About A Nickel, A Trolley, A Treasure House:
“Baker spins a gentle tale, based on a shard of her family history,
about looking at art, and what can be seen there…A lovely way to see
how the whole world can open like a flower if you know how to see.”
Kirkus Reviews
“This delightful story is brimming with history, art and
dreams….Young readers will go along as Lionel’s teacher takes him on a
magical adventure. He rides a trolley for the first time and ventures
outside the boundaries of his life, physically and emotionally, for
the first time. As the story progresses, children are with Lionel at
the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they learn why art matters, what it’s
like inside a museum, how important it is to do what you love to do.
Notes from the author at the end give details on the origin of the
story and the artwork depicted in Peck’s lush illustrations.”
The San Diego Union-Tribune
“The narration is both accessible and engaging. Share this
nostalgic story before a trip to an art museum or to enrich
social-studies units on New York.”
Barbara Auerbach, School Library Journal
“A child of an immigrant family in the early days of the century
who spends his time drawing is under-appreciated in this delightful
picture book. Although his parents complain that there’s “not much use
for it” Lionel persists in sketching and drawing on every possible
scrap of paper and in every free moment he has. His ally is his oldest
sister, Rose, who works in their mother’s dress shop. It is she who
provides him with cardboard and string from the shop and encourages
his efforts. The other person who encourages his art is his teacher,
Miss Morrissey, who has plans for the two of them—plans which involve
a trip on a trolley. After worrying about the trolley fare, Lionel
finds himself at the Metropolitan Museum of Art! What a feast for a
child such as he, and for the reader as well, for Peck’s illustrations
are also art, painted loosely in wonderful muted colors evocative of
the period. The book is marvelously designed as well. Enjoy.”
Marsha Posner, Jewish Book World
About Sharon’s presentations:
"Sharon Baker is a gifted teacher and writer whose workshops greatly
enhanced our school’s program….Sharon first came to our school to lead
workshops on historical fiction for our fourth and fifth graders. Very
quickly, Sharon established a warm rapport with the students,
thoroughly engaging them in her presentation. In addition to a
wonderful reading of the story, she also gave them a backstage tour of
the research and construction of the piece. Sharon brought in many of
her research “artifacts,” such as maps, photographs, and artwork; she
used these materials effectively to teach about the variety of
historical sources…..Our program became richer for her contribution; I
have no doubt that other schools will reap the same benefits by
working with Sharon.”
Naomi Reem, principal, Jewish Primary Day School of the Nations’s
Capitol, Washington, DC
“I liked looking at the research artifacts that Mrs. Baker put out
on the floor for us. It was fun trying to figure out how she used them
in her story, like clues to a mystery.”
4th grader, Sinai Academy, Pittsfield, MA |