Mr. George Baker

by Amy Hest, Jon J. Muth (Illustrator)

With subtlety and tenderness, Amy Hest tells the tale of an elderly man and a young boy linked by the common pursuit of learning to read, captured in expressive watercolors by Jon J Muth.

George can't read. A hundred years old, and he never learned how. "That must be corrected," says George.

George Baker and Harry don't seem the likeliest of friends. But sitting side by side on George's porch in the morning, waiting for the school bus to come, the two have plenty in common — this hundred-year-old musician with the crookedy fingers going tappidy on his knees and the young schoolboy whose shoelaces always need tying. They're both learning to read, and it's hard. What's easy is the warm friendship they share. In an inspired pairing, a best-selling author and illustrator pay quiet tribute to the power of language and intergenerational bonds.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Cultural, Realistic Fiction, School, African American

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Amy Hest is a three-time winner of the Christopher Medal and winner of the BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award. She lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Linda Lipko · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a very special book, found at a local library book sale a few years ago. This is a story of a young boy and his 100 year old friend Mr. Baker. Each day, they sit on the porch steps as Harry notes that he really likes Mr. Baker's sweater all hangy with three buttons. The wind blows the leaves off the trees as they tumble, float and fall.

And then, one day, Mr. George Baker of 100 years decides that it is time to learn to read. And Mr. George Baker gets on the school bus and twenty-two kids all want him to sit with them. But, George Baker sits with Harry, and Harry is happy!

------------

This book is incredible unique and special to me because my great-grandmother learned to read when she was in her 80's. At the time, Dick and Jane books were the reading materials used in school. As I read my Dick and Jane book, my great-grandmother Lena, listened as I pointed out the letters and how they sounded. She then walked to the library and found books that aided her in reading. While her level of reading was not stellar, what was stellar was her drive to learn. It stayed with me all my life.

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

An old man, George, and young boy, Harry, make a pair of unlikely friends. Yet they have a lot in common. They both wait on the porch for the bus to take them to school. They are both learning to read for the first time, and it’s hard, but the challenge is made easier because of the warm friendship they share.

The intergenerational relationship between Harry and George positively depicts old age, due in no small part to the affection and awe with which the young boy treats his neighbor. George is a kind friend, a sweet husband, a talented “drummer man” musician, and well-liked by the other students on the bus.

The respect given to George’s life experience, despite his academic deficiency, was inspirational as a testament to the adage that “you are never too old to learn.” I also appreciated that Harry didn’t see George as weird for riding the bus to school and learning to read at his old age, and regarded spending time with him as special.

[Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very beautiful and Simple book about unlikely friends! This book was amazing in many ways and I highly recommend it. This book makes waiting for the bus seem fun. The story also teaches you that you can learn something new, no matter how old you are.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: Harry, a young schoolboy and his hundred-year-old neighbor, Mr. George Baker, wait on the steps for the school bus to come. Mr. George Baker gets on the bus with Harry, twenty-two children and four grownups. Mr. George Baker and the other grownups go to school too. They’re learning to read just like Harry.

I want to sit on the porch with Mr. George Baker and be his neighbor and friend. What a beautifully evocative and important story.

Jon Muth expressively portrays the setting and characters of this understated story by Amy Hest. His use of soft watercolors and perspective help communicate the nature of the relationship between Harry and George. They are the perfect accompaniment to Amy Hest’s first person telling through Harry’s point of view. Hest winningly captures Harry’s young voice providing a deeper, broader view his friendship with George. Adult literacy is subtly addressed as a natural part of the story of two friends—one young, one old, and both learning to read—sharing the journey as friends.

[Sheniece · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of times children believe that adults don't have to learn the same thing they learn. In this story a 100 year old man goes back to school to learn how to read. After reading this story your students may wonder why and adult is going to school to learn to read. This would be the perfect time to have a discussion with you students about the ever lasting process of learning. It doesn't matter how old you are you can still learn. It would also be a good time to discuss the importance of learning how to read.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An older man and young boy become friends sitting on a porch while waiting for a school bus to arrive; both are learning to read, although they both are clearly at different stages in the life cycle. Mr. George Baker is learning to read at a center with other older people, while the young boy is learning to read at school.

I would use this book to help teach about the importance of reading and how older people that lived through the Great Depression and harder times in our country's history might have not had the chance to finish school and/or to learn to read.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry, the young protagonist in this first-person narrative, enjoys his 100-year-old neighbor, Mr. George Baker. George is a former drummer, and Harry loves to watch his fingers fly, pounding out rhythms on his knees as the two wait for the school bus each morning. Together George and Harry ride the bus and go to classes where each is learning to read. This gentle book stresses the importance of reading for all ages and the beauty of friendship across generations.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great, and really shows how important literacy is. Mr. George Baker is a 100 year old man who is learning to read along side his seven year old friend, Harry. I would recommend this book to anyone reading to students pre-k through third.

[Kirstin Kemppainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a story about a elderly man and a child both going through the experience of going to school. I liked how this booked exaggerated words and made it sound like the boy was telling the story, not in perfect English. Very good book overall and I like the illustrations.

[Stephanie Smoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teaches students it's never too late to accomplish your goal and that sometimes people who we think are different may posse’s similar qualities.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry and his 100 year old neighbor wait on the porch together for the school bus. Harry tells the reader some things that make Mr. George Baker special--his sweater with its hangy buttons, his long fingers that can tap out amazing rhythms, his dancing with Mrs. Baker, the chocolate candies in his back pockets...
Harry also reveals that both he and George are doing something hard--learning to read. They board the bus together to attend classes in the same building--George with other adults and Harry with other children.
This is a beautiful story of intergenerational friendship, perseverance, and the importance and challenge of reading.
Tie in with 100th Day, Grandparents' Day, Black history month, and reading promotion.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book that shows a loving relationship between an elderly man and a young boy. They meet in the morning with similar bags and wait for the school bus to pick them up. There is so much to love about this book: the message of never being to old to learn something new, the love across color and age.

