The Sunday Outing

by Gloria Jean Pinkney, Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator)

Ernestine, the young heroine of Back Home, and her great-aunt Odessa often ride the trolley to the railroad station to watch the trains from North Carolina come in. When Ernestine finally travels on a train to the place of her birth, everyone in her family sacrifices something to make her trip possible. Gloria Jean and Jerry Pinkney together depict family warmth as bright as sunshine.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Cultural, Family, African American

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1994

Reviews

[Daniela Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sunday Outing was written and illustrated by the Pinkney's, an African American couple, with Mr. Pinkey winning the Coretta Scott King award. The book follows a young African American girl named Ernestine who is going to her special place. This time she is going all alone, and on the way she comes across some difficulties based on the color of her skin because this book takes place during the time of segregation. By the end of the book Ernestine makes it to her special place, the library, one of the only places she feels safe and free because it doesn't matter what color your skin is to be allowed inside. When I first started reading the book I didn't know that it was about a girl living in segregation, but when I say how unfair she was being treated it made me reflect on how I am treated now as a mixed race woman of color. I empathized with Ernestine and I was upset at just how unfair some of the characters in the book were treating her. This book would be great to use in a second to fifth grade classroom to teach about segregation in a subtle but important way.

[Francis Camama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the 1950's to early 1960's, Gloria Jean Pinkney's "The Sunday Outing" provides an interesting, beautiful color pencil and watercolor look at an African-American girl, Ernestine Avery Powell, and her great-aunt, Odessa Powell, as they share stories about their great-uncle, Ariah, who worked on the railroads. Just as Ernestine is learning of her great-uncle's work and achievements, so was I. This book provided a great look at life both in the 1950's and 1940's life.

Along with learning of the past for African-American workers on the railroad, we also get a look at how life is for a poor girl doing everything she can to go visit her family down south. This provides children a pure and true example of selflessness and going the extra mile to get there. The lengths she goes to visit her family is inspiring, as she is even willing to give up her school clothes to visit her family.

One of my favorite elements of this book was the art. The artists, Gloria Jean and Jerry Pinkney, really have their passion shown through the art and it translates into the story. You get the feeling of fascination and intrigue during the stories, the hope and love when they are thinking of how to get her home and the nervous excitement Ernestine felt as she boarded the train to finally see her family. Not only is it beautiful but with the warm, bright colors, The Sunday Outing, really shows the love family can have and show.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ernestine loves watching the trains come in. She and great-aunt Odessa often ride the trolley to the railroad station to watch the trains from North Carolina come in. Aunt Odessa travels south to visit the family and back again and Ernestine longs to go on her own train journey. When a boy challenges her dream, Aunt Odessa helps Ernestine find a way.

Ernestine's family just happens to be Black in the 1950s. The community is Back but incidental to the story. It's not about Jim Crow/racism or even poverty. Her family is middle class. They have what they need and have progressed to wants. If they sacrifice a few wants right now, they'll have money for extras, like a train trip.

The illustrations are excellent and immerse the reader in the story.

[Joselyn Guizar]

This book is another great book to have on a shelf in a classroom library. The illustrations are beautiful to look at. Other than the illustrations it's an interesting story about how a girl makes sacrifices to afford a trip.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brave Ernestine rides a train!

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the dialogue is a little awkward, but there are strong family connections, and also a child finding a way to accomplish goals, with family help.

Prequel to Back Home.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunday Outing by Gloria P., Illustrated by Jerry P. follows the Sunday, day of Ernestine Avery Powell, who is going to the North Philadelphia railroad station with her great-aunt, Odessa Powell to listen to old stories about her great-uncle Ariah who worked on the railroads. The color pencil, watercolor look of the pictures shows the two (Ernestine and Odessa) riding a trolley car to the station, and the crowded busy train platform. After spending sometime there and sharing stories, Ernestine and her aunt where back for dinner at Ernestine's parents home. Ernestine's parents brought up the idea of a new school uniform, bust Ernestine asked for a train ticket instead. Her parents started talking about things they could wait on buying, to buy her a ticket instead. Ernestine's parents got her a ticket for the morning train, The Silver Star that next day (for in a couple of days). After telling all her friends, packing her mother's wedding satchel (a gift to her), and receiving advice from her parents and aunt she gets on the train and starts her long journey south. The books pictures by Jerry Pinkney are very detailed and show the story as its happening.

