Customer Reviews

Saturday Is Pattyday

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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.

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

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.