The Summer My Father Was Ten

I must admit to have been rather taken back by this tale. The entire story is so close to a situation that happened to me when I was around the age of the young lad in this story, that I almost feel like it was taken from by head by the author. I too have told the story to my children and now gradchildren. In the story in this book, a young man does harm to an older man's garden, regrets it and them makes amends. He learns a good lesson in life through his actions. The author has done a very nice job of telling this story and the illustrations are quite well done. This is an interesting book to read to a class of young children and it is rather amazing how many of the children have had similiar experiences. It is also rather amazing as to how many will admit it and are willing to discuss it with a bit of prompting. I use this work in class a lot and find it quite helpful. Recommend this one highly.

This gentle tale of redemption is appropriate for the six and older child or either gender. In the story, the protagonist (a ten year old boy) redeems an act of mindless vandalism (the destruction of an old man's vegetable garden) by assisting the victim in planting a new garden. This act of redemption develops into a friendship with a lasting and positive affect on the protagonist's life. This book manages to deliver a profound and important moral message without preaching, but rather through gentle persuasion. The text is simple and well written and the illustrations beautiful. I highly recommend this book.

Wonderful book focussing on responsibility and friendship. An important story for children of all ages. Well deserving of it's Christopher Medal.

I liked this book because I learned a lesson. The lesson I learned was that I should always think about the things that could happen if I did it. If the father didn't apoligze he could of never seen a garden. On the other hand he wouldn't of told his daughter the story so she didn't do it to if he didn't have a tomato fight.

A young boy recounts the story his father tells him every year about the time, when he was ten years old, the father succumbed to the irresistible temptation of ripe tomatoes growing in his neighbor's garden, and in the process of having a vegetable war with his friends,demolished the garden. The father goes on to relate how he finally made amends with the elderly neighbor, and forever after planted a garden each year. The illustrations combine with the text to provide a moving example of how children can learn from their errors, and see the value of control over their behavior, and respect for others as well as themselves. The story is well told without a hint of sermonizing.