Pennies in a Jar

By Dori J. Chaconas and Dori Chaconas

Book Overview

"The day Dad went away to the war, I cried. He hugged me and told me to be brave. But I was afraid of so many things."

A young boy promises to be brave when his father goes off to fight in World War II, but it isn't always easy. Lots of things scare the boy, especially Josephine, the street horse who pulls the ragman's wagon, and Nell, the milkman's nag, with their big teeth and wild eyes. Even Billy and Bucky, the garbage wagon horses whose feet are so big and heavy, make him nervous.

Then one day, a stranger with a small pony named Freedom offers the boy an opportunity to give his father the perfect birthday present and find a new and special kind of courage.

Dori Chaconas has written a sensitive tale about a son's steadfast love for his soldier father that transcends distance, circumstance, and his own fears. Illustrator Ted Lewin's stunning paintings capture the simple spirit of the 1940s American home front.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561454222
• ISBN13: 9781561454228
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers
• Length: 36 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.9" x 10.7"
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

This charming and heartwarming story is one of those ageless tales that you'll fall in love with!

In his mind's eye the boy pictured himself and his parents on the railway platform, all nestled together just before his father had to go off to war. Dad had told him to be brave, but there were so many things that he was afraid of and even though he told him "to be brave" it was hard. It was scary just thinking about "Dad listening to bombs and guns." The thing that frightened the boy the most were the many "street horses" that passed by the house every day. He'd sit counting the pennies in his "green glass jar," but every now and then he'd have to face his fears and deal with one of those horses, least ways from a short distance. There was Josephina, the ragman's horse. "Rags! Newspapers!" He had to bring the papers to the curb. "Clop-ta-clop." His Dad had been bitten by a horse when he was a kid and this one had teeth "as big as piano keys." The ragman wanted to know if he'd like to feet his horse a carrot. Not very likely. Mr. Lacey, the milkman, had a horse and the garbage man had two horses. His Dad wasn't afraid of horses, but he was. The boy just sat on the porch counting his pennies and thinking what he could buy for his Dad's birthday. "Pleek! Pleek! Pleek! Fifty-six!" A man came by with a pony named "Freedom" and the boy wasn't any less afraid of it than he was a draft horse. Wait, wait . . . maybe this pony could help him leave his fears behind and make his Dad proud of him! This charming and heartwarming story is one of those ageless tales that you'll fall in love with. Adults will love this tale as much as the younger intended reader if not more. The illustrations are very nostalgic and period looking. The tale is set during WWII, but the storyline of a child missing a parent during wartime is universal and timeless. I loved this story and you will too!