Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge

by Mem Fox, Julie Vivas (Illustrator)

A small boy tries to discover the meaning of "memory" so he can restore that of an elderly friend

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Family, Australia

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Merrion Frances Fox is an Australian writer of children's books and an educationalist specialising in literacy. Fox has been semi-retired since 1996, but she still gives seminars and lives in Adelaide, South Australia.

Reviews

[Cheryl A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this. Fun to read aloud, and makes me tear up every time. It's poignant in a kinda sad way, but also full of joy and hope. Young Wilfrid and his neighbors are all inspirational. The art is vibrant and full of movement, very appealing and a good fit for the text. Wonderful theme, successfully presented.

(I've already read this twice, but want to again. Also I want to read, and reread, more by Fox.)

[Yael · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book! I get tears in my eyes each time I read this book, even though I know what's coming. Here are the things I liked and think are worthy to notice in a classroom: the illustrations, although cartoon like, are accurate in an interesting way. The older people in the book are overweight, have wrinkles, wear glasses, and wear commonly worn clothes for people at an old age home. I have been to an old age home where you walk in and see several people lined up in comfortable chairs just sitting like they do in the book. I use this book in my classroom to kick off our service learning project with the elderly. The students have so many questions before we visit an old age home in Skokie and this book kicks off that discussion. The students also create memory boxes after understanding what memory is both in our minds and scientifically. This book can open discussions about how an object or artifact can activate the senses to remember. I love Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge. This is one of my favorite picture books.

[Paul Hankins · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a younger child, my mother worked in a long-term care facility. Her shift was such that I would ride to work with her and then catch the bus from the facility to my school (yes, this was the seventies. . .we did these kinds of things).

I still remember Otto who made these lovely items out of rubber balls and yarn. I wish I had mine still.

I still remember Frieda who would bang her spoon around her bowl when it was empty. The memory is as clear as the Maypo I would share with the residents.

And perhaps this is why I am drawn to this Mem Fox story about a young man who lives next door to a group home of elderly residents. Each of these individuals have something to offer Wilfrid, but there is one special lady--one who has four names too--that has a special place in Wilfrid's heart.

When Wilfrid overhears his parents talking about Nancy Alison Delacort Cooper's memory, Wilfrid sets out to find out what a memory is. And with each resident giving him a different definition of the word, "memory," Wilfrid sets out to put together a memory collection for his friend.

Writer's Workshop ready for discussions and writing invitations about memories.

For older readers, talk about the power of definition.

Wonderful, natural ladders to TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, SOMETHING TO REMEMBER, TIP-TAP POP, and a host of other books that celebrate multigenerational interactions.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful book is about a little boy who befriends the residents of a retirement home next door to his house. In particular, he makes friends with 96-year-old Miss Nancy. When he learns that Miss Nancy is having problems with her memory, he takes action. A beautiful story about how compassion can make all the difference. I legit cried reading this.

[Erin Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story about a young boy trying to help an elderly lady find her memory again. It is important to identify the special bond between Wilfrid and Mrs Nancy. Quite a innovative idea, such a young boy having a close bond with residents in the nursing home next door to his house. Lovely book to read though.

[cindy ♕]

This was surprisingly poignant! I love how the story showcased all the different facets of memory and their significance to respective individuals. Definitely a heartfelt read, and one that presents meaningful concepts to children and adults alike. 💛

[Allie Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story! Another freebie on The Internet Archive.

An older lady has evidently begun to get dementia, but a kind act of friendship by a small boy makes all the difference. A tale of community, friendship and love. Recommended.

