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The Old Woman Who Named Things
How does an old woman who has outlived all her friends keep from being lonely? By naming the things in her life she knows she will never outlive—like her house, Franklin, and her bed, Roxanne. When a shy brown puppy appears at her front gate, the old woman won’t name it, because it might not outlive her. Tender watercolors capture the charm of this heartwarming story of an old woman who doesn’t know she’s lonely until she meets a plucky puppy who needs a name—and someone to love. “Rylant and Brown together create with affection and lovingly humorous touches a glimpse of old age lived with relish.” — Booklist
32 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1996
13 people are currently reading
1326 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Rylant
502 books866 followersAn author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children and young adults as well as an author and author/illustrator of picture books for children, Cynthia Rylant is recognized as a gifted writer who has contributed memorably to several genres of juvenile literature. A prolific author who often bases her works on her own background, especially on her childhood in the West Virginia mountains, she is the creator of contemporary novels and historical fiction for young adults, middle-grade fiction and fantasy, lyrical prose poems, beginning readers, collections of short stories, volumes of poetry and verse, books of prayers and blessings, two autobiographies, and a biography of three well-known children's writers; several volumes of the author's fiction and picture books are published in series, including the popular "Henry and Mudge" easy readers about a small boy and his very large dog.
Rylant is perhaps most well known as a novelist. Characteristically, she portrays introspective, compassionate young people who live in rural settings or in small towns and who tend to be set apart from their peers.
from bookrags.com
Rylant is perhaps most well known as a novelist. Characteristically, she portrays introspective, compassionate young people who live in rural settings or in small towns and who tend to be set apart from their peers.
from bookrags.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
December 26, 2025
ربما كانت تلك الصفحة من القصة كافية عن الكلام
July 13, 2010
Gosh darn it! Cynthia Rylant's work always makes me reach for a tissue. Only this time, she's made me want to reach for one of my grandma's handkerchiefs—the sweet old-fashioned ones of gentle fabric scattered with flowers and lace that got handed down to me--and give it a big hug.
The Old Woman in the story names things... because she has outlived all her friends and she is afraid to befriend anything that won't outlive her. She has named her car, her bed, her chair, her house--they are all very sturdy; but she won't name the garden gate because it is nearly falling off its hinges and isn't long for this world! But one day a stray puppy comes to her gate. The Old Woman feeds it and then tells it to go away. (After all, there are no guarantees that the puppy will outlive her!) But the puppy comes back day after day. Soon, it is a year old and the Old Woman still hasn't named it--she figures if it doesn't have a name, she is safe! Then, one day, the puppy doesn't come anymore. The Old Woman sits in Franklin (her house) and wonders if she ought to go looking for him... Perhaps she is ready to take a chance on loving something with a heartbeat, after all.
The story is just pitch-perfect and the illustrations are so odd and charming and humorous. I love it!
The ending is just so gosh darn sweet. Get your Kleenex, or your grandmother's handkerchief, if you're going to try this gentle gem!
The Old Woman in the story names things... because she has outlived all her friends and she is afraid to befriend anything that won't outlive her. She has named her car, her bed, her chair, her house--they are all very sturdy; but she won't name the garden gate because it is nearly falling off its hinges and isn't long for this world! But one day a stray puppy comes to her gate. The Old Woman feeds it and then tells it to go away. (After all, there are no guarantees that the puppy will outlive her!) But the puppy comes back day after day. Soon, it is a year old and the Old Woman still hasn't named it--she figures if it doesn't have a name, she is safe! Then, one day, the puppy doesn't come anymore. The Old Woman sits in Franklin (her house) and wonders if she ought to go looking for him... Perhaps she is ready to take a chance on loving something with a heartbeat, after all.
The story is just pitch-perfect and the illustrations are so odd and charming and humorous. I love it!
The ending is just so gosh darn sweet. Get your Kleenex, or your grandmother's handkerchief, if you're going to try this gentle gem!
September 29, 2018
This is one of those books that just makes you want to say, "Aww!" It's an interesting premise, and not something I would've expected to see in a children's book. The old woman lives all alone, and she names her house, her car, her chair... anything that will outlive her. One day, a little puppy shows up, and she's afraid to give it a name for fear she might outlive it (the same way she's outlived all of her friends). I'm not quite clear on why she hesitates to name the dog--wouldn't that mean she expected it to outlive her?--but her reluctance to do so helps drive the story, so I guess it kind of had to be that way. Basically, I guess, she didn't want to get too attached for fear of losing yet another friend, but she got attached, anyway. I mean, it was a puppy. How do you not get attached to a puppy?
