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25th out of 124 books
—
13 voters
The Family Under the Bridge
This is the delightfully warm and enjoyable story of an old Parisian named Armand, who relished his solitary life. Children, he said, were like starlings, and one was better off without them.But the children who lived under the bridge recognized a true friend when they met one, even if the friend seemed a trifle unwilling at the start. And it did not take Armand very long...more
Paperback, 128 pages
Published
February 15th 1989
by HarperCollins
(first published 1958)
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This book shows us an accurate example of change to better. It is about Armand he is a homeless living under some bridge in Paris. When he came back to his place to sleep one night, he found three little kids were playing in his his place. In the beginning he didn't like them. their mother left there (under the bridge) and went to work some where. Armand began to exploit those kids as a beggars to collect a money from people. But finally he loved those kids and try to find a respected job to get...more
Textbook – The Joy of Children’s Literature – P. 8
Genre – Historical Fiction
Summary:
This heartening story tells the tale of a homeless old man named Armand who lives alone on the streets of Paris and is not ashamed to be termed a hobo or a tramp. His life is unexpectedly changed when children enter his life. For the first time ever he starts to feel a connection to someone and a bond that soon causes him to realize that he belongs with this family. A bond that is so strong it will ultimately cha...more
Genre – Historical Fiction
Summary:
This heartening story tells the tale of a homeless old man named Armand who lives alone on the streets of Paris and is not ashamed to be termed a hobo or a tramp. His life is unexpectedly changed when children enter his life. For the first time ever he starts to feel a connection to someone and a bond that soon causes him to realize that he belongs with this family. A bond that is so strong it will ultimately cha...more
Family Under the Bridge, is cool and has some drama in it. The main characters are Armand, a hobo, three children, their dog, and Ms. Calcet, the mother. It is winter in Paris and Armand goes home, which is under the bridge, after he collected stuff and put them in his cart. Then he finds three children under the bridge. They begged that they didn't want to leave because they kept saying they were family so Amand let them stay, but he didn't like it. After Ms. Calcet decided he can be part of th...more
This book is about an old man who is homeless and loves his non job life and encounters a family that has become homeless too. He does not like the idea of sharing his spot under the bridge but does. He is coming home one day and sees two women leaving his little nook under the bridge. He rushed to see how the children were and they were upset because the ladies saif they were going to get the police. He got them up and moved them to a safe place which was with the gypsies. He goes back and gets...more
Reason for Reading: read aloud to the 8yo
Comments: The Calcet family is homeless after their father dies and they take up residence under a bridge. Along comes Armand the hobo to find this family in his place. Armand is not particularly fond of children but they soon capture his heart and he finds himself looking after the children and the welfare of the family. The children wish for more than anything that Father Christmas will bring them a house for Christmas and Armand tries hard to keep thei...more
Comments: The Calcet family is homeless after their father dies and they take up residence under a bridge. Along comes Armand the hobo to find this family in his place. Armand is not particularly fond of children but they soon capture his heart and he finds himself looking after the children and the welfare of the family. The children wish for more than anything that Father Christmas will bring them a house for Christmas and Armand tries hard to keep thei...more
I read this last night in a little under an hour, so it's a short read. I really liked parts of it, but others bothered.
For the good, it was a sweet little story of a man changing his heart because of some children he met. I enjoyed the characters. While there wasn't a lot of time spent on their development, they were lovable and you wanted so badly for their lives to get better. It was nice to see how they stuck together and tried to stay together and keep cheerful even during the hardest of t...more
For the good, it was a sweet little story of a man changing his heart because of some children he met. I enjoyed the characters. While there wasn't a lot of time spent on their development, they were lovable and you wanted so badly for their lives to get better. It was nice to see how they stuck together and tried to stay together and keep cheerful even during the hardest of t...more
The lovely book that is The Family Under the Bridge is simply wonderful. It's heart-warming and gentle as much as it is saddening and pitiful. Set in Paris, an old hobo by the name of Armand lived his everyday life undisturbed and going about as he pleased with no worries. Upon reaching a bridge he took shelter under on a cold, winter day, he spotted three little children and their dog. The children, dog, and mother had lost their home and resided under the bridge as well. As the days go by, the...more
Citation: The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson with pictures by Garth Williams. (Scholastic Inc., 1958). 97p. Fantasy.
