The Hickory Chair

by Lisa Rowe Fraustino, Benny Andrews (Illustrator)

Luis, a blind boy, tells of his warm relationship with his grandmother and the gift she left for him after her death, in a unique and beautiful book about love, from the perspective of a blind child.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Read For School, Grief

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Bernice · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was rather uncomfortable for me to read. In the beginning we hear of a boy's relationship with his grandmother. A hickory chair is what brought the two together and was a special place for them. But suddenly the grandmother dies in the story and the rest of the story is about them splitting up her will and what the grandmother left to each person in the family. The grandmother hides a little note for each of the family members, but they are unable to find the note that she left for her favorite grandson. It is not until the boy is an old man and he has is own children, that he finds the note left from his grandmother in the old hickory chair.

Although this story can relate to many other readers that has loss a loved one, it was awkward. I could not ever imagine reading this to a group of students, but possibly at home with my own children. I could see how this story might help children relate and find comfort in the death of a family member. It shows them that even though they are no longer physically there, they will always share something special with one another.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book a 4 star.

This book is about an grandson and grandma relationships. The grandson is blind but the grandma doesn't treat him different. She spends time with him playing hide and go seek and reading stories in her hickory chair. This chair is the grandsons favorite thing. When his grandma died, she left notes for everyone in her favorite places. At the end of that day, the couldn't find the one for the grandson. He ends up just taking the chair with him. Skip forward and the grandson is now a grandpa and holds his granddaughter in the chair. It is then that granddaughter finds his letter within the chair.

Ways to use this in a classroom
1) Have students pick something and write a letter to leave it for someone
2) Ask students if they have something like the chair in their family and share stories about it
3)Have students share about family memories or things they have learned
4) Write about someone they look up to

[Caitlin Barclay]

The main character in this book is a little boy who is blind. His grandmother teaches him how to search for things without sight. When she dies he is sad because he misses her but then he finds a wonderful surprise from her! This is another story that shows readers what having a disability is like--almost just like regular life! This story can be a resource for teaching about disabilities but can (and should) be put into the classroom library.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle story about a blind boy who misses his grandmother after she dies, and finds a gift she leaves hidden for him where only he would find it.

[Emily Krafcik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an amazing text, but I wasn't a fan of the illustrations. I really liked how the focus of this story was having a solid relationship with a loved one, like Luis did with Gran. The significance of the hickory chair being able to connect to his grandmother was so special. In regards to the physical set up of the book pages, I liked how the words were spaced out. I know when I was younger I would get confused when the words of a text were really small and close together, so that was an important feature. A lot of these books that I chose for this self did not specifically focus on the disability which I liked, they focused more on relationships and how individuals overcome their impairments.

[Mobley-Carter Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book holds eighteen sheets and thirty-six unnumbered pages.

The main characters in this story are Gran and Louis. The story takes place indoors during the day. The problem in this story is that for many years after Gran died Louis could not find the note that she left him while Louis was able to find notes for his other family members. The solution is that Louis became satisfied with just having Gran's hickory chair, and when he was as old as Gran one of Louis' grandchildren found Gran's note to Louis.

Rowe Fraustino emphasizes the value of grandchildren in this story. Rowe Fraustino implies that grandchildren should be cherished for the ways they help the family.

[Devynn Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure how much I liked this book. It does have a lot of love and family aspects to it in the beginning but then suddenly one of the family members passes away and the rest of the book is pretty much the family splitting up her things, will business. Although I think this book could be beneficial for a child going through a family members death, I don't know how well it actually dresses grieving.

[Jenese Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet book about a chair that represents the strong relationship Louis has with his grandmother. Louis is blind, but since his relationship with his grandmother is so strong, he can feel his grandmother's presence. The chair is a big significance within the book and is a family chair that is passed down through generations.

[Danni Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one didn't do much for me. Very angular illustrations make characters all look like adults. Blind child is treated as “special” for having “blind sight”, but then all the sighted people apparently also have “blind sight” which they can access by closing their eyes.

cw: abrupt death of family member

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My students were fascinated by this story. They definitely felt the love.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, and expressing deep family love. Wonderful!

[Kyrstin Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sweet. I shed a little tear.

[David Haggett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story itself deserves 5 stars.

[Sarah Rourke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal Reaction: This was a really touching book that made me really think about my family and how thankful I am for them. I think it was really well written and engaging. I like how the boy described his Grandmother and was so fond of her. His Grandmother treated him with just as much love as she gave to the other grand kids, even though he was blind since birth. I think children will really appreciate this book!

Purposes:
Read aloud for enrichment to students 3rd through 5th grade.
- This story is one that students will be able to relate to in a couple ways. The first being the relationship with their grandparent, and if a student is blind they will also be able to relate in that way as well; or even any kind of handicap. There is also potential for discussion in losing a grandparent or loved one.
-The language is very descriptive, and students will be able to imagine certain voices, smells, and tastes. Such as when he says "She had a good alive smell- lilacs, with a whiff of bleach." Or "...her salty kisses..." He also compares his grandmother's voice to molasses. I love all the descriptive words in this book, and I think it really enhances the story.