The illustrations were gentle and sweet, and fit the tone of the story perfectly. I particularly liked the old woman's awesome hairstyle.
This is a fairly strong picture book, even if the reasoning of the main character is a bit wobbly. The prose flows beautifully and the illustrations are a perfect accompaniment.
The illustrations were gentle and sweet, and fit the tone of the story perfectly. I particularly liked the old woman's awesome hairstyle.
This is a fairly strong picture book, even if the reasoning of the main character is a bit wobbly. The prose flows beautifully and the illustrations are a perfect accompaniment.
July 19, 2010
The illustrations are outstanding, many beautiful enough to be paintings on a wall.
The story’s message of opening up to love another despite the potential for hurt and loss is a good one. Though it has a happy ending, the whole story is permeated by a kind of melancholy. It’s also mildly amusing because all the objects that are given names by this old woman.
It’s the kind of book that generally makes me tear up, but I think this one was a tad too sad for that reaction, if that makes any sense. I was more stunned than teary-eyed.
The dog is adorable.
This is a bit unusual in tone for a children’s book, but I think kids will understand and appreciate it. Upped it a half star for its deviation from the norm.
The story’s message of opening up to love another despite the potential for hurt and loss is a good one. Though it has a happy ending, the whole story is permeated by a kind of melancholy. It’s also mildly amusing because all the objects that are given names by this old woman.
It’s the kind of book that generally makes me tear up, but I think this one was a tad too sad for that reaction, if that makes any sense. I was more stunned than teary-eyed.
The dog is adorable.
This is a bit unusual in tone for a children’s book, but I think kids will understand and appreciate it. Upped it a half star for its deviation from the norm.
July 22, 2010
At first I didn't think I was going to like this book. The illustrations don't do much for me; the moral is on the obvious side; it's about old age, which I don't care for (as a literary theme; actual old people I'm fine with). However, the shy brown puppy was so touching I couldn't hold out against it. And it isn't really about old age, it is about the fear of loss and hurt and how it cripples our lives. Even with the happy ending the lost year of puppyhood that the old lady and dog could have shared had she not been afraid to make friable connections made me sad. Rylant really knows how to bring the pathos.
October 25, 2019
The old woman HERSELF who named things didn't have a name!
February 26, 2020
A lonely old woman, having outlived all of her friends, and being reluctant to allow new ones into her life, for fear that she might lose them as well, takes to naming her inanimate possessions in this sweet picture-book about taking a chance on love and companionship. When a shy brown puppy pokes his head into her yard, she feeds him and sends him on his way. After all, Franklin (her house) doesn't need any dog hair, Roxanne (her bed) isn't wide enough for a canine companion, Fred (her chair) doesn't permit puppies to sit upon him, and Betsy (her car) makes animals sick. Despite her discouragement, the puppy comes back every day, eventually growing into a dog. And then one day, he doesn't show up...
A heartwarming tale of loneliness and fear, and how they are conquered by love, The Old Woman Who Named Things has a most satisfactory conclusion: something that is never really in much doubt (at least in my mind, anyway), but that is still very enjoyable to see. The watercolor artwork by Kathryn Brown is immensely appealing, with a quirky sensibility (I love the old lady's hairdo!) that amuses, and some moments of real pathos (the sweet little puppy!). All in all, an engaging book, one I recommend to young animal lovers, to children who long for a pet, or to children who are afraid of opening up and making friends.
A heartwarming tale of loneliness and fear, and how they are conquered by love, The Old Woman Who Named Things has a most satisfactory conclusion: something that is never really in much doubt (at least in my mind, anyway), but that is still very enjoyable to see. The watercolor artwork by Kathryn Brown is immensely appealing, with a quirky sensibility (I love the old lady's hairdo!) that amuses, and some moments of real pathos (the sweet little puppy!). All in all, an engaging book, one I recommend to young animal lovers, to children who long for a pet, or to children who are afraid of opening up and making friends.
May 17, 2014
My six-year-old had tears in her eyes after I read this to her and said, "Mommy, I never thought about a person living so long, she could outlive all of her friends." This book is an unusual reminder to us all. . . that we should make and keep friends of other generations, as well as our own.
April 12, 2022
A sweet story to melt your heart, because letting love in is always the best decision.
