Book of the Week: A Chair For My Mother

A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams

Summary:

Rosa, her Momma, and her Grandma lived together.  One day their house and all of their possessions were destroyed in a fire.  With the help of their friends, neighbors, and family, they slowly started putting their new house together, but they dreamed of having a large, comfortable armchair.  Each day, they gathered their change and placed it in a jar to save for it.  After a long time saving, they finally had the money to buy it.  This story has a beautiful theme about family, perseverance, and responsibility.  It is easy to read and has colorful illustrations!.

If you do not own this book, you can access it here in print or here on YouTube.

Reading Comprehension Lessons has free lesson plans and activity package to accompany this book as well as TeachingBooks.net and Orange County Department of Education.

Vocabulary:

• tip - money you give someone to say "thank you" for doing a good job; tips are often given at restaurants to a server
• hum - to make the sound of a song without opening your lips
• bargain - something you buy for a good price
• armchair - a chair that has supports at its sides to rest your arms
• velvet - soft cloth that is covered on one side that has many short threads 
• sofa - a comfortable place to sit with a back and a place to rest arms on the side made for two or more people; a couch
• pumps - a woman's shoe that does not have a buckle or lace
• spoil - to damage something so that you can no longer use it
• charcoal - black material left by burning wood or other burning matter
• diner - a restaurant that sells inexpensive meals at a long counter or booth
• exchange - to give something in return for something else

Questions:

Look at the cover of the book.  What do you predict it is about?

Why do you think it takes a long time to fill the jar?

Have you ever received a tip for doing something?  If so, what did you do?

Why don't Mama and Grandma go buy a new chair right away?  How do you know that?

How do you think Mama and Rosa felt when they saw fire engines and smoke as they were coming home from buying shoes?

Explain why everyone shared their food, furniture, and other home goods with Rosa, Mama, and her Grandma after the fire.

What does Mama mean when she said, "There's no good place for me to take a load off my feet."  Share a time when you felt the same way.

Why do Momma, Grandma, and Rosa take the bus everywhere?

Why wouldn't Mama let Rosa sit in the chair in the back of the truck while they drove it home?

What was something that you worked hard to earn?