This Old New House: Graham Learns About Renovating - Softcover

McGraw, Sheila

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1550370340 ISBN 13: 9781550370348

Publisher: Annick Pr

Synopsis

When Rick and Sarah buy the old, rundown house next to Graham's, he sees all the hard work that goes into renovating a home

About this title

From School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-- This book takes readers through the various steps in renovating a house. An appended glossary defines various technical terms, italicized in the text (e.g., drywall , studs , insulation ) . The illustrations of the house itself recall the pictures in Virginia Lee Burton's The Little House (Houghton, 1942). The art work, sometimes realistic and sometimes cartoon-like, is pleasant, but not memorable. The house is not anthropomorphized, but rather stands quietly, while ``things'' are done to it. The child neighbor, Graham, watches while permits are arranged, a contractor arrives in safety gear, and a dumpster is installed to hold discarded walls, ceilings, and stairs. He learns about electrical cables, gas and telephone lines, and a sewage system. Real estate values are examined--the young owners declare that they have bought this house with saved dollars because they want to help to keep the city's history alive. On moving day, Graham calls the refurbished property an ``old, new house.'' Cole's Magic School Bus at the Water Works (Scholastic, 1986) enlightens readers more specifically, The Little House more magically, and Macaulay's Underground (1976) and Unbuilding (1980, both Houghton) more graphically. However, the glossary is a favorable feature here, and the book could be a good match for a city child who is experiencing rebuilding on a personal level. --Reva Pitch Margolis, Norwood School, NJ

Copyright 1989 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Annick Pr
• ISBN 10: 1550370340
• ISBN 13: 9781550370348
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English