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Chicken Sunday



Last updated Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Author: Patricia Polacco
Illustrator: Patricia Polacco
Date of Publication: 1992
ISBN: 0399221336
Grade Level: 4th    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: May 2005

Synopsis: (from the publisher) After being initiated into a neighbor's family by a solemn backyard ceremony, a young Russian American girl and her African American brothers determine to buy their gramma Eula a beautiful Easter hat. But their good intentions are misunderstood, until they discover just the right way to pay for the hat that Eula's had her eye on.

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  What do you do on Sundays?
•  Define ?family.? Who is in your family? How do you decide if someone is in your family?
•  Define ?tradition.? What is a tradition you have in your family.
•  Were you ever accused of doing something that you did not do?
•  Words that may be unfamiliar: babushka, hoppin? john, spoon bread, bubbie, Pysanky eggs, chutzpah

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  Why is the book called ?Chicken Sunday??
•  Why was it important for the kids to buy Miss Eula the hat? How else could they have gotten it?
•  What lesson did Miss Eula teach the children?
•  Compare and contrast Miss Eula with Mr. Kodinski.
•  Show the children the picture on the back flap to see the actual picture of the three children all grown up.

Craft ideas:
•  Design Pysanky Eggs (bring ahead option - egg shells) with pictures of your family.
•  Make something special for your mom or someone close to you (bring ahead options: beads, lanyards, etc).

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!