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The Summer My Father Was Ten

Author Pat Brisson

Illustrated by Andrea Shine

Paperback

$10.99 US

Astra Publishing House | Astra Young Readers

9"W x 12"H x 0.12"D (22.9 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm) | 6 oz (164 g) | 72 per carton

On sale Sep 01, 1999 | 32 Pages | 9781563978296

Age 5-7 years | Grades K-2

Reading Level: Lexile NC1040L

Sales rights: World

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Children's Books > Children's Nonfiction

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In this touching book with a moral message, a child retells the story of her father's youth when an impromptu baseball game gets out of hand and some unthinking boys end up destroying an old man's garden.

Every year my father and I plant a garden. Tomatoes, peppers, onions, marigold, and zinnias grow in neat, straight rows...and every spring my father tells me about Mr. Bellavista and the summer my father was ten.

That was the summer a boy lost a baseball under a tomato plant in Mr. Bellavista's garden. And someone tossed a tomato back instead of the baseball. A lively battle took place, which seemed like great fun at the time, but in the end, Mr. Bellavista's garden was ruined.

In a touching story of one boy's efforts to make amends, we see the rebuilding of a garden and the forming of a relationship across generations. With luminous, beautifully detailed watercolors, this excellent book for the whole family shows how we can turn our mistakes into some of life's greatest moments.

Christopher Award
Paterson Prize for Young People
National Parenting Publications Honor Award
Teachers' Choices - International Reading Association
Teachers' Choice Award - Learning Magazine

★ "Growing a garden is fact and metaphor in this profoundly moving cross-generational story with a neighborhood drama that children will relate to and exquisite watercolors that celebrate renewal and connection." —Booklist, starred review

"A careless, destructive act leads to lifelong friendship and a family tradition in this moving, stunningly illustrated story... (a) fine story of intergenerational friendship."—Kirkus Reviews

"[A] serious and thoughtful examination of childhood blunders." —Instructor Magazine

"Vibrant, meticulous watercolors accompany this moving story." —American Bookseller's "Pick of the Lists"

Pat Brisson lives in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, where she lives with her husband and their four sons. She is the author of the "Kate" books--Your Best Friend, Kate; Kate Heads West; and Kate on the Coast. View titles by Pat Brisson

Andrea Shine View titles by Andrea Shine

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