{"id":36829,"date":"2020-01-24T20:06:47","date_gmt":"2020-01-25T00:06:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=36829"},"modified":"2020-01-24T20:06:47","modified_gmt":"2020-01-25T00:06:47","slug":"review-of-saturday-by-oge-mora","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=36829","title":{"rendered":"Review of Saturday, by Oge Mora"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Saturday<\/em><\/p>\n

by Oge Mora<\/p>\n

Little, Brown and Company, 2019. 36 pages.
\nStarred Review
\nReview written October 29, 2019, from a library book
\n2019 Sonderbooks Stand-out<\/a>: #2 in Picture Books<\/p>\n

Oge Mora won a Caldecott Honor with her first book, Thank You, Omu!<\/em> This second book is a delightful story of a girl and her mother trying to have a special Saturday. She knows how to insert just the right amount of repetition and anticipation, and her collage illustrations are fun to look at.<\/p>\n

The book begins:<\/p>\n

This morning Ava and her mother were all smiles.
\nIt was Saturday!<\/p>\n

Because Ava\u2019s mother worked
\nSunday,
\nMonday,
\nTuesday,
\nWednesday,
\nThursday,
\nand Friday,
\nSaturday was the day they cherished.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We learn their plans for the day \u2013 the library for storytime, the salon for a hairdo, the park for a picnic, and the theater for a special one-night-only puppet show.<\/p>\n

As they prepare for each event, we\u2019re assured:<\/p>\n

The day would be special.
\nThe day would be splendid.
\nThe day was SATURDAY!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But with each item on their agenda, something goes wrong.<\/p>\n

The first three times, what happens after they are stymied is similar:<\/p>\n

They paused, closed their eyes,
\nand — whew!<\/em> — let out a deep breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Ava,\u201d her mother reassured her.
\n\u201cToday will be special.
\nToday will be splendid.
\nToday is SATURDAY!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But when they don\u2019t have the tickets for the puppet show, it\u2019s Ava\u2019s turn to be reassuring.<\/p>\n

And they come up with a wonderful solution \u2013 together \u2013 for a beautiful Saturday.<\/p>\n

This book reads aloud well, and it\u2019s a modern story with a working, single mother. But the repetition gives it overtones of a folk tale, and it\u2019s got a whole lot of love.<\/p>\n

ogemora.com<\/a>
\nlbyr.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/saturday.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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