Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs

Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs
Tomie dePaola

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Author Study

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Drawing upon his own childhood experiences, Tomie dePaola tells the story of his grandmother and great grandmother whom he visited every Sunday afternoon. Nana Upstairs is his 94-year-old great grandmother who stays in bed upstairs, and Nana Downstairs is his grandmother who takes care of Nana Upstairs. Sunday afternoons are always the same for Tommy; running into the house saying hi to Nana Downstairs and then right up the back stairs to Nana Upstairs's room. The loving relationship between Tommy and his grandmother unfolds throughout the story, until its poignant turning point when Tommy has to deal with the death of Nana Upstairs. The book ends with Tommy as a grown up, and Nana Downstairs has died as well. Tommy is seen gazing out of the window into the night sky and thinks to himself, Now you are both Nana Upstairs.

This book is perhaps one of the most memorable of my childhood. I believe this is because it was one of the first books I had ever read that talked about death, and the first time I really realized that people in my life were going to die just like people in Tommy's did. This was an impactful experience for me, and what I remember most about it was that I didn't feel scared or upset - it was just a realization. I believe that dePaola's calm and quiet approach to the topic helped me to understand the concept of death as something natural. I think that is the beauty of this book - to be able to approach the topic of death and still be able to come away from the story with a feeling of peace and comfort.

Now One Foot, Now the Other

Now One Foot, Now the Other
Tomie dePaola

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Author Study

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Now one Foot, Now the Other tells the story of Bobby and his grandfather, Bob, who are very close. The title refers to the words Bob uses when teaching Bobby how to walk. One of their favorite activities to do together is to build a tall tower with old blocks kept upstairs in the sewing room. As they built the tower, Bobby loved to hear the story of how his grandfather taught him how to walk. One day, Bobby comes home to find his grandfather isn't there. His parents tell him he has had a stroke and is in the hospital. Bobby was upset and depressed for months. Finally, Bob comes home from the hospital, but he is not the same grandfather Bobby remembers and he becomes scared of him. Eventually, Bobby becomes less frightened of Bob and begins to bring the blocks into the room and built the tower for Bob. Little by little, Bob begins to recover from the stroke, ultimately ending with Bobby teaching his grandfather how to walk saying, "OK Bob. Now one foot. Now the other foot."

I love this story. I think it dePaola does an exceptional job writing a sensitive story which provides an understanding portrayal of a common illness many grandparents experience, that proves difficult for children to comprehend. It is a heart-warming story of the power of love and encouragement. In an author's note, dePaola explains that this story was inspired from actual events in his childhood, providing an even greater truth and depth to his words.

26 Fairmount Avenue

26 Fairmount Avenue
Tomie dePaola

Genre: Autobiograohy/Author Study

My Rating: 5 out of 5

26 Fairmount Avenue is a departure from Tomie dePaola's usual picture books as it is his first chapter book. Tomie dePaola says that for a long time, he avoided the task of writing a chapter book becaase the task seemed too daunting. However, after many letters from fans combined with a suggestion from his assistant to write about his childhood, dePaola took on the task, thus resulting in 26 Fairmount Avenue. The book begins in the year 1938, and the reader finds out that Tomie and his family are waiting for their house on 28 Fairmount Avenue to finish being built. Over ther year, many things happen to Tomie and his family: a hurricane, flooding, Tomie's first day of school, and a funny experience at the movies as Tomie watches his favorite illustrator, Walt Disney's, first full length film, Snow White. The stories are humorous, heart-warming, and classically Tomie dePaola.

As a long-time fan of Tomie dePaola's picture books, I was unsure how well I would receive his forst chapter book. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the autobiographical account of this year in dePaola's life. It is simply told in a conversational tone, and characters from his picture books make appearances that readers will appreciate. dePaola was able to translate the charm and simplicity of his picture books into an easy read chapter book that fans will certainly apreciate. I would recommend this book for 3rd through 5th grades, especially in conjunction with a lesson about writing autobiographies, or writing from personal experience and memory.