Module 2: Mr. George Baker

Hest, Amy. 2004. Mr. George Baker. Illus. by Jon Muth. Candlewick Press: Cambridge, MA. ISBN: 076361233.

Learning to read is one of the most challenging yet rewarding feats an individual will undertake. One hundred year old George Baker and his neighbor, a young boy named Harry, are tackling this challenge together. As they sit together on the porch waiting for the bus to arrive, George shares stories while he and Harry build a unique friendship. Jon Muth’s soft water color images glide with the story and capture the attention. The illustrations are richly detailed and extend the reader’s interest in the relationship between these two unlikely schoolmates. The endearing nature of the illustrations is enhanced by the endearing nature of the story. Muth’s illustration of the adults in the reading classroom is culturally sensitive and shows various cultures, ages, and genders. Literacy is important at every age. It is never too late to accomplish this life-changing goal.