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The Old Man
Day breaks over the town. Wake up, everybody! It’s time to go to school. It’s time for the old man to get up, too. The night was icy and he’s hungry. His name? He no longer knows…
This is the story of a person with no job, no family, no home—a nobody, who can’t even remember his name. But his day changes when he is noticed by a child.
Drawn in soft, watercolour pencil, this is an important story for our times. This gentle, compelling book will appeal to children’s sense of justice and to every reader’s compassion.
This is the story of a person with no job, no family, no home—a nobody, who can’t even remember his name. But his day changes when he is noticed by a child.
Drawn in soft, watercolour pencil, this is an important story for our times. This gentle, compelling book will appeal to children’s sense of justice and to every reader’s compassion.
72 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
157 people want to read
About the author
Sarah V.
6 books3 followersSarah V. was born in Belgium in 1985. Her parents were artists and she spent her childhood surrounded by books. She wrote The Old Man, a book that grew from her work with homeless people.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
September 28, 2023
Kindness—big or small—can change the world. And someone’s day.
These pages trace the steps of a little girl and an old man for a day. It's a jolt to the heart when they finally cross paths.
This powerful, little book about homelessness will motivate, inspire, and open eyes.
READ THIS BOOK. It’s something special.
October 16, 2018
The Old Man shares a day in the life of a homeless man. The highlight of his day is when a little girl gives him a sandwich.
The story opens up a world of the homeless to children with simple illustrations and simple text. The story is a powerful one.
The story opens up a world of the homeless to children with simple illustrations and simple text. The story is a powerful one.
May 19, 2018
A little girl wakes up and gets ready for school. Outside, an old man gets up too from where he is sleeping on the ground. He is wet and very cold. He walks to warm himself up. He’s hungry and eats out of a trash can. But he is too tired to continue, so he falls asleep on the ground in a park. The police wake him and ask him to move along. He heads to the shelter for something to eat, but can’t remember his name when he’s asked. He leaves and it begins to rain. He sleeps on the bus but has to leave there too. Then the little girl from the beginning of the book appears and offers the man her sandwich. That evening, he is able to go back to the shelter and this time he remembers his name and gets a hot meal.
The author of this picture book focuses on the power of compassion for those around us. Societal issues are not tackled here, just the pieces of the day of a person experiencing homelessness. They are small but vital, each moment leading to the next and each impacting how the man feels and how well he is able to do. The text is very simple though the book is thicker than most picture books. That allows room for the sepia-toned illustrations that take us on a journey through the man’s day. They are shadowy, chilly and seep under the skin like a shiver. An important book about small acts of kindness. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
The author of this picture book focuses on the power of compassion for those around us. Societal issues are not tackled here, just the pieces of the day of a person experiencing homelessness. They are small but vital, each moment leading to the next and each impacting how the man feels and how well he is able to do. The text is very simple though the book is thicker than most picture books. That allows room for the sepia-toned illustrations that take us on a journey through the man’s day. They are shadowy, chilly and seep under the skin like a shiver. An important book about small acts of kindness. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
May 7, 2018
A book to help us all see beyond circumstances to the person sometimes lost behind prejudice and lack of empathy. A book about how the smallest kindness can make a huge difference. A book without sentimentality but full of compassion. Lovely, gentle illustrations.
August 16, 2021
Awesome and humanizing but simple. Good to see another picture book about homelessness.
November 11, 2019
Brilliant children’s story about an old man experiencing homelessness whom a child sees as a person just like them. In the process of treating the man as human, he remembers his name and becomes a full person.
The problem is not that the poor need our money. The problem is that they need our humanity and our good neighboring and brotherhood and sisterhood: in a word, dignity.
We fear this because we treat poverty like a communicable terminal plague. And it is a plague, but a moral one born on the soul of the rich who do nothing. A child does not need to learn the difference between giving spare change to the hand of the dirty woman on the street and her tip jar. A child sees no difference between them and their parents. And therefore even a rich child bears the inherent poverty of spirit required to enter the kingdom: they see no difference between themselves and the poor. For we are one family.
All moral parents should have a copy of this book for their children.
The problem is not that the poor need our money. The problem is that they need our humanity and our good neighboring and brotherhood and sisterhood: in a word, dignity.
