Yankee Doodle Drum Sticks

Lincoln Lions Band #2

by Patricia Reilly Giff

Willie Roberts can't wait for Thanksgiving Day when the Lincoln Lions Band will play at the college football game. If only his father could take time off from work to be there!

70 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Patricia Reilly Giff was an American author and educator whose warm, emotionally resonant books made her a beloved figure in children's literature. After spending roughly two decades as a teacher, she turned to writing and brought a deep understanding of young readers to stories that balanced humor, resilience, and emotional truth. Educated at Marymount Manhattan College, St. John's University, and Hofstra University, she drew on both her classroom experience and literary instincts to create memorable fiction for children and middle-grade readers. She became especially well known for the popular Polk Street School series, which captured the everyday dramas of school life with charm and empathy. Beyond those books, she wrote acclaimed novels such as Lily's Crossing, Nory Ryan's Song, Pictures of Hollis Woods, Eleven, and Genevieve's War, often exploring themes of belonging, family, hardship, and courage. Her work earned wide recognition, including Newbery Honors, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults designation, and a Christopher Award. Giff also influenced younger writers through her workshops and teaching spirit. Throughout her career, she remained a compassionate literary voice whose stories spoke directly to children's fears, hopes, and imaginations.

Reviews

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lincoln Lions Senior and Junior Bands are marching and playing at a college football game on Thanksgiving day. Willie Roberts can hardly wait. They will have brand-new red and blue uniforms. And there's a chance his father be there. He is away building a bridge. Willie writes him a letter telling about the performance and the uniforms. He asks him to come home. Then Willie finds out that only the senior band will have uniforms. He is so devastated that he convinces himself that his father won't come home. Now Thanksgiving vacation looms dismally ahead. Chrissie Tripp decides to sell pretzels at the college to raise money for uniforms. She enlists Willie's help. Unfortunately Willie eats all the salt off the pretzels before they get to the college. Soggy, unsalted pretzels aren't very appetizing. They don't sell many, but several students hear about the performance and the uniform problem. Now Willie is out his birthday money; his share of the pretzels. Can things get worse? The bands practice hard, and Willie learns that he truly loves drumming. In fact he drives everyone a little crazy by rat-a-tat-tatting on every surface he can find. The band director tells Willie that he will be a great drummer some day. Then Thanksgiving day arrives. The junior band is excited when they see the wide blue ribbons inscribed with "Lincoln Lions" donated by a group of college students. They proudly wear them across their shoulders. For Willie, things are almost perfect again. As the band marches into the stadium, Willie looks into the stands and sees his father. Now things are perfect just like Willie had planned.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com