despicted various shapes of books too. Also the illustration was so sophisticated and pretty. This book can be used in preschool or kindergarten level. We can do discuss about what else the chairs can be in their eyes.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A colleague shared this book with me because her class is donating a decorated chair to our auction, decorated with decoupaged pictures of their own favorite chairs. I actually have had my own middle school students do an art and writing project about special chairs in their homes, and wish I could have had this book to show them. It is filled with all kinds of children, adults and chairs, some becoming something else because of their imagination. “Most chairs just sit there, but mine’s more like a horse or a train.” There is delight in each telling about special chairs. For example “My chair rocks” (a rocking chair) and “My chair rolls” (a wheelchair). The illustrations are just filled with all kinds of places to sit! And, there is a surprise at the end.

[Dianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute enough but it was so close to A Hole Is to Dig and A Tree Is Nice that I just couldn't appreciate it much.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a chair fetish recently. Finding old thrift store find and fixing up sad chairs. I have had to stop because it is becoming a sickness. I liked this book for all the things chairs can be.....like seats for your bottom to an intergalactic zoo. Thanks!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The summary of the book says it all. I really liked how everyone describes a different chair and how they use it (they turn their chairs into forts, towers, ships, planes, etc.
Great illustrations!

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

really quite amazing, i'd never given a thought to chairs. Betsy Johnson reminds us "old people" what they mean to kids. this would be a fun read aloud or discussion leader for a story time

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of all sorts of different kinds of chairs and how little children can transform them using their imaginations.

Pretty cool illustrations.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

we love stories about creativity in play!

[Megan Taulbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is great for stimulating imagination. I love all of the creative illustrations. This book also shows personification which I think is neat for kids this young to be exposed to.