We fear this because we treat poverty like a communicable terminal plague. And it is a plague, but a moral one born on the soul of the rich who do nothing. A child does not need to learn the difference between giving spare change to the hand of the dirty woman on the street and her tip jar. A child sees no difference between them and their parents. And therefore even a rich child bears the inherent poverty of spirit required to enter the kingdom: they see no difference between themselves and the poor. For we are one family.
All moral parents should have a copy of this book for their children.
August 18, 2021
Yes please, more children’s books that teach about and/or at least humanize people experiencing homelessness. I love the art style, though I do wonder how well it would grab a child’s attention. At the very least, it creates a fantastic opening to discuss homelessness with children.
March 20, 2021
This is a very sweet children’s picture book about an elderly man who seems to go unnoticed by those around him, but a young child breaks that and reaches out to him.
October 21, 2021
"The Old Man" is a short, yet powerful children’s book that goes through a day in the life of a homeless gentleman. The highlight of his day occurs when a little girl gives him her sandwich, smiles, and says he looks like a teddy bear. The sandwich warms his stomach but it’s her smile and kindness that warms his heart and makes a difference in his lonely day. A beautiful little book that shows children (and adults) that a little kindness and empathy can go a long way.
February 19, 2024
This picture book follows the day of a homeless man. Pictures and text are minimal. Despite being bleak/honest the main takeaway is empathy.
November 14, 2017
WOW! Lightly-colored watercolor illustrations that seem to also utilize some pencil sketches complement a touching story about how some individuals, such as the homeless, remain unseen or unnoticed by those that pass them by. An elderly man is having trouble getting started with his day because he is cold and uncomfortable, but he simply doesn't remember his name or know where exactly he can go for shelter. While others never seems to acknowledge him, a young girl does, even following him under the watchful eyes of her mother, and giving him something to eat as well as briefly talking with him. The short exchange gives the old man hope and reminds him of his humanity. The text captures perfectly some of his feelings and hints of the life he once lived although it never fills in the missing parts of how he ended up living on the street. I actually consider that a strength since it allows readers to draw their own conclusions and conjecture what led to his situation and how long he's been on the streets. Originally published in France, this book touched me deeply, reminding me that there are many out there whose lives are nothing like ours, but they deserve to be acknowledged and treated in a humane way. This short book would fit perfectly in a text collection devoted to homelessness or those who make a difference in the world, even through one very simple act of kindness.
September 17, 2020
A very moving look into the life of a homeless man. He is hungry, lonely, and cannot remember his own name. A transformation comes over him when a young girl very selfishly gives him her sandwich and remarks that he looks like a teddy bear. When he goes to the shelter, he gives his name, "Teddy".
Translated from French, this book is evidence that homelessness is a universal problem. Very tenderly, Sarah V. pulls back the shades to show the types of difficulties experienced by homeless people, stripping it to its bear essence. Claude K. Dubois's pencil and watercolor illustrations are rendered in muted shades of gray brown, with just the slightest touches of red. They punctuate the starkness of life this man is living.
Use this when beginning a converstion about homelessness. Heart-rending, yet beautifully executed.
Highly Recommended for PreSchool-grade 3.
Translated from French, this book is evidence that homelessness is a universal problem. Very tenderly, Sarah V. pulls back the shades to show the types of difficulties experienced by homeless people, stripping it to its bear essence. Claude K. Dubois's pencil and watercolor illustrations are rendered in muted shades of gray brown, with just the slightest touches of red. They punctuate the starkness of life this man is living.
Use this when beginning a converstion about homelessness. Heart-rending, yet beautifully executed.
Highly Recommended for PreSchool-grade 3.
December 6, 2017
A little girl gets up and gets ready to go to school. A homeless man gets up too, and starts his day. He experiences sadness, confusion and disdain. At the end of the story, the little girl performs an act of kindness which changes a lot for the man. This small format picture book has spare text, leaving much to experience through the impressionistic art. Soft watercolor pencil drawings in a muted palette are little cameo gems of life as a homeless person in the city. I like that it takes a child to truly see the man, however many people pass him throughout the day. There are very few picture books depicting homelessness, and this quiet story about the smalls things one can do to help begins to fill that void.
May 17, 2018
It's been a very long time since a book has just ... stopped me in my tracks. The drawing style is very understated, yet very powerful. The story is simply a masterpiece.