[Ellie L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a special story that showcases the beauty of relationships between the old and the young. Wilfrid is a child that lives next door to an old people’s home and has a genuine interest in the residents and values their passions in life. Above all is his bond with Nancy, which flourishes so affectionately, untouched by her illness. What is so beautiful about this story is that, upon discovering her memory loss, Wilfrid becomes the key to Nancy’s rediscovery. In giving small tokens of himself, he helps her regain aspects of her past, all of which were believed to be lost.
The idea of a generational divide was a profound message for me, highlighting the ease to which adults turn their back on the elderly, despite there being so much more to give. Wilfrid’s parents both pity Nancy for her dementia, with a resounding sense that there is little to be done. It is the young in this story, Wilfrid, who refuse to give up hope and resign her as ‘lost’. Some might point to the parents reflecting the realities of life and there being a childhood innocence here, but for me Wilfrid provides an insight that back needn’t be turned.
I really loved the concept of memory in this story, resembling something different to each of the characters and being a poignant symbol for perceptions on life and experiences. Definitely a story that digs a bit deeper than the average, making the reader more conscious of the power held by human thought.

[Emma Sedlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story of a young boy who lives next to an old folks home is a beautiful book about discovering what memories are, and how to share them with others. It reminds me of all the initiatives happening in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe to try to bring young children and the elderly together to share experiences and joy.
We were given a copy of this book as a present at our Baby Shower this weekend, and friends were encouraged to write their favourite childhood memories inside. This is going to be a lovely keepsake to read to our children.

[Ursula · Rating 5 out of 5]

 
Absolutely precious. My two very favorite kinds of people: baby things and little old folks. Somebody has lost something and another wants to help get it back. SO precious! The illustrations are perfect. This is an absolute must read for all.
 

[معصومه توکلی · Rating 5 out of 5]

عنوان ترجمه فارسی: ویلفرد گوردون مک دونالد پارتریج

[Macy Tone · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Wilfred Gordon McDonald Patridge" by Mem Fox is a touching book mostly for adults but can be relatable to children. Fox was an Australian children's writer and this book was originally published in Australia. It is about a little boy who lives next to a nursing home and meets new friends. One day, he overhears his parents talk about his favorite friend in the nursing home named, Miss. Nancy who has lost her memory. Wilfred loves Miss. Nancy because she has four names like him--Miss. Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper. Throughout the book he asks others what memory is and tries to help Miss. Nancy get her memory back. This is a great book that can teach kids about memory loss and can also connect kids to elderly people who I feel like we exclude from society. I think it would be great to go to an elderly home and listen to all the stories they have when they were a young child. This book is great for young children because it is written in some form of rhyme. The words are big on each page and it is a very easy read. This book is very touching because of Wilfred's ambition to try and find Miss. Nancy's memory that she had lost. The illustrations aren't too intriguing, but are satisfactory enough to get the story across. Though the illustrations apply to each character perfectly, with Wilfred being the typical kid riding a skateboard and the elderly wearing cute little slippers carrying canes--there are color imbued illustrations of artist Julie Vivas. I don't know if I would have this book in my classroom, but I would definitely have this book in my house as a parent to read to my kids about memory loss and introduce the topic to them. But, I have to say the book was very moving at the end and had a great ending!

[Melissa]

This may just be my favorite picture book ever. I discovered it during grad school when I worked at a children's bookstore, and it was love at first read. I don't think I have ever once read it without tearing up. When I read it to the littles yesterday, Scott had to step in near the end when I was too choked up to speak. It's a beautiful book, and true in the way that sometimes only fiction is.

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge is a little boy who lives next to an old-age home. He is friends with all the residents and loves to visit them. When he hears his parents say how sad it is that his favorite resident, 93-year-old Miss Nancy, is losing her memory, Wilfrid Gordon quizzes all the other old folks about what a memory is exactly. "It's something warm," one tells him. "Something from long ago." "Something that makes you cry." "Something that makes you laugh." And so on.

And so Wilfrid goes off and collects a box of treasures for Miss Nancy—a warm hen egg, a funny puppet, an old medal…

It's what happens when Miss Nancy handles the gifts that always makes me cry. Perfectly lovely, and Julie Vivas's tender colored pencil drawings are as lovely and moving as the story.

(Originally posted at Here in the Bonny Glen.)

[Jack Kirby and the X-man · Rating 3 out of 5]

An incredibly sweet but intensely sad story about the relationship between the very young and the very old.

I felt that the story-behind-the-story added significantly to my enjoyment of the book.

