Module 6: Every Friday

Summary:
This story recounts a special tradition a father and son share every Friday morning. The boy and his dad eat breakfast at a special diner every Friday. They go no matter what the weather is doing. Along the way they see many city sights. The narrator looks forward to the following outing with his dad as soon as they leave the restaurant.

Reference:
Yaccarino, D. (2007). Every Friday. New York: Henry Holt and Company.

My impressions of the book:
Every Friday is a touching short story about a boy and dad that share a special tradition and bond. It's just a simple outing to eat breakfast, but one that has made a huge impression on the narrator. It is rare to find such a special story of a father and son bonding. This story is so simple, yet speaks volumes about their relationship. They enjoy spending time together looking at the events happening in their city and having a pancake breakfast. The fact that they're together seems to be the most important thing.

Reviews:
Porter, D. (2007, June 1). [Review of Every Friday]. School Library Journal, Vol. 53, Issue 6, p. 128.
A young boy and his father have a weekly date for breakfast at a nearby diner, and the walk there is half the fun. As they pass through their urban neighborhood, they count dogs, wave to the man in the newspaper stall, and watch the slow construction of a new building. Upon their arrival at the restaurant, they greet their favorite waitress by name, and she knows to bring out pancakes right away. The story is simple but sweet, and the child's excitement about the time spent with his dad is obvious throughout. Painted in gouache, the illustrations of the cars and characters' clothing and hairstyles give the book a '50s look, as do small touches such as milk bottles in front of the door. Yaccarino uses a warm palette to create rudimentary buildings and simple, friendly faces. This is an excellent book for a parent and child to share, and perhaps some families will begin weekly traditions of their own.-Daisy Porter, San Jose Public Library, CA Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Uses in a library:
This would be a great book to read aloud for Father's Day. It could also be used to discuss family traditions. The students could then write about a special family tradition they have.