Synopses & Reviews
Henry Cooper and his dog Pomegranate have two houses. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and every other weekend, they live with Mama in her new apartment, but on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and every other weekend, they live with Papa in his new house.
Henry and Pomegranate are happy as they dance with Mama and sing with Papa, but Henry knows that sometimes Pomegranate gets confused and just wants to go . . . home.
This gentle and accessible story about dealing with the many changes that come with divorce is beautifully brought to life by author Karen Stantons vivid and memorable illustrations.
Review
Praise for Monday, Wednesday, and Every Other Weekend:
"Warm, thoughtful look at the concept of home in divorced families." —The Horn Book
"Stanton (Papis Gift) shows remarkable empathy and restraint in the story of a boy named Henry Cooper, who explains how he divides his days between his mothers apartment and his fathers house, “two and a half blocks away on West Woolsey Avenue.” Henry—whose red hair matches the crimson ears of his dog, Pomegranate—finds much to appreciate wherever hes spending the night: the hallways of his mothers building “smell like chapati, tortillas, and miso soup,” and she makes “perfect golden flapjacks.” Time with his father means piano playing and “perfect pepperoni pizza in his tomato-red kitchen.” In fact, its Pomegranate who always wants to go “home,” and after he runs away, readers discover what that means: “our old house,” says Henry. “The place where we all used to live together.” That revelation packs an enormous emotional wallop, but Henrys calm understanding of his familys situation, combined with his parents mutual amicability, provides a powerful example for real-life families. Meanwhile, Stantons artwork—a vibrant collage of acrylic and scraps of varied papers from around the globe—creates a deeply reassuring atmosphere of love and warmth. " —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Suitable for libraries needing additional material on the subject or for the caretakers of young children dealing with divorce.” —Childrens Literature
“This book can fill a gap in collections because Stanton brings the story to a satisfactory conclusion with a simple understanding for children who live in two homes.” —School Library Journal
“Henry lives with each of his parents two days a week and alternates three-day weekends. Both homes have advantages, such as Mamas Saturday-morning pancakes and Papas Saturday-night spaghetti. …Henry narrates the story in a straightforward, unemotional manner. Stantons brightly colored artwork combines acrylic painting with collage elements, such as printed and painted papers.” —Booklist
About the Author
Karen Stanton's first career was as an architect. She is also the author of Papis Gift, illustrated by René King Moreno, and the author/illustrator of Mr. K and Yudi (Golden Books). She lives in Oakland, California, with her husband and their four children.