The regular contact between Wilfred and the residents of the old people's home greatly contrasts with my limited experience. We took X-man to my grandmother's nursing home and were quickly overwhelmed my dozens of elderly ladies desperate for some contact with a baby. It seems sad that today there is such paltry contact between these two groups in society.

If you planned on using this book to explain dementia to children I would be wary. While, in my extremely limited experience, I'm amazed at what dementia suffers can remember it would be tragic for your child to collect up a series of items to prompt their memory and for it not to work.

The collaboration that worked so well with Possum Magic has come together again and produced another memorable book.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this story. Wilfred's elderly neighbor, Miss Nancy, has lost her memories. He wants to help her find them but he's not sure what a memory is. So he begins asking other neighbors and they each describe memories in a different way...something sad, something funny, something warm, something from long ago, etc. So Wilfred collects an object for each of these descriptions to share with Miss Nancy, helping her to regain her own memories.

This is a wonderful book to read as a writing model. Children can bring in photographs or objects that help them remember sad memories, funny memories, warm memories, and so on. Then each of these photos or objects can lead to a story. Or even if students can't bring in actual objects, just using these descriptions and listing memories that might be sad or memories that might be funny can be a great springboard for helping them record their own memories.

[Katlin Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little boy named Wilfred Gordon Mcdonald Partridge lived next door to an "old people's home" and he knew all the people that lived there. Wilfred Gordon Mcdonald Partridge's favorite person though was a woman named Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper. She had four names just like him, but he just called her Miss Nancy. They shared all their secrets and spent a lot of time together. One day Wilfred Gordon's parents were talking about Miss Nancy and said that she had lost all her memory. Wilfred Gordon set out on a mission to find out exactly what memory was and how he could help Miss Nancy get hers back. This is a great book about caring for people and talking about what memories are and what they can make us feel. A great activity for this would be for children to bring in something special from home that has special memories and the teacher will take pictures of it and put them in or on our classroom's very own special memory treasure box.

[DadReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mem Fox is not on the official list of Australia’s National Living Treasures. That is plain wrong. It’s even more wrong given that Clive Palmer is on the list. Clive is large and full of money, but that’s the only way he could be considered a treasure. If we define the word as something precious and cherished, Mem Fox fits the bill. Possum Magic is the definitive Australian picture-story book, and probably only Graeme Base can rival her popularity over more than 30 years. Today we look at another Mem Fox classic: Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge.

Wilfrid was published in 1984, the year after Possum Magic. They are the first two books Mem Fox had published, and they were both illustrated by Julie Vivas, whose style is unique and instantly recognisable – she too is an icon of Australian children’s literature. If Possum Magic was their blockbuster, Wilfrid was their sleeper hit. That’s because where Possum Magic is a fun, whimsical fantasy, Wilfrid is poignant and truly resonates.

On its surface, it’s about a young boy who lives next door to a nursing home and befriends the residents. Deeper down, it’s about the fundamental truth that people are the same whether they’re 6 or 96. And usually, sadly, it’s only the six-year-olds and 96-year-olds who seem to understand that. The rest of us are stuck in the middle, too old to be innocent, too young to be wise, and too caught up in our day-to-day lives to give it much thought anyway.

Wilfrid’s favourite friend at the nursing home is Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper, because she has four names just like him. One day, his parents call her a “poor old thing” because she’s lost her memory. Wilfrid wants to help her find it. He starts by asking the other residents at the home what a memory is. Old Mrs Jordan says it’s “something warm”. Mr Hosking says it’s “something from long ago”. Mr Tippett says it’s “something that makes you cry”. And so on.

Taking this literally, as small children do, Wilfrid goes home to find some “memories” for Miss Nancy that fit the descriptions. And his little collection sparks her memory. The warm egg he brings reminds her of being a little girl and finding speckled blue eggs in a bird’s nest in her aunt’s garden. His grandfather’s medal reminds her of the brother she loved who went to the war and never returned. She marvels at how such a young boy could have brought these memories back.