Genre: Junior Books - Fantasy
Summary: The book delves into an old homeless man whose name is Armand and lives in Paris under a bridge. He finds several children under the bridge and they become a family.
A. One of the best things about the book is it is set in Paris and children get to learn about different facets of the country. Another important aspect is that...more
Genre: Junior Books - Fantasy
Summary: The book delves into an old homeless man whose name is Armand and lives in Paris under a bridge. He finds several children under the bridge and they become a family.
A. One of the best things about the book is it is set in Paris and children get to learn about different facets of the country. Another important aspect is that...more
The Family Under the Bridge is a good book for people of all ages, because it has easy content for older people to read and if they would read it to younger kids they would get the story line also. It shows how much you really need family, and how much it hurts to be lonely. I connected with the book because it was sad to see children living on their own in the cold. Armand the old man thinks he doesn't need anybody in his life to make him happy. He likes not having a job and being a hobo. He me...more
1 like · like · see review
The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson (Harper Collins Publisher) 123p. Fantasy.
Summary: This story is about a family who became homeless because the mother couldn’t pay the bills. They ended up going under a bridge where they met an older man who was already living there. The older man ended up becoming an important person in the family’s life.
Critique:
a. This story was very descriptive and the author did a good job at getting the readers to be able to put themselves in the stor...more
Summary: This story is about a family who became homeless because the mother couldn’t pay the bills. They ended up going under a bridge where they met an older man who was already living there. The older man ended up becoming an important person in the family’s life.
Critique:
a. This story was very descriptive and the author did a good job at getting the readers to be able to put themselves in the stor...more
1 like · like · see review
The book “The Family Under the Bridge” was a very good book. It showed how hard it is to live as a hobo especially in a place like Paris, France. I think the children and their mother were lucky to meet a man like monsieur Armand. I believe this because even though he didn’t have a home or any money, he still tried to help the family in any way that he could. This book was a very good way to show that hobos are not bad people, they just aren’t as fortunate as others. Hobos really just don’t have...more
1 like · like · see review
The Family Under the Bridge
1-Genre: Fantasy
2- This is a story of an independent hobo named Armand. He was very content on walking the streets and living under his bridge alone with his dog. To his surprise one day he stumbled across three small children under his bridge. These children would forever change his life.
3-(a) The author does a great job with characterization for this story.
(b) From the beginning of the story the reader feels like they personally know Armand and the connection only g...more
1-Genre: Fantasy
2- This is a story of an independent hobo named Armand. He was very content on walking the streets and living under his bridge alone with his dog. To his surprise one day he stumbled across three small children under his bridge. These children would forever change his life.
3-(a) The author does a great job with characterization for this story.
(b) From the beginning of the story the reader feels like they personally know Armand and the connection only g...more
My son and I both loved this book. The writing is wonderful and the illustrations by Garth Williams are darling.
The story begins with a hobo who does not like children. He returns home to his spot under a Paris bridge to find three children and their mother living there. It is a gentle book, but the theme is homelessness, which is always a difficult subject. Be prepared for lots of questions from your child.
It takes place during the days around Christmas, so you may want to read it then. HOWEVER...more
The story begins with a hobo who does not like children. He returns home to his spot under a Paris bridge to find three children and their mother living there. It is a gentle book, but the theme is homelessness, which is always a difficult subject. Be prepared for lots of questions from your child.
It takes place during the days around Christmas, so you may want to read it then. HOWEVER...more
Jul 09, 2009
Leslie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
families at Christmas
Shelves:
children-s-lit
One of the sweetest most charming books I have ever read. How I wish I would have found this when I was a girl. I would have loved it.
This is a story of some wonderful little French children who are hard on their luck and "living rough" when they encounter a bum who trys to be grumpy and unloving but falls in love with the little family. We follow them through Christmas all the way up to New Year.