[Suzanne Gust · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not usually one I would pick up and read for fun. However, I read it for one of our assignments, and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The Sunday Outing is about a little girl who wants to go visit family on a train. Her aunt comes to visit her every day and takes her to the train station to watch the trains. Ernestine, the little girl, wants to go visit her mother’s family on a train, but her parents don’t have enough money. This part really made me reflect on how grateful I should feel for having enough money to travel to even see my family. One night, after talking to her aunt again, Ernestine tells her parents she can go without new school clothes so they can afford a train ticket. This broke my heart, because Ernestine is so selfless, and as a child will give up school clothes to go see her family. This day in age, you wouldn't hear of that very often. Her parents think about it and decide that they will let her go. Ernestine is nervous at first, but then is happy when is on the train heading south to her family. The illustrations are beautifully and incredibly done in watercolor, and add life and excitement to the story. After reading this book, I would definitely use it in my classroom. It could be used in a social studies unit when talking about public transportation, or a history lesson when talking about how people used to get places.

[Bernadette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The impressionistic watercolors by Jerry Pinkney are beautiful! I could feel Ernestine’s excitement in the pit of my stomach when her parents tell her that she can go on the train. I’m sure every child can relate to finally being allowed to do something on their own, and I could definitely relate to her new anxieties after learning she could go. I enjoyed, as well, Aunt Odessa’s advice about saving on something so the family could afford the train fare. This book could be a good connection to learning about different people and classes, especially useful for well-off students (like mine) who may have never had to think about affording things that they want. The dialogue in this book was amazing (very believable!) – you can see how the dialogue brings depth to the characters.

[Jen]

(1994) Ernestine loves to go to the train station with her Aunt Odessa. She loves to watch the people and see the trains come and go, but most of all she wants to ride a train and visit distant relatives she hardly gets to see. She wants to go so badly that she turns down new school clothes and her parents do what they can to pull enough money together for a ticket. Ernestine's family accompanies her to the station to send her off, and although she's nervous, she is excited for her trip to the south.

[Taylor Brune · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Children of all ages can relate to wanting something so badly, and the feeling of finally being able to do something on their own. The story gives a clear example of what parents and families give up for one another. This could be a great introduction for many different writing assignments or discussions about what different members of a family have to give up for one another.

[Kaitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a touching story about a young girl whose family does not have a lot of money but they go to the train station every Sunday to people watch and watch the trains as well. Ernestine always wishes that she could get on a train to North Carolina to meet her relatives that she's only heard about, and one day this wish comes true.

[Kelsi Bowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very touching story about a little girl that goes to the train station every Sunday to watch the trains come. She longs to visit her family in North Carolina but does not have enough money to buy a ticket. Her parents finally save up enough money and she is able to make the trip, but she has to do it alone.

[Ashlee Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book with great illustrations. The illustrators watercolors are great. A family makes sacrafices so that their little girl can go on her first train ride. This would be a good lesson on appreciating what you have and loving your family.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The combination of detailed story, rich vocabulary, and intricate images (foreground, midground, and background) offers entertainment, empathy, and information about a time and place that is both specific and universal.

[Ali Werner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ernestine and her Great Aunt Odessa always watch the trains on Sundays. She wants for th day to be able to take the train to Lumberton, North Carolina and meet all her relatives she has only hard about.

[Courtney Gayle]

This a cute book that describes how families are different and how sometimes our families makes sacrifices for one another. The main character in this book goes on her first train ride. Could be used to talk about families.

[Yarrow]

I enjoyed this.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice piece of African American literature for children. Beautiful watercolor illustrations by Jerry Pinkey. His attention to detail enhance the story.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for upper elementary students (3rd through 5th), this book discusses the importance of saving money and follows Ernestine on her dream of riding a train.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

-the excitement of travel/going to a new place
-sacrifice and saving money
-trains and telegrams

[Jenna Winter]

Sunday Outing follows the Sunday, day of Ernestine Avery Powell, who is going to the North Philadelphia railroad station with her great-aunt, Odessa Powell to listen to old stories about her great-uncle Ariah who worked on the railroads. The color pencil, watercolor look of the pictures shows the two (Ernestine and Odessa) riding a trolley car to the station, and the crowded busy platform. When Ernestine and her aunt where back for dinner that night, Ernestine's parents brought up new school clothes. Ernestine asked for a train ticket instead, and her parents started talking about thing they could wait on buying to buy her a ticket instead. Ernestine's parents got her a ticket for the morning train, The Silver Star. After telling all her friends, packing her mother's wedding satchel (a gift to her), and receiving advice from her parents and aunt she gets on the train and starts her long journey south.
This is a great book to have in the classroom, It introduces life of a low income african american family and shows the culture that is displayed in their family. It appreciation that a student and reader can grasp from this read is why its so important to have in the classroom. Growing up comes with responsibilities and the hardships that come along with family connections and financial fundings.

[Emily Holbrook]

The Sunday Outgoing is a perfect depiction of what family should be like. This heart-warming story is about the adventure of a young girl and her great-aunt.

[Christina Bell]

a story set in the 50s about a young African American girl who lives in New York but longs to take a train to the Carolinas. The family makes some sacrifices to make the trip happen. Cute story