Independent Reading Grade Level: 1-3
Coretta Scott King Honor (1998)

What a very special book, found at a local library book sale a few years ago. This is a story of a young boy and his 100 year old friend Mr. Baker. Each day, they sit on the porch steps as Harry notes that he really likes Mr. Baker's sweater all hangy with three buttons. The wind blows the leaves off the trees as they tumble, float and fall.

And then, one day, Mr. George Baker of 100 years decides that it is time to learn to read. And Mr. George Baker gets on the school bus and twenty-two kids all want him to sit with them. But, George Baker sits with Harry, and Harry is happy!

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This book is incredible unique and special to me because my great-grandmother learned to read when she was in her 80's. At the time, Dick and Jane books were the reading materials used in school. As I read my Dick and Jane book, my great-grandmother Lena, listened as I pointed out the letters and how they sounded. She then walked to the library and found books that aided her in reading. While her level of reading was not stellar, what was stellar was her drive to learn. It stayed with me all my life. ( )

This story is about neighbors young and old with something in common. They are both going to school to learn to read. Mr. George Baker is "100 years old" and full of light. Harry is his next door neighbor. Together they pass the time waiting for the bus, appreciating the beauty of life.

I liked this book for two main reasons. The first reason I enjoyed this book was the point of view. The story is told from a young boy’s point of view and it is mainly about his one-hundred-year-old neighbor, Mr. Baker, and him waiting for the school bus to go learn how to read. This POV is interesting because you get to see how the young boy admires and observes a person who is much older and much different than he is. Some people may have looked down on Mr. Baker because he was an old, black man and could not read, but the young boy is innocent and was proud of him and happy to be his friend. The second thing I enjoyed was the character development. The relationship between Mr. Baker and the young boy broke barriers of age, race, and ability. It shows that you do not have to be alike to be friends. Their relationship was so strong that when they got on the bus together Mr. Baker chose to sit with the boy over other children or even people his own age. One message of the story is about the power of friendships. Another message is that it is never too late to learn something new. ( )

This was a cute story about an elderly man named Mr. George Baker and the narrator of this story is a young white boy named Harry. Throughout the story, it is clear to see that Mr. George Baker and Harry have a sweet relationship. We soon realize that Mr. George Baker is a 100-year-old man who can’t read, and he and Harry Go to school together where they are both learning to read. I thought this book was very cute, and it shows that no matter what age or race you are it is still okay to be friends and to love whoever you want and accomplish whatever you want. ( )