Grandma’s Tales
In Grandma’s Attic by Arleta Richardson (1974; reprinted, Chariot Victor, rev. ed., 1999) is a lovely collection of timeless tales set in the Michigan countryside during the late 1800s. The stories are true, told by the author’s grandmother Mabel O’Dell when Richardson was a child. Although the book will charm and entertain children of any age, Grandmother Mabel’s struggles and adventures as a child on her parents’ farm will especially captivate young girls.
When Arleta finds an old wire frame in her grandmother’s attic, Mabel recalls her colorful and short-lived experience with a hoopskirt. As Arleta and her grandmother later piece together a patchwork quilt, squares of fabric remind the older woman of a dress she wore during her first year in school.
Arleta bakes, sews, and reads with her grandmother, and Mabel relays to her granddaughter stories of childhood adventures with a stubborn cow, chores, a frozen pump, and a disappearing buggy. Readers will easily relate to Mabel, a lively, kind-hearted, and curious child, growing up surrounded by the beautiful Michigan woods.
Character Lessons
Through Mabel’s stories, Arleta and readers also learn valuable lessons about character, integrity, hospitality, and conscience. Mabel’s adventures with a hoopskirt teach readers about the consequences of pride. The story of Mabel’s little grey shoes presents a vivid picture of the pain caused by deceit. The dangerous results of Mabel’s thoughtless decisions around a stove demonstrate the importance of wisdom and diligence.
Richardson’s writing style is simple enough for a young child to understand, yet her light-hearted stories will entertain the entire family. The mellow stories of the struggles, successes, and adventures of the O’Dell family provide readers with a valuable glimpse of frontier farm life during the 1800s. The lessons incorporated into the stories will encourage children to cherish truth, hospitality, and prudence.
Comprehension Questions
- Why were the eyes of Mabel’s doll Emily especially memorable?
- How did Mabel lose her family’s buggy on the way to school?
- Why did the O’Dell family assume that Roy was lying about his chores?
- What ingredient did Mabel use by mistake when she baked Ma’s birthday cake?
Activities
Your family can enjoy memorable adventures just as Mabel did. Consider these activities:
- Visit a local farm. How do farmers accomplish tasks differently on a modern farm than on Mabel’s farm? What characteristics are similar?
- Create a family story-quilt using quilt squares that remind your family of adventures or funny moments together.
- Enjoy family story time. Encourage each of your children to recall a particularly special, amusing, or exciting childhood moment. Then share some stories from your childhood.
Additional Resources
The Grandma’s Attic Series by Richardson contains many books that are equally enjoyable and uplifting. Just three in the series are these:
- More Stories from Grandma’s Attic
- Still More Stories from Grandma’s Attic
- reasures from Grandma
Another series by Richardson chronicles Mabel’s adventures as a young lady. The series begins with Sixteen and Away from Home. She is also the author of The Orphans’ Journey Series.