A Chair for My Mother: questions to ask and activities to try
After a fire, a girl, her mother and her grandmother save every coin in a jar to buy one comfortable chair. A Caldecott Honor book about family, community and starting again.
What age is A Chair for My Mother for?
A Chair for My Mother is best for ages 4–8.
A Chair for My Mother (Vera B. Williams)
- Age
- 4-8
- Best for
- Saving up, family love, and starting again after loss
Only 50pA Chair for My Mother activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF.
Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓
Talk about how the family felt after the fire and how the neighbours helped. Then talk about saving up for something that really matters.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 4–8 (Reception to Year 3)
- What they'll enjoy
- After a fire, a girl, her mother and her grandmother save every coin in a jar to buy one comfortable chair. A Caldecott Honor book about family, community and starting again.
- Helps with
- Saving up, family love, and starting again after loss
- Buy or borrow?
- Borrow it from the library first if you can. If your child asks for it again and again, it’s one worth owning, and the questions and activities on this page work best with the book open next to you.
What it helps with
- Saving money
- Starting again after something bad
- Family and neighbours helping
- Gratitude
Comprehension and discussion questions for A Chair for My Mother
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “What happened to the family’s home?”
- “How did the neighbours help?”
- “Why did they want a special chair?”
- “How did they save the money?”
- “What would you save up for?”
- “Who helps your family when things are hard?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for A Chair for My Mother
All 6 questions for A Chair for My Mother on one printable page, each marked with the reading skill it practises. Enter your email and download it straight away.
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5-minute activities to try together
Savings jar
Decorate a jar together and choose something to save up for. Add a coin when you can.
Thank-you list
List the people who help your family, and choose one to thank this week.
A Chair for My Mother activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions
All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.
- Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
- Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
- Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas
- Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
- Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
- Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.
Change & New Starts bundle15 activity sheets for books on the same themeThe 15 books:The Rabbit ListenedThe Koala Who CouldA Squash and a SqueezeThe Very Hungry CaterpillarGreen Eggs and HamAlexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad DayThe Name JarThe Tiger Who Came to TeaA New House for MouseLulu Gets a CatLuna Loves Library DayOtto the Book BearI'm Going to Make a FriendNoah's New HomeKing of the Classroom£4.99 3 sheets for £1.25A Chair for My Mother + The Rabbit Listened + The Koala Who CouldThe 3 books:A Chair for My MotherThe Rabbit ListenedThe Koala Who Could£1.25 Pick your own books: build a bundle with this one, up to 15% off →
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to A Chair for My Mother, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about saving money.
A 20-minute session for ages 4–8 (Reception to Year 3), for a class, a small group or one child at home.
- Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
- Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: Talk about how the family felt after the fire and how the neighbours helped. Then talk about saving up for something that really matters.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “What happened to the family’s home?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Savings jar. Decorate a jar together and choose something to save up for. Add a coin when you can. Children who finish early can try Thank-you list.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The A Chair for My Mother activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.
If your child liked this, try
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (Judith Viorst and Ray Cruz)
- Best for
- A day where nothing goes right, and feeling that life is unfair
- Age
- 4-8
Badger's Parting Gifts (Susan Varley)
- Best for
- Death, grief and remembering someone you love
- Age
- 4-8
Dadaji's Paintbrush (Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Ruchi Mhasane)
- Best for
- Losing a grandparent, and finding a way forward
- Age
- 4-8
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 25 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.