I brought this out at Christmas for a reading. My four-year-old niece listened patiently, but was not into it. I could tell she was bored and not following the story. However, my seven-year-old niece liked it. She didn't laugh out loud or anything, but I think she was amused by it and picked up on the moral. This made the shortlist for SLJ's Mock Newbery blog, so I think my expectations were way too high going in. ( )

43 months - A silly story with ok illustrations. ( )

After reading the book “The Money We’ll Save” by Brock Cole, I thought it would be a good book to add to my classroom library. I particularly liked that the plot was geared towards readers in grades three to five, while the language in the story included vocabulary words that would challenge young readers, such as “basting” and “glutton.” The illustrations are composed of watercolor paint and dull colors that matched the dreary New York City setting and dullness of the apartment the family lived in. The plot is well paced and the conflict of not having enough money on Christmas is clear to readers. I would choose to read this book to my class because it is humorous, while still displaying the hardships and sacrifices families of low socioeconomic status go through during the holiday season. Due to the fact that the holiday the family is celebrating is Christmas, I would be sure to have made myself aware of the religious beliefs of the children in my classroom before reading this story. The main message of this story is that during the holiday season, it is more important to love and value one’s family over receiving luxurious gifts and food. ( )

Not a new story (so you can kinda predict the ending), but I thought the illustrations were cute. ( )

Delightful story set in a 19th century New York City tenement. ( )