Saturdays and Teacakes

Saturdays and Teacakes
by Lester L. Laminack
Paintings by Chris Soentpiet

In Saturdays and Teacakes the storyteller describes a typical Saturday spent with his grandmother.  The two spend every Saturday working together outside, eating lunch, and always end the day by making teacakes.  


Saturdays and Teacakes reminds me of Thundercake by Patricia Polacco.  In both, children spend charming days with their grandmothers baking.  The writing is filled with great details that help remind you of your childhood. The major difference between the two stories is that the young boy in Saturdays and Teacakes doesn't have any fears to overcome, while in Thundercake, the young girl does. 


I can't take any credit for finding this story.  I found it in I Can Write Like That!: A Guide to Mentor Texts and Craft Studies for Writers' Workshop, K-6.  Per their recommendation I used it to teach emotional endings.  It has a great ending that you can use to discuss literal and figurative language. 


In addition, I definitely see myself using it again to teach personal narrative and adding specific details. The details that went into making the teacakes, from making the batter to the dialogue between the two, were phenomenal.


I loved the book and have added it to my Amazon wish list. 


Published: 2004


Locations: School Library, Amazon