Miss Viola And Uncle Ed Lee

by Alice Faye Duncan

Miss Viola lives in a little lavender house with bright white shutters and a white picket fence. Uncle Ed Lee lives in a little red house with hanging black shutters and a leaning mailbox. Miss Viola is neat as a pin. Uncle Ed Lee is junky as a pack rat. They are opposites, through and through. But Uncle Ed Lee wants to become friends with Miss Viola. Now, how can that be? Their young neighbor Bradley sees that friendship can take many forms one Saturday afternoon on Joubert Street.

Genres: Cultural

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Hannah Shollenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my opinion, this is a really cute book. Miss Viola is a person that I think most kids should want to look up to. She is always keeping her house clean and uptight. I also liked how Miss Viola inspired Uncle Ed Lee to want to clean his yard and his house. As a teacher, I would use this book in my classroom because at the turning point in the book, Unlce Ed Lee has to make a decision on whether or not he wants to make a friend. As I would read this book to my class, I would stop there and talk to the students, asking if they thought Uncle Ed Lee should or should not clean up his house and yard to become friends with Miss Viola.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book! I love the role the boy plays in the story, making it as much for the child reader as the relationship between the adults will tug at the heart strings of the adult reader. It is a moment in time captured in the most lovely way by the illustrations.

[Skye Kilaen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all-time favorite kids' books. Miss Viola and Uncle Ed Lee couldn't be more different, but their young neighbor Bradley witnesses quite a transformation when one party gets motivated. The child's point of view narration leaves a whole extra level for adults reading the book to enjoy, without taking away from what young readers get out of it.

[Salsabrarian]

Bradley tells his class a story about his two neighbors, Miss Viola and Uncle Ed Lee, who live on either side of him, and how, despite their opposite ways (Miss Viola is neat, Uncle Ed a slob), they both get together for lemonade and a game of hearts.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since Alice Faye is a school librarian in the same school system that I worked in, I met and got to know her. She is a very talented author and librarian.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!
"But just because folks are different, don't mean they can't be friends."