Jeremiah Learns to Read

Title: Jeremiah Learns to Read
Author: Jo Ellen Bogart
Illustrated: Laura Fernandez and Rick Jacobson
Published: Orchards Books, New York
Date: 1997
Summary: Elderly Jeremiah decides that it's finally time to learn to read.
Age Level: Primary (Kindergarten-2)
Strengths: I like how at the beginning of the story, the text tells the reader that Jeremiah knew how to do a lot of things, but he didn't know how to read. It bothered Jeremiah because he wanted to learn, so one day he went to school, like he was a kid and he learned about letters and words. He loved it so much. And he was teaching the kids and his teachers different things as well. I think this is a heart-warming story about a person who wanted to read and was determined to learn. From this information, the reader can guess that he didn't go to school when he was younger. I think it was cute that his wife wanted him to read to her and he read to her one night about different poems. At the end, she said she wanted to learn to read to. The last page shows Jeramiah, the school kids and his wife heading for school. I like how the pictures goes in depth with the characters experessions (it's almost like still life).
Concerns: I wonder what the time period was of this story and I wonder why Jeramiah did not go to school. It's evident that he lived in a rural area, but they never explained why. This story was told in the present.
Comments: This is a great encouragement book that tells the reader that anyone can learn to read at any age, and if they believe in themselves.