Grandfather's Rock: An Italian Folktale

by Joel Strangis, Ruth Gamper (Illustrator)

It's a sad day when Father decides the family can no longer care for Grandfather, who will be taken to the home for old people on the other side of the hill. His four grandchildren are determined to think of a way to keep their beloved grandfather at home. An Italian folktale with an intergenerational story of love and dependence. Full-color illustrations.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 27, 1993

Reviews

[Abigail]

When their grandfather comes to live with them, Prima, Aldora, Paula, and Marco are overjoyed: they love to listen to his tales of adventure at sea, and his stories of ancient Italy. But Mother - ever the realist - keeps insisting that there simply isn't enough food to feed the old man, and Father eventually decides to take him to a home for the elderly. It seems that there is nothing to be done, until Prima finds the words necessary to put things right...

Based upon an Italian folktale, Grandfather's Rock offers a sensitive depiction of a poor family struggling to make ends meet, while also doing what is right for their elderly relative. Joel Strangis's narrative - apparently gleaned from his own grandmother's telling - flows smoothly, and Ruth Gamper's watercolor illustrations capture the feel of the home and countryside being described. All in all, an excellent little picture-book, although I do wonder how it would go over with young readers whose grandparents are in homes for the elderly...

[Prabhat sharma]

Grandfather’s Rock- An Italian Folk Tale by Joel Strangis, Illustrator Ruth Gamper, Hindi Language translation by Arvind Gupta- - Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book narrates an Italian Folk Tale about South Italy. A farmer’s family consists of father, mother and their four children- Prima, Aldora, Paula, and Marco. Their grandfather is old and the family decides to bring him to their house to reside with them. Children are overjoyed. Father has to go to the farm to work each day. At home, a cow, hens are living. Their mother milks the cows and collects the eggs in the morning. Grandfather comes and after their father visits the farm, grandfather tells his tales of adventure at sea, and his stories of ancient Italy. Their mother is a realist. She informs the children that she is unable milk the cow, collect eggs and cut and bring wood from the forest. She insists that there is not enough food to feed the old man, and Father eventually decides to take him to a home for the elderly. They all start with the grandfather for the old gage home. Father and children wish that grandfather should stay with them. On the way, they reach a rock where they find water and trees to rest. They name the rock as Grandfather’s rock. Prima informs her father that they all four children will milk the cow, collect eggs and cut wood for the kitchen. Assured of help in daily routine work from his children, Father decides to bring grandfather back home. Coloured illustrations help the reader to relate to the story. I have read the Hindi Language translation of this book.

[Jennifer Lanman]

This book was a fun read and can be used for children ages 5-8 years old. It had pretty watercolor pictures and not too much writing for it to be overwhelming. The book had a good theme about being generous and not just thinking about yourself. It is an Italian folktale and can be used in a lesson on Italy. It talks about where the family is located at( southern Italy) and gives region clues such as "ruins of the ancient temple". Little kids will enjoy this book because the pictures can almost tell the story. As a teacher you can read aloud this book to your students and talk about the theme and moral of the story. Then they can go back to their desks and write a generous thing they have done recently and a picture to describe what they wrote. Each can share with the class and they can describe their cute drawings.

[Melissa]

A little sad, but such a good point.