Heidi and Fletcher are fortunate that all four of their grandparents are still alive, and luckier still that they have two living great-grandmothers. One, who we call Grandma Millie, is 94, and just like Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper, lives in a nursing home. When we visit, it makes Grandma Millie’s day to see the kids. More than that, it brightens the day of every other resident who sees them. At a nursing home, little children are like a drug – the residents can’t get enough of them.

Besides Grandma Millie, there’s old Jeannie from Northern Ireland, who was a high-school teacher and Skypes with her family back in the old country. She loves to say hello to the kids. There’s Alwyn, who always takes a grandfatherly interest. And Joyce, who likes to keep an eye out for Heidi too. And of course there are those who one day just weren’t there anymore. What must life be like in a nursing home? You have lived a long, eventful life, but you know this is the last stop.

I remember, when I was five or six, my older sister Lindy would visit an elderly lady at Sunnyside House, the local nursing home. I would sometimes tag along, and without realising it at the time, I helped cheer them up in the same way. I remember one old man giving me a present of a big, men’s sized hankie, and a packet of Steam Rollers that fair dinkum knocked my socks off. I had a concept that these people were old, but it was still abstract. As far as I was concerned, everyone who wasn’t in school was old.

And that’s the thing about Heidi, or Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge. They treat the elderly like they would treat anyone. They treat them like people, like equals. Not feeling sorry for them, not wondering if this is the last time you’ll see them. The rest of us are coloured by what we think we know. “Poor old thing”, we think, and we act accordingly. Any visitors at a nursing home are welcome, but I wonder if kids are especially loved because they are so unaffected.

A word here about Julie Vivas. Her style is so distinctive and her characters so expressive that they sometimes border on caricature, but in children’s books that can sometimes be a good thing. In Wilfrid it has the effect of bringing these old people to life, giving the sense of youth that is such an important message of the book. Yes, they are hunched over and frail, but they also have a recognisable spark. They are individuals, each with a story. And that’s the truth of a nursing home.

I’ve been told countless times that you never feel any different as you age – not deep down inside. It should be obvious that Grandma Millie at 94 is the same person she was at 74, or 34, or 14. But too often we fail to think that way. We mentally group all old people together in one category. They’re not like us. We’ll never be like that. Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge helps to remind us that we’re all the same. Old people have been young like us and we – hopefully – will grow old like them.

If you have kids, and you have an elderly relative, it’s impossible to read this book and not feel inspired to pop around for a visit. So just do it. I guarantee you’ll make their day – and probably your own as well.

http://dadreads.blogspot.com.au/2018/...

[Roger DeBlanck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mem Fox’s Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge uses first-rate dialogue to express ideas of friendship, caring, curiosity, and remembrance. Fox also makes splendid use of figurative language by comparing memory throughout the book to a number of different things. She describes memory as something “warm,” something “from long ago,” something “that makes you cry,” something “that makes you laugh,” and something “as precious as gold.” This picture book allows young readers to engage in a rich and rewarding story. The illustrations and colors are tempered and bring great sensitivity to the story.

[Luann · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story that will make most adults teary-eyed. If the story itself doesn't make you cry, Mem Fox's comments about where she got her ideas for the story just might:
http://www.memfox.com/wilfrid-gordon-...

This is one I think everyone should read.

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bona fide masterpiece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg34h...

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guillermo Jorge Manuel José es un pequeño niño que vive junto a un hogar de ancianos, conoce a todas las personas que viven ahí pero, su persona favorita es una anciana que tiene cuatro nombres igual que él.
Un día, el niño escucha a sus padres lamentarse por la anciana pues está perdiendo la memoria (esperable a sus 96 años). El niño sorprendido comienza a preguntarse qué es la memoria y al no saberlo comienza a consultarlo con sus padres y los ancianos del hogar. Con esa respuesta idea el plan más conmovedor para que su amiga Ana recupere la memoria.

Este cuento me dejó una sensación de ternura profunda y me emocionó hasta las lagrimas. La relación entre Guillermo Jorge Manuel José y la señora Ana es un retrato hermoso de la amistad entre generaciones, del valor del cariño auténtico y de cómo un niño, con su inocencia y creatividad, puede hacer cosas maravillosas por los demás. La forma en que el niño intenta entender qué es la memoria me hizo pensar en la importancia de conservar los recuerdos, no solo en la mente, sino también en el corazón.