If you're a teacher and/or librarian and your institution has not purchased a copy of this book, buy a copy and donate it. If you're in a position to order it, do so. This book deserves to be widely shared, read and recommended. I hope some of the proceeds are being donated to organizations fighting homelessness.
If you're a teacher and/or librarian and your institution has not purchased a copy of this book, buy a copy and donate it. If you're in a position to order it, do so. This book deserves to be widely shared, read and recommended. I hope some of the proceeds are being donated to organizations fighting homelessness.
August 3, 2023
A beautiful book about a man experiencing homelessness.
November 21, 2018
I used this book for a Thanksgiving Roundup even though it is not a book about Thanksgiving. The roundup is about gratitude and kindness, both pretty good sentiments to think about on Thanksgiving and everyday.
It's morning and everyone is waking up, including a little girl who goes to school and the homeless man who has spent a cold wet night in a bus shelter. Now, though, as people arrive at the bus shelter, he has to move on. As he walks the streets, the old man feels so hungry and stops to rummage through a trash basket, looking for something to eat and sharing what he finds with a familiar stray cat he calls Dumpling. After being chased from a park where he stops to rest, and still really hungry, the old man goes to the local shelter. After waiting on a long line, he's asked his name, but he can't remember and just leaves. Outside, he gets on an empty bus and rides until it fills up and he's forced to get off. The old man goes into another park, and decides he can rest under his blanket for a while without anyone noticing him, until the little girl the reader has met at the beginning of the book asks him if he wants her sandwich and tells him he looks like a teddy bear. The old man thinks it's the best sandwich in the world. He decides to go back to the shelter, and when they ask his name, he tells them it's Teddy. At first glance, you must be wondering why I chose the story of a homeless man for a Thanksgiving post, but when I read this to my kids, the discussion centered around the little girl's act of kindness and what a difference that made for the old man. Some of my kids felt it was the sandwich that did it, but a few thought it was giving him a name was the real act of kindness because the little girl actually saw him as a person, and with the name, other would see him the same way, beginning with the shelter. It was a lively discussion and one that lead me to consider this simple, but poignant story for a Thanksgiving post. After all, is there really much of a difference between the immigrant family sharing their Thanksgiving meal with Ed and Ann (The Thanksgiving Door) and the little girl sharing her lunch with a hungry homeless man?
It's morning and everyone is waking up, including a little girl who goes to school and the homeless man who has spent a cold wet night in a bus shelter. Now, though, as people arrive at the bus shelter, he has to move on. As he walks the streets, the old man feels so hungry and stops to rummage through a trash basket, looking for something to eat and sharing what he finds with a familiar stray cat he calls Dumpling. After being chased from a park where he stops to rest, and still really hungry, the old man goes to the local shelter. After waiting on a long line, he's asked his name, but he can't remember and just leaves. Outside, he gets on an empty bus and rides until it fills up and he's forced to get off. The old man goes into another park, and decides he can rest under his blanket for a while without anyone noticing him, until the little girl the reader has met at the beginning of the book asks him if he wants her sandwich and tells him he looks like a teddy bear. The old man thinks it's the best sandwich in the world. He decides to go back to the shelter, and when they ask his name, he tells them it's Teddy. At first glance, you must be wondering why I chose the story of a homeless man for a Thanksgiving post, but when I read this to my kids, the discussion centered around the little girl's act of kindness and what a difference that made for the old man. Some of my kids felt it was the sandwich that did it, but a few thought it was giving him a name was the real act of kindness because the little girl actually saw him as a person, and with the name, other would see him the same way, beginning with the shelter. It was a lively discussion and one that lead me to consider this simple, but poignant story for a Thanksgiving post. After all, is there really much of a difference between the immigrant family sharing their Thanksgiving meal with Ed and Ann (The Thanksgiving Door) and the little girl sharing her lunch with a hungry homeless man?
December 3, 2025
Translated from the French by Daniel Hahn.
Something got a little lost in the translation here. The story begins with the narrator telling kids to get up and go to school. Then, we suddenly switch to the old homeless man, who doesn't remember his own name (but he does remember the nane of a stray cat.) Inevitably, he meets a small girl, who may have been one of the kids going to school earlier.
