FRIDAY NIGHT IS PAPA NIGHT

by Ruth Sonneborn ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1970

. . . but where is Papa? Two jobs keep him too far from home to return every night and now, on Friday, Mama and Manuela and Carlos and Ricardo and Pedro reluctantly sit down to eat without him; only Pedro can't, and goes to bed crying. It's dark when he awakens, sees the clean, unused plate, and pulls a chair to the window--can that be Papa, that shadow with a fat shopping bag? Lights on, door open, hugs all around, a simple explanation, and then Pedro's recompense: ""I thought. . . now I have to go into a dark apartment. Everyone will be sleeping. . . But suddenly there was a light. . . Someone was up. . . waiting. And it was my Pedro. . . I was not tired anymore."" Midnight popsicles and presents follow, and Papa's plate heaped--all in a glow ""just like Christmas."" From The Lollipop Party (1967) to Seven In a Bed (1968) to this auspicious Friday Night. Ruth Sonneborn's stories have become richer, her Puerto Rican milieu more vibrant--and her illustrators more sensitive: Emily McCully in a quiescent mood shares the kudos here.

Pub Date: March 1, 1970

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1970

Categories: CHILDREN'S