The Old Woman Who Loved to Read

by John Winch

An old woman moves to the country in order to have a peaceful life with lots of time to read but soon finds that each season brings other tasks to keep her busy

Genres: Picture Books, Books About Books, Childrens, Animals, Australia

Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A woman leaves the city with the intention of spending her golden years quietly sitting around reading, but instead finds herself tending a farm, and caring for an ark's worth of native Australian animals. I certainly shared in her frustration as nature and necessary tasks kept her away from her precious books. A nice reminder to carve out some time for ourselves, even during the busiest days.

[Kandace · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Old Woman Who Loved to Read” is a richly illustrated story of an old woman who moves from the busy city to the country in search of a peaceful environment. However, she soon discovers that the country is filled with chores of distraction. The chores are finally finished by the arrival of winter, when she is at last able to relax and read. The story takes place in Australia, as is evident by the menagerie of animals that accompany the old woman. Native animals include kangaroos, koalas and emus.

I found this to be a charming picture book, perfect for a read aloud with young children. With minimal text, the illustrations dominate the page. The artistic details are what really tell the story. Young readers will be engaged by the animated features of the characters and humorous creative elements. I would like to read this book aloud and see if the children can figure out where the story takes place based on the illustrations.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I don’t like farms that have animals on them, but I didn’t get too perturbed in this case.

This is an amusing story about a woman to moves from city to country so she will have more time to read, but finds that there is always work to do that keeps her from her books. I laughed with recognition, even though I don’t have a ton of animals to care for nor plant foods to harvest.

The illustrations, especially of the piles of books and the many animals, are just wonderful, and my favorites are when the woman is multitasking: both reading and doing some other task at the same time. Oh, how funny! And oh how true of many readers. The illustrations are truly fine and perfectly fit the story.

In some ways I think adults will appreciate this book even more than children will, but I think children will thoroughly enjoy this story and its pictures as well.

4 ½ stars

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun story and pretty pictures.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of an old woman who moves to the country to find some peace and quiet in order to read. Unfortunately, the weather and her ever-growing number of animal friends have other plans in mind. The animals in the illustrations are really delightful, they range from common field mice to stunning, exotic birds. We get the idea that the animals are choosing to live with the woman on their own recognizance, rather than being captured as pets.

Eventually, the woman, weather, and the animals reach an agreement that allows her to finally get in that reading time.

It struck me that I would very much like to be the sort of old woman depicted at the end; surrounded by good books and animal companions.

[Brianda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about how an old woman who loved to read that she moved from the city to an old farm to live in a peaceful and quite place. she imagined she would have so much time to enjoy her reading however, it didn't plan out exactly how she picture living away from the city. there were chores to be done inside and outside her home and animals to take care of. A task after another non-stop. we tend to tell ourself " I'll do it later or I'll make time" we keep making an excuse for what we want to do and want to finish our tasks sooner so we have the remaining time to enjoy what we love but, that doesn't happen. for example, the old woman was talking care of a goat all summer long once she was done she thought she had time to read but, had to pick her fruit for harvesting for the upcoming season. The message I'm taking from the book is depending on what chore you might have to see if its okay to pause and take some time to do something we enjoy. we need to take care of ourself if not when will we. TAKE A BREAK FROM LIFE, DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY :) .

[Pamela Hatch · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Old Woman Who Loved to Read / written and illustrated by John Winch -- New York : Holiday House, c1996. (36 pages)

SUMMARY: An old woman moves to the country in order to have a peaceful life with lots of time to read but soon finds that each season brings other tasks to keep her busy. (verso)

REVIEW: The old woman's house looks much like mine with books everywhere. I also have trouble finding time to read sometimes, but this lady has her hands full with all the requirements of running a farm. I was having trouble understanding some of animals in the illustrations until I realized the story took place in Australia and included kangaroos, platypus, and koala bear. I don't think I would have all those animals in my house, just the books, and maybe a dog.

[Jill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful picture book about an old lady who moved to the country.
She loved to read and thought she would have plenty of time to indulge her passion.
Chores needed to be done on the old farmhouse. The animals needed tending.
Her life was busy. The summer was hot. When the rains came early she had more work to do.
In the winter it still rained. She still had chores to do. Finally, when she had finished all her tasks, tended the animals, and stocked the larder, all was quiet and peaceful...she could read.
But did she?

This story shows life on an outback farm can be demanding. John Winch has written it from experience. I expect, he is a man who likes to read.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely read for the first day of spring!
So, this will be me in a few years...I am currently the young woman who loves to read but hasn't been reading so much lately!
Who said living in the country is quiet with nothing to do?!
It can be wonderfully quiet and sometimes we don't do anything but there is usually always something happening.
Love this simple story and the beautiful illustrations.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

With so much to do at her country home, it's hard to keep up with her reading. But finally, during the winter months, she is able to curl up and ... read?

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute idea...I don't think my child really got it. And the prose was kinda meh.

[MaryJane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It reminded me of me!! Wonderful illustrations!

[Stephanie]

The genre for this book is fiction. The use of character development was what had stuck out to me the most. The main character was so focused on reading at the beginning of the book and then realized how many other tasks needed her attention as well. She eventually set down her books to help other animals and to tend around the house. I think this book shows a great example of character development from start to finish.

[Bryanna Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The old woman plays as the main character of this story. She is never given a name throughout the story. The old woman chose to escape the loud city life, and go to the peaceful country life to give herself a better chance at reading; for the old woman loved to read. But throughout the story we see that she is not able to read as often as she had originally hoped because of her endless list of chores.

