One Saturday Evening (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: One Saturday Evening Hope Morrison Baker, Barbara One Saturday Evening; illus. by Kate Duke. Dutton, 2007 [48p] ISBN 978-0-525-47103-5$13.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 1-2 The bear family of One Saturday Morning is back with a series of nighttime rituals and routines in this gentle, family-themed easy reader. Each chapter focuses on a member of the family and the way he or she spends Saturday evening: Mama gets Baby Jack bathed, then treats herself to a bubble bath; Lily, the eldest sibling, insists on taking a bath by herself for the first time; Rose raises havoc in the bath with sister Daisy and then throughout the house; Daisy puts her baby doll to sleep just like Mama puts Jack to sleep; Jack climbs out of his crib; and Papa, after reading to all four cubs, pours himself some cocoa and reads a good book to himself. The overall result is the depiction of a serene, loving family full of individual personalities and mutual devotion. There is a pleasing diversity of activity presented in their evening rituals so that, although nothing particularly exciting happens, there [End Page 72] is variety and interest. Duke's watercolor illustrations mirror the familial joy inherent in the text while offering lots of visual support for novice readers. She makes especially good use of props in distinguishing the siblings: Lily wears glasses, for instance, while Daisy always has her baby doll with her. Though written for early readers, this could also be readily shared by families spending their own Saturday evenings together. Copyright © 2007 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois