Charlie's house (German Edition) - Softcover

Reviva Schermbrucker

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1919888063 ISBN 13: 9781919888064

Publisher: SONGOLOLO

Synopsis

A tale about family life in a poor South African township. Age group 4 plus.

About this title

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-- In the South African township of Guguletu, an imaginative young boy named Charlie Mogotsi lives with his mother and grandmother in a shelter made of corrugated iron and scrap. Although winter brings rain that leaks through the poorly fitted roof, it also creates a muddy outdoor playground for Charlie, who constructs a miniature house of clay, complete with such make-believe luxuries as a matchbox television set, carpets made of plastic, and a clay car that fuels his dreams of driving away from his impoverished surroundings. The sketchy color illustrations contain a lot of detail, but appear murky and washed-out. The living arrangements are dealt with in a matter-of-fact manner, and are in fact taken for granted. The only anger expressed is by Charlie's mother toward the black builders of the shelter, with no reference to the larger societal issues that have led to these conditions. The Mogotsi family seems to live in a void; for this reason, the book's potential emotional impact is diminished. --Anna DeWind, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly

In a South African ghetto Charlie, his mother and Granny live in a corrugated iron house with a cement floor. Recalling how the men had built the shelter last summer, Charlie one day fashions a house of his own, molded out of mud and found objects. Charlie's ideal model--so different from his real home--has plenty of space, including his own bedroom, an indoor bathroom and even a television set. First published in South Africa, Schermbrucker's gentle tale speaks volumes about the difficult conditions that exist for many people in her adopted country. On another level, Charlie's is a hopeful story of the vivid imagination and soaring ambition of childhood. Daly's ( Not So Fast, Songololo ) sketchy illustrations and muted watercolors require close inspection to discern Charlie's building materials--a challenge that inventive young readers will enjoy. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: SONGOLOLO
• ISBN 10: 1919888063
• ISBN 13: 9781919888064
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English