Saturday Is Patty Day [Hardcover]

Leslea Newman (Author), Annette Hegel (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1993 | Age Level: 6 and up

Although Frankie is hurt and confused when his two mommies separate, he is comforted by knowing that Patty will still be part of his life.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Ages 3-8. Newman's lesbian family story, Heather Has Two Mommies (1990), created a furor when it was included in the New York Public Schools' Rainbow Curriculum. Now Newman tells a story of how a child feels when his two mommies separate and break up the family. As in any divorce, Frankie feels upset and anxious when Patty, his "other mom," moves into her own apartment. The first time he visits her and they picnic in the park, he cries and talks about his fears. "I'm scared. I don't want to get divorced," he says. Patty hugs him and reassures him that she will always, always, always be his mom. "Only grown-ups get divorced. Not kids," she says. From now on, he will visit her every week--Saturday is Pattyday. The bibliotherapy is reassuring, especially since the words and Hegel's expressive watercolor pictures are frank about the painful separation as well as about the parents' enduring love for their child. Hazel Rochman

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover
• Publisher: New Victoria Pub (August 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0934678529
• ISBN-13: 978-0934678520
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 7.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,362,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lesléa Newman is the author of 64 books for readers of all ages including the middle grade novel, HACHIKO WAITS, the poetry collection, STILL LIFE WITH BUDDY, the short story collection, A LETTER TO HARVEY MILK, and the children's books A SWEET PASSOVER, THE BOY WHO CRIED FABULOUS, THE BEST CAT IN THE WORLD, DONOVAN'S BIG DAY, and HEATHER HAS TWO MOMMIES. Her literary awards include poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation. Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists. A past poet laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts, she is a faculty member of Spalding University's brief-residency MFA in Writing program.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Children's Book Explores Lesbian Divorce, January 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Saturday Is Pattyday (Paperback)

SATURDAY IS PATTYDAY is Leslea Newman's fourth book about a child with two moms. Here, Newman focuses on the divorce of Frankie's two moms. The author and illustrator depict the events that follow the divorce, i.e. one parent moving and Frankie visiting her, the particular emotions that are felt when a child is separated from a loved one and how this young child is comforted and loved by both parents. Although the sadness is felt, there is also a strong sense that Frankie, and his moms, will be OK. Similar to HEATHER HAS TWO MOMMIES and GLORIA GOES TO GAY PRIDE, the story is about a white family and the illustrations of other people help to support diversity, i.e. girls playing basketball and children/adults of color in the park. This book would be appropriate for even a three year old who has had a similar experience as Frankie and would be most helpful in a classroom curriculum on family.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice little book, March 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Saturday Is Pattyday (Paperback)

This is about a small boy dealing with the divorce of his two Moms and having a special Saturday with his other Mom Patty.

2.0 out of 5 stars Content is ok, illustrations are AWFUL, September 20, 2009

By 

Sundog (Atlanta area) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Saturday Is Pattyday (Paperback)

If you are familiar with Heather Has Two Mommies, also by Leslea Newman, you will know what to expect for the text of this book: a positive depiction of same-sex parenting. Pattyday deals with the couple who has split up, but are each maintaining the relationship with their child. If you are expecting a book that looks like Heather Has Two Mommies, you will be disappointed. Those illustrations, while stylized, were carefully rendered and appealing. The artwork for Pattyday is truly appalling. It is not simply impressionistic, gestural, or loose-- it is very poorly drawn and unattractive. It is difficult for me to believe that this illustrator makes her living this way. I have an advanced degree in art and am aware of its subjective quality, but the drawings in a children's book should look good. These are ugly, and it is a big letdown.