There's not much of a story, but it shows some of the problems a homeless guy in France had to face. It also shows that homeless people are complicated (just like anyone else), and there are no easy answers.
The artwork by Claude K. Dubois is a bit blurry and dense, similar to many children's books of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He showed many dogs throughout the story, although only the memory of a dog is mentioned in the text. Whether the dogs were also homeless, or the artist was stating that homeless people are treated worse than dogs, I don't know.
There was one very awkward scene, which had me knock a star off the rating. The old man is going to a shelter that is giving away food. Next to him, hinting that she walked away from the shelter, is a smiling woman holding a small dog. It really looks like the woman was going to eat the dog. And considering that the French tradition of eating dogs, it could be likely. This may not be what the illustrator intended, but yikes.
Something got a little lost in the translation here. The story begins with the narrator telling kids to get up and go to school. Then, we suddenly switch to the old homeless man, who doesn't remember his own name (but he does remember the nane of a stray cat.) Inevitably, he meets a small girl, who may have been one of the kids going to school earlier.
There's not much of a story, but it shows some of the problems a homeless guy in France had to face. It also shows that homeless people are complicated (just like anyone else), and there are no easy answers.
The artwork by Claude K. Dubois is a bit blurry and dense, similar to many children's books of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He showed many dogs throughout the story, although only the memory of a dog is mentioned in the text. Whether the dogs were also homeless, or the artist was stating that homeless people are treated worse than dogs, I don't know.
There was one very awkward scene, which had me knock a star off the rating. The old man is going to a shelter that is giving away food. Next to him, hinting that she walked away from the shelter, is a smiling woman holding a small dog. It really looks like the woman was going to eat the dog. And considering that the French tradition of eating dogs, it could be likely. This may not be what the illustrator intended, but yikes.
June 17, 2018
A little girl leaves her home on a cold morning . On her way to school she sees a homeless old man sleeping in the street. This is the beginning of a story. The old man awakes, cold, wet and hungry. There is No food and no place to rest where he is not moved on by the authorities. No luck at the shelter since he can not remember his name when asked. Later in the day he is once again seen by the little girl who tells him he looks like a teddy bear, as he huddles in a blanket.
Returning to the shelter he is able to tell them his name, “Ted”.
The message is clear but children , the intended audience, will not get it because they will not pick up this book.
The illustrations are pastels, gray and brown, a hint of pink. The whole tone of the book is sad.
I even tried the book with my 8 year old granddaughter.
She immediately knew what the book’s message was but she said she would not select it from the library shelves.
Perhaps librarians, teachers, counselors, parents might share it with children but there are other books with the same message that are appealing to children and adults. This book is not.
Read as an ARC from LibraryThing.
Returning to the shelter he is able to tell them his name, “Ted”.
The message is clear but children , the intended audience, will not get it because they will not pick up this book.
The illustrations are pastels, gray and brown, a hint of pink. The whole tone of the book is sad.
I even tried the book with my 8 year old granddaughter.
She immediately knew what the book’s message was but she said she would not select it from the library shelves.
Perhaps librarians, teachers, counselors, parents might share it with children but there are other books with the same message that are appealing to children and adults. This book is not.
Read as an ARC from LibraryThing.
January 24, 2019
The illustrations of this title are a beautiful work of art. The story is simply a day in the life of a homeless man who is lifted up by a simple kindness from a little girl. This picture book would be a wonderful choice for parents looking to build empathy in their children who might not understand what it means to be homeless. Might not be a bad read for some of their parents either. Illustrations are too delicate and small for read-aloud, and some important information is only conveyed with the illustrations so this is a better book for a parent to share with a child, or for an early reader to try themselves.
Adults (with and without little ones) might also just want to take the few moments to read this book for themselves. It is truly a work of art.
Adults (with and without little ones) might also just want to take the few moments to read this book for themselves. It is truly a work of art.
March 11, 2022
OH my! What a poignant empathic story of the homeless man who lives on the streets. The story follows his day from rising in damp clothes, to visiting the park where the water is delicious, to lying down "just for a moment" until he is rousted by police, "You can't stay here." Folks either ignore or look disdainfully at the him and he knows he must keep on the move. Finally, a young girl approaches him, nonjudgemental, and gives him her sandwich, the best sandwich he's ever tasted, and it helps him remember his name. This book should be in every school library.
