Through Grandpa's Eyes

by Patricia MacLachlan

Book Overview

From Patricia MacLachlan, beloved author of the Newbery Medal-winning Sarah, Plain and Tall, comes a touching story that teaches children how to look at the world in different ways.

John's favorite house is his grandfather's--not because it is fancy or new but because he sees it through his Grandpa's eyes. Grandpa is blind, and so when John visits him he gets to see things from a new perspective. If he closes his eyes, everything...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0064430413
• ISBN13: 9780064430418
• Release Date: June 1983
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.8" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 3

Customer Reviews

Book in great condition

The book took a little longer to arrive then things I've ordered in the past, nevertheless, it was in good condition.

A sweet book about grandparents.

We both loved this book that we read for Social Studies. Grandpa is blind and John spends his summers with his grandparents. They have a great relationship and the love each has for the other really comes through in this book. It was recommended in Social Studies through Children's Literature and recommended for grades K-3rd.

A Different Vision

John is a young boy who loves his grandparents dearly. His grandfather cannot see, yet he shows John how he compensates. He likes to whittle and play the banjo and shares these gifts with his grandchild. Man and boy love nature walks, and it is John's grandfather who can recognize the sound of any bird. He teaches John about nature and John forgets that his grandfather cannot see. His grandmother shows him how they serve meals; she tells the boy's grandfather where each dish is by using a clock face as a guide, e.g. "the peas are at 4:00 on your plate, the steak is at 7:00, etc." This is a beautiful, loving and very moving story about grandparental bonds and different ways of learning and sharing.

Well-written, realistic story

This is a very nicely written story about a boy and his grandfather, who is blind. It portrays a close, loving relationship between the two, and explains in a very simple and positive way how the grandfather perceives the world without his visual sense. The accompanying drawings are simple and artistic. It is so difficult to find realistic, beautiful books for children, but this one is absolutely wonderful. I give it my highest recommendation.

A real lesson to be learned

This wonderful book about relying on your senses when you are blind demonstrates that blind people can lead a productive life. Grandpa shares his zest for life with his grandson, John. At first John does not understand how his grandpa is able to do all that he does. Grandpa shares his secret. As a preservice teacher I've used this book to talk about aging and its effects with my students. We also talk about what we can do to help others who have disabilities. This is an excellent book to allow children to examine their thoughts on older people and disabilities.