The Saturday Kid

by Cheryl Carlesimo, Edward Sorel (Illustrator)

Saturday is Leo's favorite day of the week. It's the day he goes to the movies. The only problem is Morty, the neighborhood bully and troublemaker, who gets Leo thrown out of the movie one afternoon -- for something Morty has done! Leo dreams of getting even with Morty, but how? Soon Leo is chosen to play his violin in a concert at City Hall -- an event covered by a newsreel cameraman -- and he actually shakes hands with the Mayor! But when Leo tells his friends about the concert, Morty just jeers at him and tries to pick a fight. The way in which Morty finally gets his comeuppance makes a totally satisfying ending for Leo and for readers. In a lively text with glorious, masterfully conceived and painted pictures, Edward Sorel, a distinguished artist, gives a splendid sense of New York in the 1930s and a boy's dreams of glory come true.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2000

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leo, the main character in "The Saturday Kid", is a young boy who loves to go to the movies, plays the violin, and has some trouble with a bully. Throughout this story, Leo uses his imagination to solve his bully problems, and using movie scenes to do so. I think this book would be great to discuss how movies are form of art, how bully's can emotionally and/or physically hurt you, and how making great music takes practice.

[Dia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely wonderful story about overcoming a bully and becoming friends. It was fantastically illustrated and the text was wonderful. I think it would be a great read aloud, particularly if you know there is a bully situation in the class.

[Victor Marquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the book it talks about how leo likes saturdays.On saturday he would spend all afternoon at the luxor theater.He usually went to the movies with his friends russ and sam,but one saturday he was alone.Leo was learning how to play the violin his teacher who taught him was Mr.Kleinberg.One thursday leo met his teacher even further than downtown they met at the city hall he was chosen to represent his schoolat the mayor's young musicians concert.At the end of the story leo and his mom are celebrating that leo came out in a movie so they were eating ice cream.

[Kristie Oke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because of the interruptions of imagination splattered through the story. The references to movies that the main character puts himself in pulled me into the story. Plus he plays the violin, which is always a plus. This would be a good book for a historical lesson or unit.

[Chechoui · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tale of a young boy who is bullied. what I like about this book is that he uses his imagination to combat the bully and models how to appropriately handle bullying for children. there are also good illustrations of New York City from times past.

[Daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun look into old NYC. I wish we had movie theaters with ushers in jackets with gold buttons still.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read about a good kid.

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This primary level picture book is a wonderful historical fiction piece. The story follows Leo, a young violinist living in Manhattan the 1930s. Leo absolutely adores going to the movies every Saturday afternoon. One week while at the theater, a bully named Morty gets Leo into trouble and continues to harass him when he sees him at school. Leo dreams of revenge, which author Edward Sorel wonderfully illustrates in several dream sequences in the story. Ultimately, Leo gets the better of Morty when he leasts expects it. This title includes many historical references (phonographs, automats, El trains, etc.) which would make good points of discussion, especially when studying this time period. Furthermore, Sorel's painted pictures vividly capture life in NYC, which could be quite a contrast for some students (like those living in my school district, Woodbury).