Striped Ice Cream Author:Joan M. Lexau A seven-year-old African American girl is resigned to the fact that her mother can not afford anything special for her birthday, but she does not understand why her older sisters and brother seem to turn against her -- until the big day finally arrives. — "Mama --" Becky said and waited. "My birthday's coming pretty soon. Will ... more »we have chicken-spaghetti and striped ice cream?"
Mama sighed and said, "I don't know, Becky. Things were a little better last year."
Not having something special to look forward to for a birthday was bad enough, but then the whole family seemed to turn against Becky. Life was lonely for the youngest in the family when everyone else started working on a project without her. Brother Abe even tried to keep her out of her own home during the day -- and playing baseball with Abe did not appeal to Becky.
This is a story about a very real family -- the ups and downs, the quarrels and making-ups, and it is a story of Becky's happy birthday.« less