Natalie Savage CarlsonRecensioni

Independent time reading for ages 9 and up. Newbery Honor Award.

Halloween

This is one of my favorite christmas books, even though there is a bit of problematic racist terminology.

Armand was happy with his life as a hobo on the streets of Paris, with no job, no responsibilities, and no family. Then one winter day he discovered the three young Calcet children—Suzy, Paul and Evelyne—and their dog Jo-Jo under the bridge where he liked to shelter during the cold season. Evicted from their home, the children were living with their mother on the streets, afraid to seek shelter lest they be separated from one another by the authorities. Slowly, Armand began to take these "starlings" under his wing, helping them and their mother evade some well-meaning busybodies, and finding them shelter with his gypsy friends. But the old man knew in his heart that this family needed a home, and that somehow, he must help them to find it...

Published in 1958, The Family Under the Bridge was one of four Newbery Honor Books in 1959—the others were Along Came a Dog by Meindert DeJong, Chúcaro: Wild Pony of the Pampa by Francis Kalnay, and The Perilous Road by William O. Steele—and is a brief, beginning chapter-book for the younger intermediate set. Given its reputation, and the fact that so many of my friends seem to have loved it, I fully expected to be charmed by it myself, especially as the theme of a homeless family finally finding a home is one I always find heartwarming, a Christmas setting has great appeal for me, and the artwork of illustrator Garth Williams is a nostalgic favorite. For the most part, I was not disappointed, entering into the story with sympathy for both Armand and the Calcet children, rooting for their eventual discovery that they are in fact one big family, and happily triumphant at the conclusion, in which they find their home (and Armand finds his purpose). I don't know that I was as emotionally involved in the story, as I expected to be, given all of the above, but I certainly found it very engaging, and can see why it is a childhood favorite for so many. Recommended to young readers who are just getting into longer novels, and who enjoy heartwarming family stories set at the holidays.

Independent reading: Grades 3rd-7th
Awards: Newbery Honor Award

Newbery Honor (1959)[3]
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (1959)

Armand, an old man living on the streets of Paris, relishes his solitary life in the beautiful city. He is happy with his carefree existence, begging and doing odd jobs to keep himself warm and fed. With simple pleasures and no cares, what more could he need?

Then one day just before Christmas, Armand returns to his favorite spot beneath the bridge to find three cold and hungry children. Although he has no interest in children, Armand soon finds himself caring for the small family. It does not take Armand very long to realize that he must do whatever it takes to get them a real home.

Children will treasure this warm and funny adventure of family, freedom, and Santa Claus.

2023 - 1970’s Immersion Reading Challenge

The Night the Scarecrow Walked by Natalie Savage Carlson (1979) 29 pages.

A short, spooky story for young kids, but, not too young. You may find them forever fearful of scarecrows, like some people are afraid of clowns. This story doesn’t really have a happy ending, or any ending for that matter. It leaves kids hanging and me confused. Was it a bum that stole the clothes and came hobbling to the kids home? Or did the scarecrow turn into a walking man and came hobbling to the kids home?

Armand is an old hobo in Paris, who loves the lazy life of the bum, and avoiding the entanglements of family - especially children. But when he encounters the newly homeless Calcet family - a mother with three young children - the kids quickly steal his heart. The mother is distrustful of the grimy beggar at first, but soon enough realizes that he has a good heart and can be trusted. This all happens at Christmastime, and of course what the children want for Christmas is a home; something neither Armand, nor his friend Father Christmas (who works in a department store as such), can give the children. But as this is a Christmas story, we know that somehow, the children will get their home.
A short, endearing little story.

Sweet story

A collection of short stories that become a novel. Because of this it makes good bedtime reading. Exquisite illustration. A sweet friendship with an unlikely, but happy ending. Wishful thinking in most cases. I was glad for the comfortable solution.

What a perfect read-aloud for December! I didn't realize when grabbing it that this book was set in Paris around Christmastime.

I loved the writing, and the illustrations by Garth Williams. My 9yo, 7yo, and 5yo all enjoyed this quick read and would like me to buy a personal copy.

It tells the story of a homeless "hobo" who lived under a bridge, and a family of a mother and her three children who were also without a home.

A caution, the book refers to a group of Roma people as "Gypsies," and I took it as an opportunity to talk about why that is a slur.

Nice cozy story. Quite a frightful adventure our happy orpheline had. Wonderful illustration!

Armand is a homeless guy who lives in France. He is friends with the Gypsies and is told by one he will soon go on an adventure. One day he goes back to his bridge where he lives and finds three children and a dog; Suzy, Evelyne, Paul and Jojo in his area. He let's them stay, but soon finds out their mother is with them, too. Their mother doe not like Armand and the things he teaches the kids to do throughout the next few days. During one of these days Armand took the to see Father Christmas, and they ask for something that will not only benefit them but also Armand. After some adventurous events happen in the city and with the gypsies Armand learns about a job. He ends up getting a job and acquires a house for him and his new family.

Family Under the Bridge is a story about Armand, a homeless man that lives under a bridge in Paris. He makes money by doing odd jobs. One day a woman and her three kids come under the bridge who is close to losing her children. Armand and the children grow close and he realizes he wants to help them. Armand, eventually gets a job and takes in the family as his own.

Sweet story! The writing was lacking somewhat, but can we all just agree that the illustrations are adorable?!?!

KIRKUS REVIEW

As any dog fancier knows, the Newfoundland breed gives its heart completely--and once. Sailor is ""...a real Newfoundland dog. A brave hero and a credit to the Crown colony."" Sailor is also the best dog story for this age level to come along since Coatsworth's Jock's Island in 1963. Sailor belongs to Capt. Wight, whose wife loves her house the way he loves his ship. Unfortunately, the house is in a cove where dogs aren't allowed. Sailor is under a sentence of exile as the story opens. Jamie is a self-exile, a foundling being cared for by a poor fish monger with a huge family. He stows away on Capt. Wight's sealer. It's quite a story. Sailor gives himself to Jamie and, before the voyage ends, Jamie is ready to put his future in Capt. Wight's hands. There's quite a lot about methods of sailing and sealing in the 1920's here. The well-realized characters, the snuggly fitted and satisfying plot (which ends up with the Captain's house shifted to a piece of property in an area where dogs are allowed) are invested with the author's sure comic gift for dialogue. Undoubtedly another ALA Notable, at least, for this notable author.

Kirkus Reviews

Sort of sweet. Sort of cloying. I appreciated that the book didn't take a turn toward the end that might have ruined it: a little red herring with your croissant. Far, far too many oh la las.

An old hobo begrudgingly befriends a homeless family under a bridge in Paris.
A sweet story, I suppose, but not earth-shattering in any way.

Summary
The Family Under the Bridge is a story about Armand, who is a homeless man that lives under a bridge in Paris. He makes a living by doing odd jobs around the town to keep him warm and to get food. One day a woman and her three kids come under the bridge. The woman who had lost her husband doesn’t make enough money to stay in the house and the city has threatened to take her children away. Armand and the children grow closer and he realizes he wants to help them after they visit Father Christmas. Armand has the children sing for money to allow them to get a dozen pancakes for the 5 of them. Armand also has his gypsy friends help the women and her family have a place to live and avoid the city taking her children. At the end Armand, can get a job and takes in the family as his own.
Personal Reaction
I enjoyed reading this book. I believe that it has great ways of showing how quickly a persons’ life can change do to one change. I also liked that the book included picture throughout the book to give students a hand in imagining what is going on. This can be important sense the book is for about 3rd to 5th graders in allowing them to make a smoother transition in to reading older books.
Extension Ideas
Students could write out what they would need to have if they had to live under the bridge themselves. How would they get money? What would they eat?
This book would also open the conversation about being fortunate and seeing the other side of the perspective of money and family.

The Family Under the Bridge is a story about a man who is homeless, but unlike many others, he is perfectly content with it. Armand, the man who lived under the bridge, never really liked children all that much until he was around them a little more. He discovered a family living under the same bridge as him. The family consisted of children, their mother, and their dog. As the days went by he grew closer to the family and began to claim them as his own.

I enjoyed reading this book because it shows that even homeless people can have a good heart. I also like all of the descriptive words that are used throughout the book to help paint a picture in our heads about what it is really like.

In the classroom i would just use this book as a informational story. This would give us, as a class, the opportunity to discuss just how fortunate we are to be living the way we do today. Although some are more fortunate than others, we all have it pretty good and this is an important concept for students to grasp.

A truly heartwarming story for all ages. I fell in love the aged hobo who was content in life just being in his version of freedom, the adorable dog who should have been white but wasn't, Jo-Jo, the small children with their cute questions and wonders. Suzy who wanted school, Paul who would have been just as happy never going back.

The book has different turns and events in the decently sized children's story - from different homes to different discoveries. Some nudges of coy humor slip in (like with the tree!, or the food that "fell" into the cart) and the fortune at the end is gained not through just luck but coming together. Definitely a beautiful Christmas story- it may not be a direct Christmas story, but it happens at Christmas/New Year time so it's going in the books as that for me. His prayer was touching as he said he's forgotten how to pray, but not beg.

Armand starts the book by saying he avoids children because he worries about emotional involvement - and at the end it's not just the characters heartstrings that were tugged by the children, but mine too.

As a bonus, detailed pencil drawings decorated the book, adding a lot to the story.

The book The Family Under the Bridge is about a hobo in Paris and three homeless children. The story describes the fantastic adventures of the children and the older man have around Paris with Gypsies and Santa Clause. I enjoyed this book because of the unlikely friendship that developed between the children and the homeless man. The descriptive language used by the author made me feel like I was in Paris with the children. I would recommend this book to children who enjoy realistic fiction set in European cities.

The Family Under the Bridge is a fantastic story about an old hobo named Armand who doesn't like children. Armand lives under a bridge in Paris. He was living a calm, peaceful life until one day when a family with three kids moved in under the bridge that he was living underneath. They told him that they weren't going to be there perminately, just until their mother got enough money to buy them a house. Armand was forced to live with them, and every day he grew to like them a little more. In this amazing story, Armand learns the importance of having people that you love. I enjoyed reading this story because it was beautifully written and it was very realistic. This book was very detailed and I enjoyed reading it. The Family Under the Bridge was the kind of book that you just cannot stop reading. I would recommend this book to people who love realistic fiction.

once their was a old man named arman who lived under a bridge in paris. everything heowned could be pused around in a old baby buggy place. amand love his solitary carfree life. i like this book because it tells me love can be anywere. even in grumpy and bad people.½