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Abby's Chairs by Barbara Santucci

Fall 2004

Abby's Chairs

    Moving is always difficult and Abby tries to figure out ways to make her chairs fit into her new home. She paints them, reupholsters them, and rearranges them. She finds out that the chairs fit perfectly when new friends come by to visit her and to sit in her chairs.

Awards/Honors
Children's Book Council (CBC) / International Reading Association (IRA)
Children's Choices (2005)

Bank Street College
Best Children's Books of the Year (2005)











    Curriculum Connections - Abby's Chairs

    Reviews

    "...unusual story of the power of friendship.... The chairs make a motley assembly but play an important role amid the good feelings as the neighbors become friends."  -- Children's Literature

    "...    homespun country charm..." -- Kirkus Reviews

    "    Barbara Santucci’s creative story of dermination and friendship and the quirky but lovable character, Abby, are brought to life by Debrah Santini’s whimsical illustrations." -- discerningreader.com (full review)
    "Abby's Chairs is a tribute to the way friendship can transform one's response to the environment. Although it is part of Eerrdmans Young Reader's collection, like so many children's stories, it contains much of import for everyone." -- Montreal Angelican Journal, Dec, 2004.

    "Barbara Santucci’s creative story of dermination and friendship and the quirky but lovable character, Abby, are brought to life by Debrah Santini’s whimsical illustrations." -- Discerning Reader (www.discerningreader.com)

    "a delightful story about change and friendship." -- Described by Wonderland Books & Toys in their announcement of the Party for Abby's Chairs (October 28, 2004), printed in the Rockford Register.


    Abby's Chairs by Barbara Santucci. Illustrated by Debrah Santini. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2004. ISBN: 0-8028-5205-X. $16.00.

    Author's Note
    from Barbara Santucci
    Abby's Chairs
    I chose to write about the theme of moving because I have moved several times in my life and found it to be a huge loss and adjustment. While working as a teacher I saw young children struggle as they enter a new school and try to fit in. I wanted to show how just being yourself is the best choice of all.
    In this story Abby is dealing with her loneliness for the old home and friends by creatively trying to change her chairs to make them "fit" into her new home. Through all her efforts she mets several new friends in he town and one day they all come to visit. Each visitor chooses one of Abby's colorful chairs to sit in, matching their own taste and personality. Abby finds out that her chairs really do fit in her new home afterall. Her chairs just needed some new friends to sit in them.