[Ms. Arca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly I just love the illustrations, they really are the story, I honestly could pass on the words.

My favorite part was George and his wife dancing, they’re so sweet together I sort of wish the book was just about them and what I imagine/assume is a very long marriage full of music, dancing, and stories.

[Margaret Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story about a intergenerational friendship. I file it also shows students it’s OK to not know how to read and at any age you can learn something you. Definitely would recommend to have in a classroom and I have your students think about the relationship between George and Henry.

[Alexandria Darienzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an inspirational book focusing on friendship and perseverance. It emphasizes the idea that no matter how tough something may seem, and no matter how hold you may be, there's always the opportunity to learn.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good book - I think the text is trying a teeeeny bit too hard to be poetic, but the story itself is wonderful. I love stories about inter-generational friendships.

[Donna Mork · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute story about 100 year old man who is friends with a boy, and is learning to read at the same school (different room). Lovely. You are never too old to learn.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the idea, pictures, plot. Focus on before the bus. I didn’t think the ending was strong-should hace stayed with the one place of the bus stop.

[Nikol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for two 5th grade classes and barely got through it both times without choking up! Such a sweet story about it being never to late learn something new!!

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

You're never too old to learn to read.

[Rebecca Caufman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two neighbors one old, one young board the school bus each day together as they learn to read.

[Trisha Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a touching story about never being too old to grow and learn.

[thedailydiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Rainbow Season 20, Episode 3

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but sweet story about a boy and elderly man waiting for the school bus together.

Read for upcoming International Literacy Day on September 8th.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. Such a sweet story, with a wonderful message.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

People can learn at any age.

[Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr George baker and the boy were sitting on a porch, they were waiting for the bus. They sit together and go to school and they learn how to read.

[Amy Seto · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the morning Harry walks to the house next door and sits down next to his friend, Mr. George Baker, and they wait. Mr. George Baker is a hundred years old, no kidding, but he never learned how to read. “That must be corrected,” says George. And they wait. George is a drummer man and his crookedy old fingers beat out a rhythm on his knees, “tappidy-boom-boom-tap.” Finally, the school bus arrives and although George is popular with everyone on the bus, he always sits by Harry. Each and every day. At school George and Harry are in different classrooms, but both of them are learning and it’s hard. But George says, “We can do it,” as he sounds out the letters in his book and his fingers tap out a rhythm on his knees, “Tappidy-boom. Tappidy-boom. Tappidy-boom-boom-tap.”

Written from Harry’s point of view, this story celebrates an intergenerational friendship between Harry and George. The text is descriptive and urges the reader to take a closer look at George. Although the text doesn’t rhyme, there’s a rhythm to it that sets a rolling pace and makes the words just right for reading aloud. The watercolor illustrations match the subtle tone of the text. Muth expertly uses light and shadow to create realistic characters and settings. The relationship between the young, fair-skinned Harry and the African-American George, in his baggy, baggy pants and his three button sweater, is set up in the text and cemented in the illustrations. It is clear that Harry not only enjoys the company of his friend, but looks up to him as well. In turn, George takes care of Harry, making sure his shoelaces are double-knotted so they never come undone and loyally sitting next to him on the bus.

Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...

[Mattie Weck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book, especially because it is unlike any story I have read in the past. I particularly like that the story displays a friendship between the main characters that is both intergenerational as well as interracial. The two main characters are Harry (a young boy) and George (an African-American man who is said to be 100 years old). Both of the characters are currently attending to school, because they cannot read. The author shows the many dimensions to George, and includes his strengths in the story so that his inability to read ends up not making the reader look down on his character. This book is told from the child’s perspective with a straight-forward point of view that is relatable and easy for children to follow. The language of the text found in this book is also great, because it is rhythmic and entertaining to read. One message that this book expresses is that you are never too old to learn. However, this message may be hard for young children to relate to as they are so young themselves. I think this book would be best used in a 1st grade classroom where students are beginning to learn to read. Before reading the book aloud to the class, it would be beneficial to discuss and prompt students to think about what it takes to learn to read. After read-aloud, ask students: How does George’s mindset help him take on the challenge of reading? This would be a great book to use along with others to integrate into the classroom at the beginning of the school year in order to get students motivated and excited about learning to read.

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tender picture book is a story of a beautiful friendship between two unlikely people. They are neighbours and Mr. George Baker is one hundred years old while his friend Harry is only in first grade. Each morning they sit together on George's porch and suck chocolate candies while waiting for the bus to take them off to school. You see George was an African-American jazz drummer in his prime, but unfortunately was never taught to read. He knows that his illiteracy problem needs to be corrected so he is taking charge and doing something about it. He is a very unique and brave man who makes that long journey to the local school each day determined to succeed in his quest to understand the written words on a page. Both he and Harry are bonded together because they are learning to read. When the bus finally arrives they board it holding on to hands... happy to be together and looking out for each other. At school Mr. Baker studies with a group of grown-ups while Harry does the same in his classroom down the hall. The muted watercolours by Jon J. Muth, wash across the pages exposing simple and engaging images with many details to be enjoyed. It is a hopeful, inspiring tale that speaks compellingly to intergenerational friendship. It teaches us to respect people for who they are and appreciate their individualities. It urges us to accept people regardless of their age, race or the challenges in their lives.