An Orange for Frankie

by Patricia Polacco

Book Overview

Patricia Polacco's most poignant Christmas tale The Stowell family is abuzz with holiday excitement, and Frankie, the youngest boy, is the most excited of all. But there's a cloud over the joyous season: Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and Pa hasn't returned yet from his trip to Lansing. He promised to bring back the oranges for the mantelpiece. Every year there are nine of them nestled among the evergreens, one for each of the children. But this year,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 039924302X
• ISBN13: 9780399243028
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Philomel Books
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 10.2" x 11.1"
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

An A for Patricia Polacco

As always, Patricia Polacco scored another "A" with this heartwarming story. My second grade students sit mesmerized as I read yet another moving story from Patricia Polacco's rich collection of life stories.

This is a beautiful story

This is a beautiful story about giving, sharing, and loving. It's a tear-jerker too. Patricia Polacco is an amazing author who has shared stories from her family which can now enrich the lives of all who read. I highly recommend this book.

An Orange for Frankie

Excellent book. Delightful story with excellent pictures. We thoroughly enjoyed the book and recommend it to both adults and children. A great way to bring the true spirit of Christmas into your home during the Christmas season. Highly recommend.

A deeply moving Christmas tale of family and love

This beautiful story moves me to tears each time I read it, and this year I am giving several copies as gifts. It is set in the 30s or 40s in rural Michigan. The Stowell family is preparing for Christmas. They don't have much money, but remember to share what they have with others, feeding hobos who stop in their village while the train is refueling. Frankie gives a prized possession to one of them who is in need. Later his family's kindness is repaid in a wonderful way. I don't want to give that part away, or tell what happens on Christmas Eve, but it involves the family's tradition of placing a juicy, ripe orange for each child (very hard to come by in those days in a wintery climate) on the mantle and enjoying them during their Christmas Eve party. Read the book to find out what happens; you'll be glad you did. The artwork is lovely and expressive, and the icing on the cake is knowing that this is a true story. The author's Grandmother and Great-Aunts and Uncles were the Stowell children of this story.

Excellent book for character building!

My 4yo daughter and I made our first trek to the library together recently and the first book she pulled from the shelf was An Orange for Frankie. She asked me to read it to her right there in the library, and, as I did, I thought it might be a little over her head. Ten minutes later she was still sitting beside me, enraptured and asking me questions about the story... and what a beautifully touching story it was! As we neared the last page, I had tears streaming down my cheeks and we (of course) had to check the book out. I read it again to my mother and my husband. Both thought it was as touching as I did. Anyway, I decided to purchase it as a Christmas gift for my daughter to celebrate and remember our first trip to the library together. An Orange for Frankie is a touching story of a young boy who learns about truthfulness, obedience and the gift of sharing. An absolute delight to read!