The simple, light pastel, muted-toned illustrations share the serious tone of this import.
The simple, light pastel, muted-toned illustrations share the serious tone of this import.
December 8, 2024
I’ve been trying not to put many kids books on good reads these days because frankly we read like 5-10 new books per week and I’m not the target audience, kids are, so it feels weird to give star ratings to children’s books (and even to review them, for the same reason), but the fact is this book needs to be read more. There are so few kids books about (or featuring) homelessness, and the ones there are tend to be “preachy” or make it complicated or are about children, which, while homeless children obviouslyyy should be in books, I think books showing ONLY adults makes a lot of sense because guess what… that is realistic/depicts what children so often see in their community.
August 22, 2025
A calm, slow children's book about a day in the life of a homeless man. It is humanizing and helps the reader empathize with the daily struggles and life experiences of homelessness. The sparse illustrations let the reader fill in with their imagination and are very appropriate for the text.
I've never met anyone who has forgotten their name, but the point about obstacles and barriers to receiving services is poignant and a common problem. Recently I was told I would need to do an hour interview just to find out if I was *eligible* for a government program. Who wants to invest an hour just to be told "no"?
Reading time: 4 minutes.
I've never met anyone who has forgotten their name, but the point about obstacles and barriers to receiving services is poignant and a common problem. Recently I was told I would need to do an hour interview just to find out if I was *eligible* for a government program. Who wants to invest an hour just to be told "no"?
Reading time: 4 minutes.
August 29, 2018
This beautiful picture book will tug at readers' heartstrings as they see the story of an elderly homeless man and the kindness of a young child. As the rainy night ends and the city awakens, the old man has the struggle of finding a place to get warm, food to eat, and someone to actually see that he is a neighbor in need. This book would be a good way to start a discussion about how we help neighbors in our communities that have all sorts of needs.
November 19, 2019
As the winter season approaches, cold nights and falling snow... I see one or two of these men and women with their packs carrying everything they own... it's sad really when you read a childrens' book that reminds your or teaches your child about the homeless. They are people too. This holiday season, help those you don't know, clothing, food or hot coffee.
Excellent read, loving the simplistic artwork... this really hit home!!
Excellent read, loving the simplistic artwork... this really hit home!!
March 8, 2021
My son had the opportunity to visit a homeless shelter with his school a while back. They made food, brought it there, and talked about the experience. My wife went looking for some children’s books to open up the conversation at home about homelessness. She found this! A simple tale, with many wordless pages, of a day in the life of a man living on the street and how his day is changed through a simple kindness from a little girl. Fantastic way to open up the conversation. Highly recommended.
August 3, 2018
The content deserves 4-stars but the illustrations are dark enough that I'm not sure a child would select the book from the shelves.
It's a powerful story about a homeless man and how he makes it through the day. His interaction with the young girl gives hope to him and to the reader.
The illustrations are well done and bring the simple words to life.
It's a powerful story about a homeless man and how he makes it through the day. His interaction with the young girl gives hope to him and to the reader.
The illustrations are well done and bring the simple words to life.
October 4, 2018
The Old Man follows a homeless man trying to navigate a street of people who do not see and will not welcome. A hard hitting reflection of how societal perceptions dehumanize those without a home and the impact that this has upon identity. One of the best books that I have read in showcasing the power of compassion and the detriment of indifference.
November 2, 2018
With small trim size, subtle color tones and details, and minimal text, this is a story that is suited to any audience, any age. It conveys many truths yet is open-ended and invites further discussion, questions, and even research.
It's an important and valuable book that could easily be overlooked.
Don't let that happen.
It's an important and valuable book that could easily be overlooked.
Don't let that happen.
January 9, 2019
An elderly homeless man, who can't remember his own name, goes about his day trying to keep warm. He notices how most people avoid him or ask him to move. Except one little girl who gives him a smile and a sandwich, giving him hope and lifting his heart.
The story made me really sad and reminded me to be thankful for the basic necessities of life.
The story made me really sad and reminded me to be thankful for the basic necessities of life.
March 3, 2019
A young girl and an elderly homeless man wake up to begin their days. The homeless man is cold and wet and tries to find places to get warm but he must always move along. We find out the man used to be a postal worker and that he doesn't remember his name. He and the little girl meet when she offers her sandwich.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews