Major Theme:

There are two themes that run parallel in this picturebook.  One is the binding power of childhood friendship and love; the other is hatred  engendered by racial and religious differences.

Summary:

All the children want is to buy the most beautiful Easter hat for Miss Eula, but when they are accused of throwing eggs at Mr.  Kodinski's shop, they must find a way to prove their innocence and earn enough money for the hat at the same time.

Question #1

Question #2

Question #3

What is Chicken Sunday?

Who is your favorite character in this book?  Explain.

 Why did the children love going to church with Miss Eula May Walker?

Question #4

Why do you think the children called the tree where they kept the Band-Aid tin, the wish
tree?

Question #5

Why do you think the big boys threw eggs at Mr.  Kodinski's door?

Question #6

Question #7

Question #8

Question #9

Why did Miss Eula believe the children didn't throw eggs at Mr.  Kodinski's door?

Tell what you think babushka, bubbie, and Chutzpah mean?
 

At the end of the story Mr.  Kodinski calls the children "such good children." How did the children change Mr.  Kodinski's mind about them?

What lesson did Miss Eula teach the children?
 

Question #10

Who was the hero in this story?  Explain

Question #11

Question #12

Question #13

Question #14

Question #15

Question #16

Question #17

Question #18

Extension #1

Extension #2

Extension #3

Research how to paint Russian style decorative eggs or use an egg made of construction paper  and paint the egg with tempera paint.

Research Jews in the 20th century.  Find out what Miss Eula meant when she said, "That poor man has suffered  so much in his life."   Write a report.  Include pictures or drawings, charts or graphs

Make a hat-box by decorating a box.  Research fashions from the at least three periods of the 20th century such as 1910, 1920, 1950, 1960.  Create a paperdoll collection with paper cut-out clothes.  Put your paperdoll and clothes in the hatbox.
 

Extension #4

Searching for figurative language.  Miss Eula's voice was described as "Thunder and Sweet Rain."   Look through other books to find examples of metaphor and simile

Extension #5

 Copy the words to a spiritual song, prepare an old time spiritual song to share with the class, or bring in a cassette recording of a spiritual to share with the class