The Stranger

The Stranger

Author: Chris Van Allsburg

Ages: 3-6 Grades

Rating: 5 Stars

Summary: The Bailey’s take in a man who is a stranger at first but becomes part of their family. The stranger has interesting characteristics, for example, when he does certain things it gets cold, and animals especially like him. However, it appears that the seasons refuse to change when he stays with the Baily’s and he decides to leave.

I was introduced to this book this year in one of my teaching methods classes. Chris Van Allsburg, again, does such an exquisite job with creating a story and illustrations to go along with it. When two classmates read this book aloud, I remember being really confused as to who the stranger was. I remember getting the chills when hearing the story, as well. I even got them when I read it to myself! I particularly enjoy the ambiguity of the story because Van Allsburg never tells us who the stranger is. It is moving to see that the family, Mr. and Mrs. Bailey and Katy, take on the stranger and let him stay until he decides to leave, which portrays such a selfless act. Not only is the story captivating the pictures make it come to life. The pastels perfectly paint the scene for the reader to follow along with and enjoy the story at a new level.

As previously mentioned, I was introduced to the book during an activity in a methods class. The discussion we held had the whole class talking about what a stranger was or who we thought strangers were. This would be a great way to introduce the idea to children, but it is more than that. Mid-book, they stopped reading to us and had us predict who the stranger in the story was. Many people had such different opinions! We debated on him being God, an Alien, and finally Jack Frost. And come to find out, Jack Frost made the most sense! Going back and rereading the story will help children find the hints along the way that help us understand who the stranger might be.