Because of Thursday By Patricia Polacco
Very cute! No mention of him anywhere in the book, but I'm wondering how Guy Fieri likes his likeness in Polacco's work?! And, holy cannoli! I want to try that Ugly Pasta recipe! Childrens Books All of the major events of Annie Fetlock's life occurred on a Thursday. She met her future husband Mario on a Thursday, her children were born on a Thursday, and she opened her diner on a Thursday. But when her beloved Mario became sick and died, she lost her will to cook. It was only when she found a tiny kitten - named Thursday, of course - that she began the slow process of healing, eventually going on to reopen her diner, and thanks to the shenanigans of her new kitty, invent her signature Ugly Pasta dish...
Because of Thursday is one of Polacco's more lighthearted, whimsical stories, as opposed to her family history tear-jerkers. It does touch upon more serious subjects, in the form of Mario's death and Annie's resultant grief, but overall I thought the tone was upbeat. I appreciated the idea, inherent in the story, that our animal companions can bring us healing and joy, and the description of the Ugly Pasta, although sometimes a little graphic (it is described as looking like it had been dragged through someone's armpit!), was amusing. Recommended to Patricia Polacco fans, cat lovers, pasta lovers, and anyone seeking children's stories about loss and healing. Childrens Books First sentence: Thursdays had always been lucky for Annie Fetlock. She was born on a Thursday. She won her first cooking contest at the age of eight on a Thursday. She met the love of her life, Mario, on a Thursday. They were married on a bright Thursday afternoon, and their two children were each born on a Thursday. One in June and the other in July. It was actually on a Thursday that Annie and Mario opened their diner together. And it was on a Thursday that Annie made her signature creation. A splendid pasta salad.
Premise/plot: I'm tempted to say there are two kinds of people in the world: those who love Patricia Polacco, and those who don't. If you've read Polacco, chances are, you'll know exactly what I mean. Her picture books tend to be for older readers, have a LOT of text, and tell wonderful, heartfelt, emotionally compelling STORIES. Not every Polacco is a tear-jerker. But. More often than not, she gives readers stories and characters worth thinking about. She doesn't go for the quick laugh or the word pun.
Annie Fetlock is the heroine of Because of Thursday. The first two or three pages fly readers through the first sixty or so years of her life. And then, the story begins...
My thoughts: If you love cats, I think you HAVE to read this one. While the title could be Because of Thursday for a couple of reasons, I'm going to go with the CAT. I really love how Thursday (the cat) really, truly brought joy into her life again and changed all her luck, if you will.
Who else should read this one? If you love COOKING or EATING or watching the Food Network.
Note to everyone: DON'T FORGET THIS ONE FOR THE 2017 CYBILS. 40 A fun, scrumptious tale of a restaurant, a tragedy, a cat, and Guy Fieri. It made me very hungry for pasta, so thanks for that. Make sure to note the ugly pasta salad recipe at the back of the book. So much garlic... Patricia Polacco 4 ½ stars
This is yet another special book from Patricia Polacco. One of her heartfelt stories. Not the usual kind that make me cry, though there is a sad section, but this one made me smile. It's funny and very sweet.
Detailed and glorious and fun illustrations.
The recipe at the end isn't vegan but it is vegetarian. As with all recipes it could be veganized, though perhaps not as successfully as most dishes.
Especially recommended for cat lovers, pasta lovers, those who enjoy cooking, those who enjoy reading about small town life, and all readers who've enjoyed other of Polacco's picture books. Wide age range for readers and listeners for this story!
I miss Polacco being in Oakland, right across the bay from San Francisco. She seems to be a full time resident in Union City, Michigan now.
The two Polacco published books I've yet to read are waiting for pick up at the library. The Mermaid's Purse and (my library FINALLY ordered it at my request) Still Firetalking, a sequel/continuation of Firetalking. By this time next week I should be caught up with all the books by this author. I am hoping to read many more by her. She's one of my very favorite picture book authors.
