Jeremiah Learns to Read

by JoEllen Bogart

Jeremiah is a very wise man. He knows how to build a fence, cook pancakes, grow vegetables, and many other wonderful things…but there is something that Jeremiah does not know how to do. He cannot read – and he wants to learn how. A heartwarming story about the joy of reading and the ways that we can learn from one another. Winner of the 1998 Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, School, Family

32 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 1998

Reviews

[Pluma Literaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

¿Será cierto esto que dice el refrán?… "Loro viejo no aprende a hablar"

Siento que esta lectura está dirigida a las personas que emprenden la maravillosa y placentera aventura de aprender a leer. Es una historia entrañable donde conocemos a Tomás un hombre grande, afable, vive en una granja, sabe hacer casi de todo, es dinámico, pero siente que algo le falta a su vida, habla con su hermano y le plantea la idea  que tiene… la respuesta de él es que ya es un hombre mayor que no lo necesita, pero si quiere hacerlo, está bien; sin embargo, el deseo que tiene sigue ahí, le cuenta a su esposa y con mucho cariño ella le dice que él es un hombre maravilloso, pero que ya está mayor para emprender ese camino en su vida, pero que si él lo quiere así, que lo haga. Luego, se sienta a conversar con su perro y se aventura a hacer realidad su sueño. Esta decisión que toma también le permite compartir su mundo, su sabiduría con quienes empiezan a formar parte de esta nueva etapa de su vida. Los resultados son alentadores. Los temas que trata son: inclusión, superación, el valor de la alfabetización, de los libros, amor, amistad y lo más importante no darle importancia al qué dirán. 

[Mrs.MakesReadingFun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful, timeless story about an lovely old man who decides late in life that he would like to learn to read.
I love how HE teaches others the skills he knows, while they teach him how to read & write. It is a nice lesson on how we all have something to teach one another.

We used it alongside our unit in grade 1 about trying new things, taking risks, and having an "I can try" attitude.

[Mabearbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a charming and heart-warming story that just proves it's never too late to learn anything and also that patience and persistence truly pay off. A simple, evocative story with a beautiful message for young and young at heart readers.

[Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming story with beautiful illustrations!

[Manfred Klapperbein · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I liked this book because Julianna also wanted to read." Manfred (age 6.5)

[Hamza Mostafa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story because it was very fun.
I loved the idea to never stop asking, what we ask a lot we get what we want.
I loved the drawings because they were very realistic!

[Denice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book for inspiring slow readers.

[Janelle Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork!

[NY-DOGWALKER · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt story about an older gentleman who decides he wants to learn to read. This book is a powerful lesson that it’s never too late to pursue a dream that may have once seemed out of your reach.
This wonderful story would be perfect for children ages 5-9.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading theme - illiteracy

[Katelynn Callahan]

The story is about an old man named Jeremiah who can do all sorts of fascinating things. He has a wife and a good life but he does not know how to read. Jeremiah wants to learn to read and people question it because he already has so many talents but he still tries to learn. He decides to go to school with little children who are learning to read and while he is being taught he also teaches them how to do things that he is good at. He even teaches his teacher new things. By the end of the story Jeremiah is able to read love poems to his wife and she in turn wants to learn how to read.

This book is great for encouraging students who are struggling to read. It allows children to realize that it is never too old to begin to learn and that you can do anything you set your mind to no matter what age you are. It also teaches that even if you are not able to do one thing you have many other strengths that you are able to help others learn as well. It also uses very beautiful images to help children visualize the story as well.

[Jenna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeremiah Learns to Read is the story of an older man who leads a full and productive life, but lacks the ability to read. He decides to go back to school with young children to learn to read and in turn, finds that he can teach others a thing or two. By the end of the story, he has learned to read and turns his newfound love for reading onto his wife through love poems. The imagery is a large part of this story as the illustrator uses pictures that accurately depict the story and really allow the readers to feel as though they are a part of the story.

