Pennies in a Jar

“Chaconas conveys the language of the time (“lickety-split” and “humdinger,” for instance), and, even better, the perspective of a boy without his dad to protect him. Lewin’s sun-dappled, nostalgia-tinged watercolors lovingly depict the boy either in motion (in his eagerness to earn the pennies to buy Dad a birthday present) or at a safe distance from the big animals. A good way to ease into discussion of parents in the military today.”—Booklist

“Lewin’s photorealistic watercolors take advantage of the large double pages and capture the heartbreak and anxiety of a youngster whose father has gone off to war. This quiet story takes readers back to a time and place very different from today, but one that will resonate with contemporary children.”—School Library Journal

“Parallels to current events, including parents with military duty and gasoline availability, make this story of a boy growing up during World War II extra-accessible. . . . Chaconas’s narrative hits the right notes, and Lewin’s shimmering watercolors are sun-splashed and copper-kissed, with studies in scale allowing the reader to get a real sense of the child’s perspective.”—Kirkus Reviews