Maebelle's Suitcase

by Tricia Tusa

Book Overview

One-hundred-and-eight-year-old Maebelle has a lot of hats. And every year she makes a hat for the town's annual hat contest. One-hundred-and-eight-year-old Maebelle has a lot of friends. And every year her friends fly south for the winter. But this year, one of her friends is left behind. Young Binkle is afraid to leave home without his beloved possessions. So he packs his things into one of Maebelle's suitcases. But he can't fly with it. It is too...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0027892506
• ISBN13: 9780027892505
• Release Date: March 1987
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.4" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

A Helpful Story for All Ages

I have enjoyed this book with children and with adults in a classroom format. The discussions were alway very rich and furious. The children related to Binkle and the adults related to the suitcase. Both groups pointed out important concepts that they thought the author had weaved into the story. Any book that gets it readers to be excited about it is great. A book that makes one consider or reconsider changing things in a life is a gem. This is a wonderful way to get those reluctant readers young and older to dig in to a worthy book.

Absolutely heartfelt!

I have read this book over and over again, not only because it is a good book, but because I know the author personally and I know that the character Maebelle was based on my great-grandmother Mabelle. It is a special treat to find it a popular book among young children because it makes me proud because I know what kind of woman she was and how she is able to touch hearts of young people even though she is no longer here.

Wistful and upbeat

A great book. As usual, Ms. Tusa's illustrations are beautiful and alive. The love between the little bird and Maebelle is deep and instructive to us all. The basic message--that we have to give up certain things in order to move on with our lives--is sadly uplifting.