Young and old readers alike would find this book to be a lovely addition to their library. As a teacher who worked with ELL children, I think it would also be interesting to offer this up to children whose parents are not able to read due to limited education and immigration. It gives hope to all readers alike that you can truly teach an old dog new tricks.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about an elder man named Jeremiah that wants to learn how to read. Jeremiah knows how to do many different things like make syrup from sap and build things but the one thing he can't do is read. So the next day Jeremiah got up and went to school with some of the young children he know. The children helped him practice his letters and sounds while Jeremiah showed the children how to chirp like a chickadee and honk like a goose. Soon Jeremiah was learning to read. Once he knew how to read he read some poems to his wife and she told Jeremiah that she wants to learn to read too. So the next morning Jeremiah and his wife walked to school together. This is a good book to show children that no matter how old you are you can learn to do anything. It also shows how no matter what age you are you can always help someone. Love this book!

[Analissa Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was absolutely amazing. This older man can do almost everything, but read. Yet in the end, all he wanted to do was read. He was willing to trade his skills to learn. Usually many would think it was to late to learn, but Jeremiah wanted to bad enough to sit in a class of children to learn. This can open a child's eyes to show them it's never to late to learn and also how much reading is valued, how much many want to know how who can not already. My favorite part was at the end when Jeremiah reads poems to his wife so beautiful the she wants to read. From that you can see the Jeremiah's desires have a chain effect that may continue to grow and reach out to others who were like Jeremiah, illiterate.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My five-year-old son picked this book up from the library yesterday. I didn't think I would like it at all. I didn't like it -- I LOVED it.

The story itself is so incredibly sweet, and the illustrations are both gorgeous and charming.


Some years ago, before my son was born, I used to teach a few GED programs. Some were in churches, some in halfway houses and one was at the local jail. I've taught many adults to learn to read over those years. This book so perfectly depicts the change in a person when they move from being a non-reader to a reader.

[Sandra Vicars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeremiah Learns to Read is an inspiring story of an old man who has many talents but never learned to read. He tells his brother, his wife and his dog that he wants to learn to read. But how? So he attends the local school. There he learns letters and to read and write. He is not the only one to learn. He shares his knowledge with those that have helped him. This story shares with its readers that everyone has something they can share with those around them.

[Salsabrarian]

Jeremiah has lived a long time. He knows how to build a split rail fence, grow lush vegetables, make buttermilk pancakes, and tap syrup from a tree. But he doesn’t know how to read and he decides to learn. He goes to school with the area kids and as he learns to read, he also shares what he knows with the teacher and classmates. Finally, he is able to read a book of poems to his wife which inspires her to learn to read. A nice story about literacy and sharing knowledge and life experiences.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book. I haven't felt that way about many picture books in my life and this definitely is one of my favorites now. So touching, and i will certainly be buying it to read to my kids. My favorite childhood book, "Love You Forever" has always touched me and this book did the exact same thing.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this while I was checking in books at the library! It's a lovely story. I liked that Bogart showed that Jeremiah's life (his wife, his kindness, his love of cooking) was important even if he couldn't read, and that reading was something he wanted to do—not something his life would be empty or shameful without.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because the main character is not an ordinary character for children's books. The main character is an older gentleman who can do almost everything except read. After reading this book, I realized how thankful I am for the ability to read. I can hardly imagine what life would be like without this skill.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I also read the French version of this book - Jeremie Apprend a Lire.

This is a beautiful story with stunning illustrations. A grandfather wants to learn to read, so he goes to school with the children. His wife is inspired by him. Sweet story, realistic images.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's never too late to learn how to read! Great inspiration for older children who may have reading difficulties.

[Carrie Gelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading is a gift. This book reveals this in such a soft, gentle way.

[Ck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book about an old man named Jeremiah who can do all sorts of things, but read. And how he learned to read.

[Brenda Thompson]

Elderly Jeremiah decides that it's finally time to learn to read. A great book for relating the message that it is never to late to learn.

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story