The story is not an overly bleak look at homelessness (it is for children after all), and is no...more
This is a story of some wonderful little French children who are hard on their luck and "living rough" when they encounter a bum who trys to be grumpy and unloving but falls in love with the little family. We follow them through Christmas all the way up to New Year.
The story is not an overly bleak look at homelessness (it is for children after all), and is no...more
2 likes · like · see review
Best part of the whole book:
"'To think we have fallen so low,' wept the woman. 'My children at home with gypsies.'
'What is wrong with gypsies?' asked Arman. 'Why do you think you are better? Are you kinder? Are you more generous?'
'I'm honest.' murmured the woman through her scarf.'
'What good does it do to be honest if you aren't kind and generous?' he asked. Then in a softer tone he said, 'You may think them thieves and wanderers, madame, but they are workers, too. ...
'They are thieves,' persist...more
"'To think we have fallen so low,' wept the woman. 'My children at home with gypsies.'
'What is wrong with gypsies?' asked Arman. 'Why do you think you are better? Are you kinder? Are you more generous?'
'I'm honest.' murmured the woman through her scarf.'
'What good does it do to be honest if you aren't kind and generous?' he asked. Then in a softer tone he said, 'You may think them thieves and wanderers, madame, but they are workers, too. ...
'They are thieves,' persist...more
If you want a funny book and maybe a sad book that will make you think you should read this book.
I learned that some people dont relize thast homeless people are happy like the way they are. And some people dont want homeless people in the world or walking around Paris.
I learned that some people dont relize thast homeless people are happy like the way they are. And some people dont want homeless people in the world or walking around Paris.
2 likes · like · see review
FROM UNDER THE BRIDGE--RIGHT INTO HIS HEART!
A Paris hobo named Armand prizes both his ragtag existence and the hardness of his heart. But he falls victim to the charms of three redheaded waifs--newly on the streets (or in this case, under the bridge of the River Seine) whom he discovers camping out in His spot, no less! This is more than any gentleman of the road should have to endure! Then too, the children's prideful, bitter mother is no prize. But with the aid of friendly gypsies and their g...more
A Paris hobo named Armand prizes both his ragtag existence and the hardness of his heart. But he falls victim to the charms of three redheaded waifs--newly on the streets (or in this case, under the bridge of the River Seine) whom he discovers camping out in His spot, no less! This is more than any gentleman of the road should have to endure! Then too, the children's prideful, bitter mother is no prize. But with the aid of friendly gypsies and their g...more
Jul 05, 2011
Donna Crane
added it
A timeless heartwarmer and Newbery Honor book, this story of a Parisian hobo whose life is turned upside down by the appearance of three young children and their mother under the bridge he calls home, is a beautiful story about the power of love. Many of the most poignant details of the story are sure to be missed by the ostensible target audience, but appreciated by the grown-ups. While the main characters are all homeless, or transient gypsies, they are all represented as decent, honorable peo...more
A sweet, old-fashioned Christmas story that is set in Paris in the mid-1900s. Armand, an elderly homeless man, was perfectly contented with his life. All his belongings fit into a baby stroller, and his home under a bridge was protected from the wind and weather. So he was not at all pleased to come home one day and find three small children huddled in the corner that he called home. He wanted to ignore them, but soon he found himself worrying about them. When a grouchy old man finds himself car...more
This book from the late 1950's is a bit dated, but super cute and a very easy read (less than an hour for the seasoned reader). The book is sweet as the Parisian children living under the bridge melt the heart of Armand who "can't abide children. Starlings they are. Witless, twittering, little pests".
The story winds through the streets of Paris marking some familiar places for the young reader. Interwoven throughout are tales of gypsies and Christmas.
The feel good ending is perhaps predictable,...more
The story winds through the streets of Paris marking some familiar places for the young reader. Interwoven throughout are tales of gypsies and Christmas.
