A Chair For My Mother and Other Stories
Fall 2009 Audio Book
Ages: 3 - 8 yrs.
CD Price: $13.99
Review:
This single-disc audio collection contains Vera B. Williams' beloved children's book
A Chair for My Mother, plus three sequels. As is often the case in a series, some of these stories are stronger than others. The original tale and its follow-up,
Something Special for Me, are the two stand-outs on this disc; they are also the shortest. Although the spirit of love and family remains consistent throughout all of Williams' material, the other two
Chair stories drag a bit, in their extra minutes, as does the unrelated
Cherries and Cherry Pits.
Vera B. Williams' books are notable for taking an honest look at real issues facing her young protagonists and their community--a mother works long hard hours as a waitress; a family loses their home in a fire; elderly relatives become ill. Yet there is a message of hope and perseverance through each crisis the characters face. The disc finishes with a lengthy interview with the author, although it's better described as an oral presentation rather than a traditional interview, and is geared toward adults or older children rather than to the readers/listeners of her fiction. Actress Martha Plimpton's reading style is warm and friendly, sounding appropriately youthful as well as soothing. Even with its flaws, this disc makes for a nice diversion.
Editor's note: This text refers to the audiobook edition.
Zarina Mullan Plath ©2009 Parents' Choice
Zarina Mullan Plath has undergraduate degrees in both biology and English. In addition to writing reviews for Parents' Choice, she teaches courses in literature and creative writing at Illinois Wesleyan University. Her reading and writing interests include cookbooks/culinary history, South Asian literature (especially in regards to South Asians in America), and, of course, children’s literature. Her poetry is included in the anthology Sweeping Beauty (U. of Iowa Press, 2005). Zarina lives in Central Illinois with her husband, two children, and assorted pets.
