Author: Patricia Polacco

Grades: Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Synopsis: Polacco introduces another cast of characters from her fondly remembered childhood. Brothers Stewart and Winston often invite the girl to join them and their Gramma Eula Mae–whose choir singing is “like slow thunder and sweet rain”–at the Baptist church and to come for Miss Eula’s bountiful chicken dinner. When the children hear Miss Eula longing for the fancy Easter bonnet in Mr. Kodinsky’s hat shop, they plot to raise the money to buy it for her. Sharing her own family tradition, the narrator teaches the boys how to decorate Russian “pysanky” eggs, that both turn a profit and touch the heart of the crotchety immigrant hatmaker.

Debrief Questions:

• Why is Chicken Sunday important to the characters in this book? What are some traditions that you have with your family and friends?
• Why did the kids want to get a hat for Miss Eula?
• The kids were blamed of throwing eggs at Mr. Kondinsky’s store. What did they do to resolve the conflict?