[Gracie Larcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Hickory Chair is a heart warming story with wonderful illustrations on every page. It is a story that truly tugs at your heart strings, but in the best way.

The Hickory Chair is the story of a young blind boy who is very close with his grandmother, when she passes away everyone is able to find notes from her, except for him. Eventually when the young boy becomes the same age as his grandma was when she died he finds the note. The story at times is sad, which in turn is probably why it should not be read to the entire class. But I think third graders would enjoy sitting down with the book and reading it on their own, especially if they recently had a relative pass away, they would find themselves relating to it. But overall there is not lesson in particular I could see this book enriching.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just thinking about this book brings the aroma of bleach and a hint of lavender to my mind. Lisa Rowe Fraustino does a fantastic job of bringing to life memories of family times. Louie, a young boy who has been born blind, thinks of the smell of bleach and lavender when he remembers his grandmother. After her death, she continues to "play" with her family as they search for clues around her house to discover what she has left them. Although Louie seems to be good at finding clues for everyone else, he never does find the clue for what he is to receive from his grandmother's belongings until several generations later.

This is a beautiful book told in a manner that brings tears to your eyes while arousing fond memories of family time.

[Pamela Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an extremely heart felt book that I would love to use as a mini- lesson for a 3rd or 4th grade class because of the author's amazing use of descriptive dialogue that can assist the students with this technique for a writer's workshop. As I read, I was captivated by the details of the grandmother, and I began to smell the bleach as well as the other scents described. I also could use this book as a tool for teaching about the loss of a loved one and how some families deal with their emotions. However, I believe that this book may not be the best selection to use for lower grades do to some of the vocabulary and the dynamics of family issues with the items divided and dispersed from a will.

[Clairissa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This children's book is about a little boy who is blind and his very strong and personal relationship with his grandmother. After his grandmother passes the story focuses on the young boys family and his effort to find the letter that was left by her in her will. This book can be used to introduce students to different people with different disabilities such as (blindness,deafness, etc.). This book can also be helpful in exposing students to different types of writing informative,persuasive, or entertainment.

[Nicole Massa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story follows a young boy, who is blind. He is very close with his grandmother, and will sit on her lap in her hickory chair and listen to her tell stories. After she dies, she leaves behind something for everyone her family. They must search for notes that have their names on them within the item that she left for them. The young boy is able to find many of the notes because he was familiar with all of the items that meant the most to her but does not find his note until years later. This story could be one that students can relate to if they have lost someone close to them.

[The Reading Countess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this one. A young blind boy adores his grandmother, who used to rock him in her beloved handmade hickory chair. One day she passes away, and she leaves behind a challenge for her family. If they find a message squirreled away for them, they are allowed to choose one item that is near to dear to them. Will he find the message intended for him? This book is so richly packed, I would use it as a mentor text and explore word choice and author endings. Amazing.

[Rachel]

What a beautiful story. About a grandmother and her blind grandson's bond that they share. The grandmother tells stories to Louis. Even though he is blind he can see and feel all the sights and people by her description. When Gran dies she leaves notes around the house for everyone except Louis. Louis feels lost and must search for sense. Great book to help students with ideas, word choice, and voice. Shows students how a topic can come from a simple, everyday thing.

[Nicole Bell]

The first time I read this book I didn’t notice all of the sensory clues that Louis, a child with blindness, used. “When I was the seeker, I could almost always sniff everyone out…” After the reading of Gran’s will, it was Louis that found most of the notes she had hidden. My hope is that this book will help students to focus on some of their less often used senses.

[Connie T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's a book that I requested from another library and when it arrived I had forgotten why I was interested in it. One of a very few picture books (that I know of) in which the protagonist is blind. The story, which is low-key with a homey atmosphere, is mostly about a boy and his relationship with his grandmother.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to use with third graders and upper elementary school grades. It can be used to introduce "juicy details" in writing and model how to make a story "juicier" by including more details. This is about an African-American child who's grandmother passes away and leaves notes around the house for her relatives. Deals with the themes of loss and grief, as well as hope.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm putting this up for all the mothers and soon-to-be mothers out there. This is one of my all-time favorite children's books. This book's imagery and message are equally powerful. I cry every time I read it.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well written book. A warm fuzzy book of a boy and his grandmother's special chair, which becomes more special when his own granchild comes along. Read to a class of 4th graders, but enjoyed by even the adults.

[Jessica Bearden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story almost brought tears to my eyes. It was precious to see how close he was to his gran. It was nice to see since he was blind how his gran helped him play hide and seek. I would write more but no one likes spoilers.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very nice, heart-warming book about a blind boy's close relationship with his grandmother. When she passes away, his memories of her lead him (along with his "blind sight") to find her notes tucked into her possessions that she wanted to leave to each family member.

[Rachel Holloway]

This a touching story, that is a tear jerk-er. It deals with a young boy's grandmother dying. He does not accept the death until he is an old man. I would use this lesson to deal with healthy feelings and accepting your feelings.

[Jazzmyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hickory Chair is about a grandmother who passed and left notes for everyone. The grandson could not find his note but only wanted her hickory chair, then when he finally got older his grandchild found the note in the chair. I would read this book around Grandparents Day.