A Papa Like Everyone Else

Mama and her two young daughters, Szerena and Gisella, never thought they would be without Papa for five long years. Ever since he left their small farm in Czechoslovakia for America, they have been waiting for him to send for them. In the meantime, with the help of family and neighbors, Mama and the girls work on the farm. While Szerena wishes for "a papa like everyone else," Gisella can't remember their father, and wishes he had not gone away without them.

Finally, the big day arrives, and Mama and the girls leave for America to reunite with Papa. What will it be like to travel on a train and a ship? And what will happen when at last they see Papa?

Born in 1904 on New York's Lower East Side, Sydney Taylor wrote numerous immensely popular books for children, including the All-of-a-Kind Family series: All-of-a-Kind Family, All-of-a-Kind Family Downtown, More of All-of-a-Kind Family, All-of-a-Kind Family Uptown and Ella of All-of-a-Kind Family. Each year, the Sydney Taylor Book Award is given by the Jewish Association of Libraries to a book for young people that authentically portrays the Jewish experience.

Jen Taylor is a regional theater actress based in Seattle, WA. She has voiced nearly 30 audio books, received several Audiofile Awards and was nominated for an Audie Award in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Jen also voices radio and TV commercials, as well as video games, most notably the character of Cortana in the Halo video games and Princess Peach and Toad in Mario Brothers' games.

©2020 Sydney Taylor (P)2020 Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

Important story about immigration

Sydney Taylor, who also wrote the ALL OF A KIND FAMILY series, also wrote A PAPA LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, set in Eastern Europe during the early 1900s. Two Jewish sisters await word from their papa who’s working in America to save money so the family can join him.

A PAPA LIKE EVERYONE ELSE is historical fiction from a perspective most American children probably have never heard about an era which they likely know nothing. With so much talk about immigration, I wish all schools would add this to their libraries.