The feel good ending is perhaps predictable,...more
This book was shoved into my hands at checkout by an ardent middle-aged stranger who explained that it was her absolute favorite book as a child and that I, not she, should be buying it. Her enthusiasm carried me, so I purchased it, and I can see why she was so charmed. The story of a homeless family wandering the streets of Paris during Christmas time should not be so appealing and uplifting, but this book, like few children's books can, seems to make it so. It also has some appealing moral que...more
I could see why this volume would be elected a Newbery Honor book in 1959 (though I can also see how Elizabeth George Speare's "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" won the award; nothing was going to beat that book this year). Natalie Savage Carlson constructs some beautiful and poignant moments in the pages of The Family Under the Bridge, creating a story with flawed characters with whom it is easy to sympathize, and bringing forth a simplicity in the flow of narration that will appeal to a host of d...more
About a Paris family that lost their dad and is forced to live on the streets during the Christmas season. A hobo ends up saving the day, by helping the 3 kids find food and shelter, while the mother is at work. Due to the children's love for the hobo, he has a change of heart and decides to work to help support the family and is adopted by all as "grandpa". It showed the value of work, compared to stealing and begging. Also the power of love and family.
update: This story has been going through...more
update: This story has been going through...more
It may sound odd to say that a book about a Parisian homeless man trying to keep three homeless children from being separated by their mother is charming, but it really is. Not that it's entirely unrealistic; the characters experience danger, the contempt of others, the worries of living in the open. But the writing is witty and the main character is a sweet old curmudgeon with a philosophical outlook. I was pre-reading this for my 5-year-old and I think I'll wait for a couple years to give it t...more
My daughter gives this 5 stars. I would give it 4 1/2.
The Family Under the Bridge is a romantic, gentle, and sadly sweet story of and old hobo and the family he comes to love. Armand is a happy, homeless, curmudgeon, who finds he will be in for some new adventures. Winter is approaching and fate has dropped three small children and their dog into his favorite living space under the bridge. What to do? We are introduced to the under-world of Paris in the late 50's. There are hobos, gypsies, and s...more
The Family Under the Bridge is a romantic, gentle, and sadly sweet story of and old hobo and the family he comes to love. Armand is a happy, homeless, curmudgeon, who finds he will be in for some new adventures. Winter is approaching and fate has dropped three small children and their dog into his favorite living space under the bridge. What to do? We are introduced to the under-world of Paris in the late 50's. There are hobos, gypsies, and s...more
This is a wonderful story about resilience and family love. The setting is in Paris, a city I love to visit, so I was excited to share this story (and a few words of French) with our girls. I'd never read it before, so I was hoping that it would be a nice Christmas tale.
I loved that the children were joyful and hopeful despite their desperate living conditions. And I loved the way that people gave from their hearts. I was a bit troubled that the mother was so prideful and seemed to be determine...more
I loved that the children were joyful and hopeful despite their desperate living conditions. And I loved the way that people gave from their hearts. I was a bit troubled that the mother was so prideful and seemed to be determine...more
this was a really awesome book!
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My daughter loved this book and continually asks to read it again. The book is about a mother and her children who end up having to live under a bridge because they can't make enough money to pay for their apartment. I thought the book did a great job of exposing the kids to the reality of poverty in a way that they could handle. You learn about the many adventures the kids have because of their new plight and the importance of family. A good book for talking to your kids about some of the harde...more
This is a quirky little book. An old hobo, who has no other purpose in life but to go from place to place and work as little as he can, meets up with a single parent family that has been kicked out of their residence because they can’t pay the rent. They meet under a bridge in Paris. The Hobo has a soft place in his heart for the children and helps them out. Sometimes the “help” is not what the mom finds appropriate. It is a quick read and could start some conversations about diversity, homeless...more
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Natalie Savage Carlson was born on October 3, 1906, in Kernstown, Virginia. After she married, she moved around a great deal as the wife of a Navy officer, living for many years in Paris, France.
Her first story was published in the Baltimore Sunday Sun when she was eight years old.
Her first book, The Talking Cat and Other Stories of French Canada (where her mother was born), was published in 1952....more
More about Natalie Savage Carlson...
Her first story was published in the Baltimore Sunday Sun when she was eight years old.
Her first book, The Talking Cat and Other Stories of French Canada (where her mother was born), was published in 1952....more
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I really like the book you chose and the review that you posted. It's strange that there are actually true-life stories such as these; I coun...more
Sep 21, 2009 11:36am