Pennies in a Jar

When Dad went away to the war, I cried. He hugged me and told me to be brave. But I was afraid of so many things…A young boy promises to be brave when his father goes off to fight in World War II. But it isn't always easy, especially now that he and his mother are alone and the air is punctuated by sirens.Lots of things scare the boy, but he's especially wary of the street horses: Josephine, who pulls the ragman's wagon, and Nell, the milkman's nag, frighten the boy with their big teeth and wild eyes. Even Billy and Bucky, the garbage wagon horses whose feet are as big and heavy as buckets full of iron, make him nervous.Then one day a stranger with a small pony named Freedom offers the boy an opportunity to create the perfect birthday present for his father. But that means digging down deep inside to find a new and special kind of courage...Dori Chaconas has written a sensitive tale about a son's steadfast love for his soldier father that transcends distance and circumstance. Illustrator Ted Lewin's stunning paintings beautifully capture the simple spirit of the 1940s homefront.

DORI CHACONAS has always lived in Wisconsin. Her parents grew up on northern Wisconsin farms, but moved to the city of Milwaukee to raise their family. Dori was the oldest girl in a family of seven children and often entertained her younger brothers and sisters by telling stories. Dori is the author of nine books for children, including DANCING WITH KATYA,ONE LITTLE MOUSE; MOMMA, WILL YOU?; CHRISTMAS MOUSELING; WHEN COWS COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS; CORK AND FUZZ: SHORT AND TALL; and ON A WINTRY MORNING, winner of the 2000 Archer/Eckblad Award for Best Children's Picture Book by a Wisconsin writer. For more information, visit the author's website at www.dorichaconas.com.