This book has sweet illustrations too!
Ages: 4 - 10
This book has sweet illustrations too!
Ages: 4 - 10
September 6, 2025
What a hearth warming story! And the illustrations were marvelous. Lately I am quite good at finding the most dear illustrated book. Proud of myself!
November 18, 2015
A C.S. Lewis quotation that I’ve heard repeated often is: ‘A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.’ Some people have the misconception that children’s literature is always silly or humourous and never serious. But because children’s literature is often more light-hearted and deals with issues more concretely, sometimes a children’s book can present a serious concept very clearly and simply. Rylant accomplishes this in a beautiful way.
In this story, an old woman is lonely because all of her friends have already died, so she names all of her possessions that she knows will last longer than she will. But one day a puppy comes to her house and she starts to take care of it; however, she refuses to name him since he may die before she does. In the end, she realizes that the potential for pain should not prohibit her from enjoying life and experiencing love.
Rylant teaches this lesson quietly and effectively, not in an overly pedantic manner. This is a great example of showing rather than telling, though perhaps this is a different application of that principle. This book presents a lesson that children can learn at an early age but that adults also need to learn or re-learn. The lesson ties to another C.S. Lewis quotation that 'to love at all is to be vulnerable.'
In this story, an old woman is lonely because all of her friends have already died, so she names all of her possessions that she knows will last longer than she will. But one day a puppy comes to her house and she starts to take care of it; however, she refuses to name him since he may die before she does. In the end, she realizes that the potential for pain should not prohibit her from enjoying life and experiencing love.
Rylant teaches this lesson quietly and effectively, not in an overly pedantic manner. This is a great example of showing rather than telling, though perhaps this is a different application of that principle. This book presents a lesson that children can learn at an early age but that adults also need to learn or re-learn. The lesson ties to another C.S. Lewis quotation that 'to love at all is to be vulnerable.'
November 28, 2024
Well I wasn’t expecting that to punch me in the gut 🥹
April 3, 2012
As an animal lover, I completely understood this story and it was so heart warming. An old woman has outlived all of her friends and is hesitant to let other people in her life for fear of losing them too. She begins naming inanimate objects around her house, like her bed. She does not realize how lonely she really is until a dog continues to come to her house everyday. The dog helps feel the void in the old woman's life. This book could help with the topic of losing loved ones or even how animals can be therapeutic.
January 19, 2015
I really liked this book. When I first picked it up, I was worried that it was going to be sad. Thankfully it wasn't. The illustrations are terrific and I'm really looking forward to sharing this book with my fifth grade students. I'm anxious to know what they think of it and what messages they'll take away from it.
February 24, 2022
When my oldest daughter was little, she went through a period where she just LOVED any book about old women. We read (and loved) books like: The Old Woman and the Wave, The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything, and this book, The Old Woman Who Named Things. We loved all three of those books! My kids were too young to understand the poignancy of why, exactly, the woman did not want to name the dog, but they enjoyed this book very much nevertheless.
February 9, 2023
That was super sweet! Utterly irresistible.
March 28, 2014
Beloved children’s book author Cynthia Rylant brings to life a tender, heartwarming story about a little old lady who is coping with the difficulties of growing old. The gentle watercolor illustrations perfectly complement this endearing tale that young and old alike are sure to fall in love with.
Once there was an old woman who outlived every single one of her friends. To keep from feeling lonely, she names the things around her that she knows she could never outlive- like her bed “Roxanne,” her car “Betsy,” her chair “Fred,” and her house “Franklin.” Then, one day, a shy brown puppy appears at her gate. She feds him and sends him home but each day he returns. Months go by but the old woman refuses to name him despite the fact that she still continues to feed him. Then, one day, the dog disappears and the old woman is faced with a tough decision on what to do. Will she risk the possibility of love and loss again?
This book is such a sweet and touching story. I wouldn’t have expected that a story about an old lady would captivate young readers, but it manages to hold children’s attention ages 4-9. I think it’s the addition of the lost puppy that really draws the reader in. Personally, I love the humorous flair Kathryn Brown sprinkles throughout her illustrations- the old woman’s pointy cowboy boots, the grin of the car’s front bumper, the face-like placement of the chair’s buttons, etc. As a teacher, this book makes for a great read aloud in Kindergarten through Grades 3. It definitely deserves a place in any genre unit on realistic fiction or in an author’s study on Cynthia Rylant. With older elementary students, this book lends itself to a discussion about the old woman’s character and what causes her to change by the end of the story.
