Discover your next great read with our book reviews
Cover of What a Year!

What a Year!

by Tomie dePaola

Book Details

Publisher:Turtleback Books
Published:2003-10
Pages:80
Format:BOOK
Language:en

Reading Info

About This Book

The author relates memories from one year of his childhood, including his sixth birthday, trick-or-treating for Halloween, a bout of chicken pox, and the Christmas holiday.

Our Review

This charming memoir captures the magic of childhood through the vivid recollections of a six-year-old's most memorable moments. Tomie dePaola masterfully chronicles a full cycle of seasons, from the anticipation of a birthday to the thrill of Halloween adventures, the boredom of chicken pox, and the warmth of family Christmas traditions. Each event is rendered with the authentic emotional weight it holds in a child's world, making ordinary experiences feel extraordinary.

What makes this book particularly special is its ability to bridge generations, offering both young readers seeing their own lives reflected and adults reminiscing about their youth. DePaola's signature storytelling finds profound meaning in childhood's simple milestones, creating a timeless exploration of growing up that resonates long after the final page. The narrative celebrates how a single year can contain a lifetime of memories in the making.

Themes

Juvenile Nonfiction

Subjects

Juvenile Nonfiction