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Chalk Doll by Charlotte Pomerantz — book cover

Chalk Doll

by Charlotte Pomerantz, Frane Lessac (Illustrator), Frane Lessac
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Overview

Rose has a cold. And while Mother tucks her in for a nap, she tells Rose about growing up in Jamaica. She describes how she clickety clacked to school on mango heels and made a rag doll because she couldn't afford a store–bought chalk doll. And Rose knows she'll feel much better once she makes her own rag doll, too.

Ages 5+

Rosy's mother remembers the pleasures of her childhood in Jamaica and the very special dolls she used to play with.

Synopsis

Rose has a cold. And while Mother tucks her in for a nap, she tells Rose about growing up in Jamaica. She describes how she clickety clacked to school on mango heels and made a rag doll because she couldn't afford a store–bought chalk doll. And Rose knows she'll feel much better once she makes her own rag doll, too.

Ages 5+

Children's Literature

A mother tells her daughter the simple stories of her Jamaican childhood. The poverty is not ignored, but life was not grim and the fun comes through. The full-color art give a real sense of the island. Widely reviewed and highly recommended.

About the Author, Charlotte Pomerantz

Charlotte Pomerantz was born in New York City, where she still lives. Among her many popular books for children are Mangaboom, illustrated by Anita Lobel; Here Comes Henny (based on the wordplay of James Joyce), illustrated by Nancy Winslow Parker; Halfway to Your House, illustrated by Gabrielle Vincent; Flap Your Wings and Try and All Asleep, illustrated by Nancy Tafuri; and Posy, illustrated by Catherine Stock (a Christopher Award book).

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Editorials

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

A mother tells her daughter the simple stories of her Jamaican childhood. The poverty is not ignored, but life was not grim and the fun comes through. The full-color art give a real sense of the island. Widely reviewed and highly recommended.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-- A stunning book in design, illustration, and story. Lessac's flat, primitive, folk paintings beautifully extend the simple text, a dialogue between a middle-class mother and her child that captures the love, closeness, and sharing between the two. Rose is in bed with a cold, and to entertain her, her mother tells her stories of growing up in Jamaica, where Rose's mother is seen not as a child who lived in poverty, but rather as one without the material possessions her child has. As the stories unfold, Rose is swept up in a ``grass is always greener'' syndrome: walking to school barefoot, no store-bought ``chalk'' dolls, and only homemade dresses all sound wonderful. Deep blues, lush greens, and sunny yellows capture the ambiance of the island setting, while other pages with more subdued tones show Rose in her bedroom; this technique may initially puzzle some children because of the switches back and forth. Easy to read, yet flowing enough for a read-aloud, this is an unusual portrayal of the difference in lifestyles between generations and between cultures.-- Trev Jones, ``School Library Journal ''

Book Details

Published
January 1, 1989
Publisher
HarperCollins Publishers
Pages
32
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9780064433334

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