Once there was an old woman who outlived every single one of her friends. To keep from feeling lonely, she names the things around her that she knows she could never outlive- like her bed “Roxanne,” her car “Betsy,” her chair “Fred,” and her house “Franklin.” Then, one day, a shy brown puppy appears at her gate. She feds him and sends him home but each day he returns. Months go by but the old woman refuses to name him despite the fact that she still continues to feed him. Then, one day, the dog disappears and the old woman is faced with a tough decision on what to do. Will she risk the possibility of love and loss again?
This book is such a sweet and touching story. I wouldn’t have expected that a story about an old lady would captivate young readers, but it manages to hold children’s attention ages 4-9. I think it’s the addition of the lost puppy that really draws the reader in. Personally, I love the humorous flair Kathryn Brown sprinkles throughout her illustrations- the old woman’s pointy cowboy boots, the grin of the car’s front bumper, the face-like placement of the chair’s buttons, etc. As a teacher, this book makes for a great read aloud in Kindergarten through Grades 3. It definitely deserves a place in any genre unit on realistic fiction or in an author’s study on Cynthia Rylant. With older elementary students, this book lends itself to a discussion about the old woman’s character and what causes her to change by the end of the story.
June 10, 2014
Title: The Old Woman Who Named Things
Author: Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator: Kathryn Brown
Date of Publication: 1996
Genre: Fiction
Summary:
This story is about an old woman who has outlived all of her friends. She has decided to name things that she knows she will not outlive, as cannot take saying goodbye again. One day a small brown puppy comes to her door and she struggles with the idea of keeping him out of the fear of outliving him, so she feeds him and instructs him to go home. She continues to do this everyday, until the day he does not come by. Worried about him, she visits the dogcatcher to see if they have found the small brown dog. She decides to take him home and name him Lucky, after how lucky she had been to have met all of her friends that she has outlived.
Evaluation:
This book is very sweet but also a little depressing. The story teaches us about loneliness and loss with a sweet and easy adaptation. I think it could be used with children to teach about the process of aging and what loss feels like. I do also like that the story ends with the old lady making some growth in her mindset. Even in her old age, she continues to develop in her thinking. She changes from not wanting to let in anyone else out of the fear of losing another, to welcoming “Lucky” as a new pet and companion. This could be a sweat teaching moment for children as well. The illustrations are beautiful and definitely compliment the melancholy tone the author sets. This book would work as a read-aloud or an independent read for students in the latter stages of the early reading phase.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why did the old lady name different things?
2. Why did she name the dog Lucky?
3. How did the old lady change from the beginning of the story?
Author: Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator: Kathryn Brown
Date of Publication: 1996
Genre: Fiction
Summary:
This story is about an old woman who has outlived all of her friends. She has decided to name things that she knows she will not outlive, as cannot take saying goodbye again. One day a small brown puppy comes to her door and she struggles with the idea of keeping him out of the fear of outliving him, so she feeds him and instructs him to go home. She continues to do this everyday, until the day he does not come by. Worried about him, she visits the dogcatcher to see if they have found the small brown dog. She decides to take him home and name him Lucky, after how lucky she had been to have met all of her friends that she has outlived.
Evaluation:
This book is very sweet but also a little depressing. The story teaches us about loneliness and loss with a sweet and easy adaptation. I think it could be used with children to teach about the process of aging and what loss feels like. I do also like that the story ends with the old lady making some growth in her mindset. Even in her old age, she continues to develop in her thinking. She changes from not wanting to let in anyone else out of the fear of losing another, to welcoming “Lucky” as a new pet and companion. This could be a sweat teaching moment for children as well. The illustrations are beautiful and definitely compliment the melancholy tone the author sets. This book would work as a read-aloud or an independent read for students in the latter stages of the early reading phase.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why did the old lady name different things?
2. Why did she name the dog Lucky?
3. How did the old lady change from the beginning of the story?
January 25, 2014
This story is about a lonely woman who has no friends. Her friends were her things. Then one day a stray puppy came by her house. She told it to shoo. But she gave the puppy food and the puppy left. This happened for a while. The woman never named it because she knew some day it would it would die. Her things wouldn't. Then one day the puppy didn't come by. She didn't know what to do. So she went to the pound. "What's its name?" Asked a man. The lady was trapped. She never had named the dog. So she had to now. "Lucky." She said. The man took her into the pound and found a dog at her car she named Bessy. She knew that was her dog. So, she scooped him up, and brought Lucky home.