La enseñanza más grande que me deja esta historia es que, aunque la memoria se desvanezca, lo que realmente permanece es el amor, la compañía y los gestos que vienen del alma. Todos deberían leer este cuento porque nos recuerda la belleza de cuidar a los más grandes, de escucharlos, de acompañarlos, y también de cómo los niños, con su mirada limpia del mundo, pueden enseñarnos mucho más de lo que imaginamos.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: There was once a small boy called Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge and what's more he wasn't very old either. His house was next door to an old people's home and he knew all the people who lived there.


Premise/plot: Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge has many friends; but his most special friend has four names just like him: Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper. When he hears that she is losing her memory--or has "lost" her memory, Wilfrid sets out in search of it. But first, he has to know exactly what a memory is. So, being young and curious, he asks. Equipped with descriptions of exactly what memory is, he sets out on a quest. Will the items he collects be just what Miss Nancy needs?


My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. I loved the descriptions of memories:

"Something warm, my child, something warm."
"Something from long ago, me lad, something from long ago."
"Something that makes you cry, my boy, something that makes you cry."
"Something that makes you laugh, my darling, something that makes you laugh."
"Something as precious as gold, young man, something as precious as gold."

I love the celebration of friendship as well. This picture book is just a gem.

[Mrs G · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story about the friendship between a little boy and the people in the old folk's home next door. When one of his friends loses her memory, Wilfred tries to help. Gorgeous illustrations and a heart-warming tale. You could do quite a lot with this in class - exploring what makes a memory, what would children put in a memory box... could lead into writing poetry (I'm thinking Kit Wright's Magic Box model). I imagine you could have a fair bit of book chat with this one. Lovely.

[Arimi Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet story about the bond between a child and an old lady at the elderly home near him. This story covers the topic of memories.

I'm only docking a star because I wish memory could be recovered as well as it was in this story. I loved the pictures, the descriptions of the different people, and it was a beautifully wrote tale. I think this would be a brilliant book to read to your little ones.

Please read books wrote and illustrated by people; not ai.

[Kelly Peay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fox, Mem. Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge. (1984). Vivas, Julie Illustrator. Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge is story of a young boy who helps his favorite senior citizen, Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt, at the old people's home, find her memory. He does this by going on a quest to find out what memory is. He starts with his parents by asking, "What is memory?", and then to all the other elderly members of the retirement community. He learns that memory is something warm and long ago; something that makes you laugh and cry; and that memory is as precious as gold! Vivas's soft yet colorful watercolor illustrations beautifully exemplify these sentiments. Images are presented on a clean, white background focusing solely on Wilfred and his senior friends. Because of the vocabulary of the text, I would recommend this book for advanced second graders to third graders.

[Nara · Rating 5 out of 5]

" Ele procurou o senhor Valdemar, que adorava remar.
- O que é uma memória? - perguntou.
- Algo que o faz chorar, meu menino, algo que o faz chorar.
Ele procurou a Sra. Mandala, que andava com a bengala.
- O que é uma memória? - perguntou.
- Algo que o faz rir, meu querido, que o faz rir."

Acho incrível como uma única palavra pode significar um milhão de coisas diferentes para cada pessoa.

[Madeline Clements · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. I thought the innocence of the boy and his love for Mrs.Nancy is sweet. I don't know if I would read it aloud to my classroom but I would definitely sit it out for quiet reading time.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilfrid Gordon was a small boy who knew all the elderly people who lived in the old people's home next door to his house. When he heard that one lady had lost her memory he went searching for some memories to give her. A sweet story with wonderfully joyful illustrations.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written and illustrated book. It is easy to read, and I love how there is such a wonderful relationship between the young and the old. My daughter loved it when I read this to her.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is one of my favorite Mem Fox books. The sweet story of a boy who helps an elderly friend find her memory.