Even though the beautifully illustrated pictures of this book play as the key to unlocking the purpose of the story, the book in itself is just as beautiful:

- When reading this story I had noticed that there was a message slowly being developed within it. As the story progressed, I saw that the old woman was losing her ability to actually sit down and read. This was a contradiction to the actual reason of her moving to the less noisy countryside. I saw this as a connection to our constantly busy lifestyles. Lifestyles of which restrict us from doing the very thing we work to do.
- The illustrations in this story really do take the majority of the effect. They show so much detail that cannot possibly be seen within the few lines per page that are given. The illustrations of the old woman, the animals, and the scenery really do give more meaning to the story. They allow the reader to truly understand what it is that is restricting the old woman from reading.
- Although the purpose and meaning to the story is realistic, the illustrations show that the story itself is not all that realistic. In the story although she moved to a farm house, everywhere the old woman goes she is constantly surrounded by loud animals, all of which are in constant need of attention. Even some of the scenes in the story are over exaggerated to a point that it is no longer realistic, but more of an over exaggerated idea of how the old woman still was not able to read.

I believe this story was a wonderful story to show that with all of lives curve balls we all still have a chance to sit down and allow ourselves the chance to read again.

The Old Woman Who Loved to Read

[Katelynn Callahan]

This book is about an old woman who decides to move to a new place in the country side instead of the big city, where she can find a quite place to read. Once she gets there she realizes that the weather conditions of each season somehow keeps her from getting in the reading she wanted to do. Whether it was taking care of a sick animal, or caring for plants she was not able to get her reading done. The book has very beautiful illustrations. Children can see the different seasons throughout the story and visualize what is going on. However the story is fairly bland and does not capture too much emotion. The illustrations are what gives this story light and keep your attention. It has a very simple and sweet story for young children and can be easily understood.

[Phillip]

The only thing that caught my attention for this book was the title, which made me think of my Grandmother, another old woman who loves reading. The book seems like a fine read for young children, but the pace of the text seems a bit slow to keep them entertained if reading it not for the first time. The artwork is rather pleasing to someone a bit older, but lacks aspects that I believe would keep children entertained with the book. While the story was cute it didn't feel like much really happened or that anything was emphasized. My final thoughts are that it feels like a grandparent favorite to read to their grandchildren but depending on the child it might not be received as well as others to choose from.

[Kiera · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Old Woman Who Loved to Read is a good book for young to read or be read to. This story of an Old Woman who moves around trying to find time to enjoy her reading is always interrupted by different chores and her farm animals she has to take care of. The illustrations in the book are live and vivid and helps tell the story. Children can see the different animals as well as the seasons changing. Eventually the old woman, animal, and weather come to agreement and she finally has time to enjoy what she loves doing best.

[Ruth Ann]

I think American kids will love the illustrations of all the unique Australian animals: from lizards, to koalas, and kangaroos.
This book is a great way to explore the seasons and to talk about the various farm chores at different times of the year. Older readers could learn world geography and talk about how Australian seasons are the opposite of our seasons.
Above all, I think readers will love the ending. After finally finding time to read, the old woman falls asleep with a book on her lap!

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

An old woman who loves to read decides to move from the city to the country. Chores, animal visitors to her new country home and the elements keep her too busy to read. Will she ever have an opportunity to enjoy her reading? Illustrations featuring animals native to the Australian setting are beautifully detailed. Rather than read aloud to group, this is a quiet sharing book to allow the audience to truly savor the beauty of the pictures.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much of a story (words), but the illustrations are great, and I guess it is good enough for kids who just learn to reads.

The story told of an old woman who keep getting obstructed from her love of reading because of all the chores and things that the seasons brought.

The setting is in Australia, so it adds the plus value to taught kids how the seasons naturally works in different parts of Earth.

[Nomre · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Old Woman Who Loved to Read" by John Winch is a story about a woman who loves reading so much that she chooses to move away from the city to a place where she can get more peace and quiet to do what she loves most, read. After moving she realizes that although peaceful, she doesn't have much time to read anymore. This is a beautifully illustrated book that I think touches a bit on the struggles of balancing what we love to do, with our responsibilities.

[Fjóla · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations are worthwhile, but I wasn't drawn in by the story and neither was my son. On a second note, some of the pictures were a bit scary for the sensitive: a fire jumps out of the summer page (and the woman's expression is that of being terrified), after which a flood comes. I may have missed the point of this book, but in fact the story was something of a let down for me ...

[Leona]

This is the story of an old woman who moves to the country to have more time to read--bus is busier than ever! The story and pictures are so charming. Kids will love looking at these pics over and over again!

[Marsella Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no big secret about why I loved this book. It's me all too soon. I found this accidentally while searching for another book. One of the many delights of a library. This charming story is about how life keeps intruding on an old woman's desire to read. Hmmmmmmmm.

[Dani Vatsaas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick and simple read that tells its story through its lovely pictures rather than too many words. With beautiful illustrations and a sweet story line, I give this book a 4 out of 5.

[Bethann · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved the pictures in this book unfortunately the story was lacking.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very earthy book in terms of illustration and had a very relaxed, rural feel. I loved the variety of animals and suspect it takes place in Australia based on the animals present.

[Marissa Elera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kind of want to be her when I grow up.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost too much work to read!!!!!