Peter's Chair

When I was writing a follow-up to my first book, 'Be gentle with the dog, dear!', I was recommended this book by my agent. This is a great book and certainly relatable having 2 kids. I didn't think much of hand-me-downs but suddenly they became precious to my oldest daughter. It's fun to see peters innocent rebellion when his 'things' turn blue to pink. I think, as an adolescent, we have thought about running away from home with nowhere to go; the author captures this well.

This is a wonderful story with delightful illustrations about a young boy who is feeling displaced because he has a baby sister on the way. He is upset to see his old layette painted pink for baby Susie and his infant toys passed down to her. The one thing that has escaped the fate of the pink paint is his old toddler chair. Peter stashes his chair away and later sets up a clever trap to fool everyone into thinking he is hiding behind the curtains. Peter tries to reclaim his old seat, but he has long outgrown it. Sadder, but wiser, he accepts his new sister and even gives her a prized gift. This is a wonderful classic!

I don't know what ken32 is talking about but Peter's Chair has nothing to do with gender difference. It is about a boy, Peter, who is disgruntled at the change that is occuring around the house for his new baby sister Susie. Peter sees that his baby items are being painted over in pink, which is the color that will identify if the baby is going to be a girl. Babies don't care what color their furniture is. But Peter feeling that everything he has is going to be given to his sister, takes his childhood chair and runs away from home. But he realizes that he isn't a little boy anymore. He is a boy but not a baby. He has to accept change in the household when a sibling is born. Peter is not seen as a spoiled brat. He just doesn't want to have to give in to Susie. Peter learns a valuable lesson and is willing to help his family any way he can. Ezra Jack Keats, rest in peace, is a good storyteller. His stories are centered around the urban areas. He doesn't paint a negative view of the city. He rather illustrates it as a community of supporting and close-knit citizens. His books dispel the media misconception of the dying city.

I have 2 boys in 1st grade with little sisters. This book reflects the struggle that they go through in sharing things with younger siblings.

I teach children ages3-5 and one day I went to the library to get some books for them PETER'S CHAIR was among the selection it also came with the tape so when I wasn't able to read to the children I would put hte tape on for them. The children requested the book everyday up until the day I had dto take it back,there was one child in particular who would come up to me and say Ms.Tracey could you read Peter's Chair to me so I would sit her on my lap and read it just to her and than one day she came to me and said can I read Peter's Chair to you Ms.Tracey, and so in her own words and with expression she read Peter's Chair it did my heart good that she (KEISHA)had started her love for books. Thanks to Ezra Jack Keats you've made a difference in a child's life.