Chicken Sunday
Written by: Patricia Polacco
Illustrated by: Edward Miller
The autobiographical Chicken Sunday springs directly from Polacco's Oakland childhood and is one of her most vigorous and lovable stories. The young Patricia is the narrator. Her best friends are two African-American boys in her neighborhood, Stewart and Winston, whose wonderful ''gramma,'' Eula Mae Walker, welcomes Patricia to join them at church on Sundays and to the family's delectable fried-chicken dinners afterward.
Eula Mae is a stupendous character. Her skin glows, her language sparkles, her lap is wide, and when she sings in the church choir, her voice is like ''slow thunder and sweet rain.''
The three children, hearts full of love, plan to surprise Eula Mae with the most gorgeous Easter bonnet in the window of cranky old Mr. Kodinski's shop. But before they can earn enough money to buy the gift, Mr. Kodinski mistakenly accuses the children of vandalizing his shop.
''Baby dears,'' Eula Mae tells the children when she learns of the accusation, ''if you say you didn't do it, then I believe you.'' But she doesn't leave it at that. She reminds them that Mr. Kodinski has suffered too much in his life (a concentration camp tattoo is visible on his arm) and urges them to prove to the shopkeeper that they are ''good people'' so he will believe them too.
Eula Mae is a stupendous character. Her skin glows, her language sparkles, her lap is wide, and when she sings in the church choir, her voice is like ''slow thunder and sweet rain.''
The three children, hearts full of love, plan to surprise Eula Mae with the most gorgeous Easter bonnet in the window of cranky old Mr. Kodinski's shop. But before they can earn enough money to buy the gift, Mr. Kodinski mistakenly accuses the children of vandalizing his shop.
''Baby dears,'' Eula Mae tells the children when she learns of the accusation, ''if you say you didn't do it, then I believe you.'' But she doesn't leave it at that. She reminds them that Mr. Kodinski has suffered too much in his life (a concentration camp tattoo is visible on his arm) and urges them to prove to the shopkeeper that they are ''good people'' so he will believe them too.
Polacco demonstrates in this story and in her art that love and kindness can overcome evil and prejudice. The text conveys a tremendous pride of heritage as it brims with rich images from her characters' African American and Russian Jewish cultures. It is tribute to the strength of all family bonds.
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