Now, the dog lives with the woman and that is the end of the summary.
Title: The Old Woman Who Named Things
Author: Cynthia Rylant
October 12, 2009
The unlikely protagonist of this quirky and tenderhearted story is a little old lady with cat glasses and a beehive who might have stepped out of the far side. Lonely, she names inanimate objects, her car is Betsy, her bed is Roxanne. A stray dog wanders into her life but she refuses to name it; after losing many friends "she named only those things she knew she could never outlive." When the dog disappears, however, she realizes that finding him - and subsequently naming him - is worth the risk of outliving him.
I really enjoyed this book because it provided humor and a great moral to the story. I would use this story to teach the children about naming objects and giving meaning to items. I would use this book in a thematic unit about naming things.
I really enjoyed this book because it provided humor and a great moral to the story. I would use this story to teach the children about naming objects and giving meaning to items. I would use this book in a thematic unit about naming things.
September 12, 2018
Names are potent. The old woman in the eponymous title (who is nameless, whaddaya think about that?) loves to name her inanimate companions: the bed, the car, the chair, house.
She refuses to name anything that she might outlive. Until...(you have to read the book to find out).
I am not the biggest namer on the block, but people I love very much name all their appliances. The concept intrigues and delights.
This book is engaging and entertaining when read without comment; but, it would be a great gateway to a conversation:
about the older people we know,
about loneliness that comes with outliving family and friends,
about *why* The Old Woman named only thing she wouldn't outlive,
about the persistence of the unnamed shy brown puppy.
She refuses to name anything that she might outlive. Until...(you have to read the book to find out).
I am not the biggest namer on the block, but people I love very much name all their appliances. The concept intrigues and delights.
This book is engaging and entertaining when read without comment; but, it would be a great gateway to a conversation:
about the older people we know,
about loneliness that comes with outliving family and friends,
about *why* The Old Woman named only thing she wouldn't outlive,
about the persistence of the unnamed shy brown puppy.
October 21, 2013
I absolutely adore this book! This book was about an old woman who named things around her house that she knew she would outlive. One day, a cute little brown dog comes up her gate to beg for food. She realizes over time that she struggles with keeping the dog out of fear of outliving it.
Will she keep it or will she tell it TO GO BACK HOME?!?!?!
Read on to find out, you won't be disappointed.
The theme of this book was ACCEPTANCE and the lesson learned was appreciate the little things in life because you are LUCKY to have them.
Will she keep it or will she tell it TO GO BACK HOME?!?!?!
Read on to find out, you won't be disappointed.
The theme of this book was ACCEPTANCE and the lesson learned was appreciate the little things in life because you are LUCKY to have them.
April 7, 2019
About an older woman set in her ways who names everything. Her car was Betsy, her chair was Fred, house was Franklin, etc. So when a dog visits her each day, she feeds it but it leaves. She didn't want to outlive anymore friends so she doesn't want the dog. "And she didn't want to risk that." A sort of sad take on aging. Very introspective.
One day the dog doesn't show up. She remembers all her friends who had names and thought how lucky she was to have known them and decides she wants the dog.
One day the dog doesn't show up. She remembers all her friends who had names and thought how lucky she was to have known them and decides she wants the dog.
May 31, 2009
What a sad--but terrific--concept for a book: elderly woman begins to name things because all of her friends have passed away and she misses being able to call someone by name.
Sweet. Plus, she has the best cowboy boots ever. Love Cynthia Rylant....
Sweet. Plus, she has the best cowboy boots ever. Love Cynthia Rylant....
May 27, 2016
Cute little book that we have read over and over again. The names the old woman comes up with are funny....3/4/15
Love the friendship that develops in this book...krb 5/27/16
Love the friendship that develops in this book...krb 5/27/16
September 4, 2018
Great story!
April 9, 2019
Fear of losing things or people often stops people from establishing intimacy or naming things. This is a gentle story about permanence, daily connection and acceptance. Sweet illustrations.
December 6, 2025
Lovely little story about an old lady and love, plus a dog. Now I know why I named my cane and lumbar pillow.
April 11, 2019
I loved everything about this book - the story, the characters, the illustrations, all of it.
February 22, 2024
A beautiful story about an old woman opening her heart to love. A beautiful children’s book that is not merely for children.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews