The Devil Finds Work

Ages 4^-7. This isn't a book about sandwiches, although that is what young Nathaniel and his great-grandfather like to share when "Greatpaw" tells stories. Nathaniel loves the tales of century-old Greatpaw's boyhood and courtship with his long-gone wife, but Greatpaw wants to share his stories with an audience that hasn't heard them. Arranging that seems as simple as putting together chicken-salad sandwiches: Nathaniel tenderly offers his dog and his class as listeners. When neither audience proves successful, Nathaniel and Greatpaw start a Century Club for seasoned story-swappers. Sadly, no one shows up. Greatpaw is discouraged, but Nathaniel keeps at it until he finds the perfect listeners. Downing's charming watercolors leap between past and present with expert agility, bringing to life this heartwarming story about an intergenerational bond. --Kathleen Squires

Gr 1-3‘Every day after school, Nathaniel and his 100-year-old great-grandfather share lemonade, chicken-salad sandwiches, and stories. Greatpaw tells wonderful tales about the old days, the Great War, and meeting Greatmaw. When the old man and the boy try to form a "Century Club" of other storytellers, they are disappointed when no one shows up. Nathaniel saves the situation by placing an ad in the paper and when 99-year-old Sadie Johannsen rings the doorbell with cookies and stories in abundance, the Chicken Salad Club is formed. The neighborhood children soon gather on the porch where "Sometimes Nathaniel and his friends tell stories of their own, but mostly they just listen." The soft, lively watercolor and colored-pencil drawings pull readers into the plot and will make their mouths water for lemonade and their spirits yearn for a good yarn. A delightful intergenerational book that promotes families, stories, and fun.‘Beth Tegart, Oneida City Schools, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In a somewhat rambling story, Nathaniel's spry one-hundred-year-old great-grandfather becomes discouraged when he can't find any fellow centenarians with whom he can swap stories. Nathaniel, of course, comes up with a plan to restore Greatpaw's spirits. Sepia-toned watercolors help differentiate Greatpaw's stories of the past from action in the present, which is rendered in bright hues. From HORN BOOK Fall 1998, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The story of a boy who visits his 100-year-old great-grandfather every day after school to hear his tales is imbued with elements of wishful thinking. Nathaniel looks forward to chicken salad sandwiches and lemonade in the perfectly appointed 1940s kitchen of his ""Greatpaw,"" after which they retire to the living room for storytelling. ""Tell me about the day of the storm,"" is one opener to the elderly man's recitations of boyish adventures and dreams, including one about meeting his wife at the church box supper: ""I had to buy it, even though the biddin' went a mite high,"" Greatpaw says. The two advertise for other century-old storytellers by posting a notice in the library for a gathering with refreshments, and it will be hard for readers to believe that a man this old doesn't prepare himself for disappointment when nobody shows. Nathaniel places an ad in the ""Confidentials,"" which draws an elderly storyteller named Sadie. Despite the illustrations full of warm and cozy details, this nostalgic, personal book is so unlikely--more of a prescription for youngsters than a description of their real lives--that it may fail to find an audience. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.