A Chair for my Mother by Vera B. Williams. Greenwillow Books, 1982.

First person narration and vibrant illustrations combine to build a believable story that is charmingly told. It’s the story of an urban family of Mother, Grandmother and daughter whose home is destroyed by fire. As they work to rebuild their home, their family bonds both with one another and with their broader community. It’s a contemporary story, but with an allusion to Goldilocks, it has a fable-like feel.