Believe me, given the events of this week, I wasn't up for writing this review (or reading or writing anything) but I just can't not review a Patricia Polacco book. However inadequately I have to write something in the review field.
Hardcover
From critically acclaimed author Patricia Polacco comes a heartwarming story about a girl named Annie, her lucky Thursdays, and a special cat who comes into her life just in time to make everything right.
Thursdays have always been lucky for Annie Fetlock. She was born on a Thursday. She won her first cooking contest at the age of eight on a Thursday. She met the love of her life, Mario, on a Thursday. They were married on a bright Thursday afternoon and their two children were both born on a Thursday. Annie is known far and wide for her Poke Pasta Salad and has the most popular restaurant for miles around.
When Mario suddenly passes away, Annie’s joy and love of cooking disappears. Before too long, a little kitty appears and Annie takes the kitty in, and, of course, calls it Thursday. Annie is back making Poke Salad in no time. Thursday the cat is known for amazing twirls and tricks and one day his twirls land him in Annie’s draining rigatoni, causing the pot of hot oil, garlic, and peppers to spill into the pasta! Then the entire container of Parmesan cheese overturned into the mix. The customers were horrified until they noticed that what looked like a big mess had the most amazing aroma and turned out to be the most delicious pasta dish ever created! Ugly Pastaâ€"the dish that would make Annie famous for miles aroundâ€"was born. And of course it was a Thursday! Because of Thursday
Love it! Polacco is a master story-teller, whether it is based on her family stories or fully fictional (like this one is). My only question is whether Guy Fieri has read this story and, if so, his thoughts? Hardcover Does your child like cats? Pasta? Cooking shows? Or diner taste-testers that closely resemble Guy Fieri? If they do, there's no doubt they'll enjoy this heart-warming story! And making the recipe at the back of the book!
Ages: 5 - 10
#food
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Patricia Polacco Kind of strange! It reads like a biography for a child audience and indirectly references a real chef, but it's completely fictional. Perhaps this could inspire some young chefs?! Patricia Polacco Annie Fetlock has a thing for Thursdays. After all, it seems as though everything good that has ever happened to occurred at that day of week. Not only was she born on a Thursday, but she met her husband and opened her diner on that very day. But life loses its joy for Annie after her husband dies unexpectedly, and she retreats into herself, shutting the diner and hardly venturing out. When she happens upon a small kitten, wrapped in a dish towel, she feels sorry for the little thing, and names it--yes, you guessed it--Thursday. Thursday is a playful feline, and a couple of youngsters teach the cat tricks. Before she knows it, Annie is cooking and starting to enjoy life again. In fact, she even opens the diner where Thursday enjoys strolling among the patrons, showing off his tricks. But one day, he misses a step and lands into some pasta. As a result, various ingredients fall into the dish, giving rise to what comes to be known as Ugly Pasta. Although the dish has an unattractive name and appearance, it is delicious, pronounced so by a food critic who happens to be there at the time. Annie becomes known for this dish and her Poke Salad, and she uses her success to breathe new life into the town. Fans of Patricia Polacco will recognize several familiar elements such as humor, family, loss, animals, and over-the-top humor. While I'm not usually one who enjoys stories with ridiculous characters such as the food critic, it works well here, even while the story as a whole serves to remind readers that even after suffering a huge loss, someone can go on and live life to the fullest. The animal lovers among us will also recognize the healing power of a relationship with a special cat or dog. Anyone looking for an example for how to tell a story well need look no further than this story and this author's books. As always with this illustrator, she brings magic to the page with her colorful and unique illustrations, created with pencil and markers. While they highlight the absurdity of the food critic and his reaction to that yummy pasta, they also show Annie as she grieves for her lost husband, thus, mingling humor and pathos effectively in the book's pages. English The illustrations are lovely as always and the story is deep and mature.
Patricia Polacco
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