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1739
Sarah, Plain and Tall's Family Has Gone Full Circle
Pros
Family relationships, teasing, humor, loss of a relative
Cons
Can be read as a stand alone, but best if series is read first
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Full of joy and brimming with life's celebrations, this prairie family's story goes full circle and concludes a popular young reader's series with a wedding and death.
A real wedding, a pretend wedding, a horseless carriage and the passing of a patriarch wraps up the esteemed series that started with Sarah, Plain and Tall. All of the characters from Patricia MacLachlan's memorable series join together for the wedding of Anna. Grown-up fans of this series will enjoy this sentimental visit with some favorite friends.
Sarah, Plain and Tall was one of the first books that I used while working with fourth and fifth grade students. We all fell in love with Sarah and her efforts to fit into the prairie and a new family after leaving her beloved New England coast.
Grandfather's Dance begins with excitement as everyone prepares for the marriage of Anna, the narrator of Sarah, Plain and Tall. Sarah's sisters were on their way; her brother William was also expected; Caleb, was returning home from school; and future relatives would also soon arrive for the festivities. The house and barn would be brimming with people, life, and joy. A new narrator, Sarah's youngest daughter Cassie, interprets the events.
Excitement was in the air, even the weather was cooperating. Spring, known as a season of rebirth and change, was putting on its best dress this year. The story opens with Cassie, a fourth grader, and her five classmates as they were struggling to concentrate on lessons on this stunning spring day. Spring can be a fickle season on the prairie, but today the smell of sweet, new grass drifted through the window and even Mr. Willet, the teacher, struggled against spring fever. With family due to arrive and wedding plans underway, Cassie was more eager than normal to break away from the classroom. "Spring came in the window" and six students and one teacher bolted for the door.
Through Cassie's eyes we watch life-changing events unfold. The family's gathering will usher in changes. Over the next few days her Papa grumbles about all of the sisters (Sarah's three sisters) coming, yet he rides Zeke, his horse, into town to buy a car, one of the first among their neighbors. The sisters wouldn't all have to ride the horse home, even if Zeke was strong enough to carry them. Grandfather jokingly grumbles about having to sleep in the same room with young Jack. Jack is Cassie's young brother and she chronicles the events, her dreams and thoughts, and brother's and grandfather's special relationship.
Grandfather's Dance conveys the heartwarming relationship between each of the family members. There is a lot of light-hearted teasing. Even the grumbles over are only exchanges of familiar jokes. As the wedding preparations proceed, several quiet little stories within the story helps readers grasp the unique bond between Jack and Grandfather, as well as with Cassie. Simultaneously, Patricia MacLachlan carefully prepares young readers for the inevitable death of a loved one.
A few memorable moments provide insight into the relationship Grandfather shares with others, not just Jack. Sentimental moments include Grandfather providing a private wedding for Cassie as a way of explaining why she didn't seem him in her own wedding dream. As the preparations for Anna's wedding were being finalized, Cassie dreamed of her own, but in her dream she did not see her beloved Grandfather. She shared this with him and asked where he was and thoughtfully he stated, "I was in the barn." A little later she is walking to the alter in the dress reserved for her role in Anna's wedding day. Grandfather later finds a heartwarming way to apologize for losing his temper and knocking over a chair in front of Jack. This plain-spoken story brings the family together for a wedding celebration, but it becomes a celebration of all aspects of life that includes love, marriage, and death. Cassie learns the difficult lesson of accepting death of a loved one as part of the cycle and realizes that her responsibility is to assist young Jack with his grief. In the time prior to the wedding Grandfather creates some special memories. We sense Grandfather's failing health, but we realize he has the ability to soothe an agitated child.
"Grandfather didn't say anything for a moment. Papa looked up. He knew, too. Grandfather had sung the song to him when he was little. Then Grandfather lay back and closed his eyes as Grandfather's soft voice filled the kitchen. The aunts were very quiet. Aunt Mattie put down her knitting and listened. The dogs looked up." He began to quietly sing a familiar song that brought back memories for Papa, Sarah, Anna, and Caleb. Everyone knew what song he would sing for it had been Grandfather's personal salve for their own anxious moments.
Cassie loves her little brother Jack, although she was convinced at first she wouldn't. Her love for him is something she can't help. Yet, Jack's number one love in the family wasn't his mother, or father, or Cassie, it was his Grandfather. Their bond linked the oldest member to the youngest. Between these two was everyone else along with a lot of love and respect.
Grandfather's Dance is an easy chapter book that many third through fifth grade readers will enjoy. It can be read without having read the previous books in the series, but the reader's experience will be greater having read the other books first.
Laughter, love, and familiarity found only in a close family frame the days prior to the wedding. As Cassie observes playful familial moments through her eyes, we are drawn closer to her extended family. Those of us who have read the series will remember many special moments and will vicariously share their celebrations. On the day of the perfect prairie wedding this prairie family's series comes to a nearly perfect conclusion filled with memorable moments. The loss is barely painful as it is so skillfully written and woven into the fabric of this prairie family's life. Rather than dwelling on the pain of his passing, this story celebrates all that he was to his family and in Grandfather's Dance we are offered a glimpse into his contributions. As the story moves toward the ending, warm memories of Grandfather form, including his dance.
The sorrows and struggles explored in the previous books beginning with Sarah, Plain and Tall are left out of this last book. This book is full of joy and excitement as they gather to give thanks, to rejoice in all that they have shared, and move forward with the changes. Fans reading this sentimental book will fondly say thank you and farewell to the Witting family's saga and their true celebration of life.
Sarah, Plain and Tall was one of the first books that I used while working with fourth and fifth grade students. We all fell in love with Sarah and her efforts to fit into the prairie and a new family after leaving her beloved New England coast.
Grandfather's Dance begins with excitement as everyone prepares for the marriage of Anna, the narrator of Sarah, Plain and Tall. Sarah's sisters were on their way; her brother William was also expected; Caleb, was returning home from school; and future relatives would also soon arrive for the festivities. The house and barn would be brimming with people, life, and joy. A new narrator, Sarah's youngest daughter Cassie, interprets the events.
Excitement was in the air, even the weather was cooperating. Spring, known as a season of rebirth and change, was putting on its best dress this year. The story opens with Cassie, a fourth grader, and her five classmates as they were struggling to concentrate on lessons on this stunning spring day. Spring can be a fickle season on the prairie, but today the smell of sweet, new grass drifted through the window and even Mr. Willet, the teacher, struggled against spring fever. With family due to arrive and wedding plans underway, Cassie was more eager than normal to break away from the classroom. "Spring came in the window" and six students and one teacher bolted for the door.
Through Cassie's eyes we watch life-changing events unfold. The family's gathering will usher in changes. Over the next few days her Papa grumbles about all of the sisters (Sarah's three sisters) coming, yet he rides Zeke, his horse, into town to buy a car, one of the first among their neighbors. The sisters wouldn't all have to ride the horse home, even if Zeke was strong enough to carry them. Grandfather jokingly grumbles about having to sleep in the same room with young Jack. Jack is Cassie's young brother and she chronicles the events, her dreams and thoughts, and brother's and grandfather's special relationship.
Grandfather's Dance conveys the heartwarming relationship between each of the family members. There is a lot of light-hearted teasing. Even the grumbles over are only exchanges of familiar jokes. As the wedding preparations proceed, several quiet little stories within the story helps readers grasp the unique bond between Jack and Grandfather, as well as with Cassie. Simultaneously, Patricia MacLachlan carefully prepares young readers for the inevitable death of a loved one.
A few memorable moments provide insight into the relationship Grandfather shares with others, not just Jack. Sentimental moments include Grandfather providing a private wedding for Cassie as a way of explaining why she didn't seem him in her own wedding dream. As the preparations for Anna's wedding were being finalized, Cassie dreamed of her own, but in her dream she did not see her beloved Grandfather. She shared this with him and asked where he was and thoughtfully he stated, "I was in the barn." A little later she is walking to the alter in the dress reserved for her role in Anna's wedding day. Grandfather later finds a heartwarming way to apologize for losing his temper and knocking over a chair in front of Jack. This plain-spoken story brings the family together for a wedding celebration, but it becomes a celebration of all aspects of life that includes love, marriage, and death. Cassie learns the difficult lesson of accepting death of a loved one as part of the cycle and realizes that her responsibility is to assist young Jack with his grief. In the time prior to the wedding Grandfather creates some special memories. We sense Grandfather's failing health, but we realize he has the ability to soothe an agitated child.
"Grandfather didn't say anything for a moment. Papa looked up. He knew, too. Grandfather had sung the song to him when he was little. Then Grandfather lay back and closed his eyes as Grandfather's soft voice filled the kitchen. The aunts were very quiet. Aunt Mattie put down her knitting and listened. The dogs looked up." He began to quietly sing a familiar song that brought back memories for Papa, Sarah, Anna, and Caleb. Everyone knew what song he would sing for it had been Grandfather's personal salve for their own anxious moments.
Cassie loves her little brother Jack, although she was convinced at first she wouldn't. Her love for him is something she can't help. Yet, Jack's number one love in the family wasn't his mother, or father, or Cassie, it was his Grandfather. Their bond linked the oldest member to the youngest. Between these two was everyone else along with a lot of love and respect.
Grandfather's Dance is an easy chapter book that many third through fifth grade readers will enjoy. It can be read without having read the previous books in the series, but the reader's experience will be greater having read the other books first.
Laughter, love, and familiarity found only in a close family frame the days prior to the wedding. As Cassie observes playful familial moments through her eyes, we are drawn closer to her extended family. Those of us who have read the series will remember many special moments and will vicariously share their celebrations. On the day of the perfect prairie wedding this prairie family's series comes to a nearly perfect conclusion filled with memorable moments. The loss is barely painful as it is so skillfully written and woven into the fabric of this prairie family's life. Rather than dwelling on the pain of his passing, this story celebrates all that he was to his family and in Grandfather's Dance we are offered a glimpse into his contributions. As the story moves toward the ending, warm memories of Grandfather form, including his dance.
The sorrows and struggles explored in the previous books beginning with Sarah, Plain and Tall are left out of this last book. This book is full of joy and excitement as they gather to give thanks, to rejoice in all that they have shared, and move forward with the changes. Fans reading this sentimental book will fondly say thank you and farewell to the Witting family's saga and their true celebration of life.
