A Day With Dad And Uncle Tom By Sheila Robins 11yo 63 May 2026

Reference: "A Day with Dad and Uncle Tom" — Sheila Robins (age 11, page 63)

Bibliographic entry

Sheila Robins. "A Day with Dad and Uncle Tom." (Child's narrative), age 11, page 63.

The day started at 7:00 AM, which is way too early for a Saturday. Dad shook me awake and said, “Sheila, get your shoes on. Tom’s already here.” Uncle Tom was in the kitchen eating our cereal out of the box. He said, “Morning, kid. We’re going on an adventure.” That’s what he always says. a day with dad and uncle tom by sheila robins 11yo 63

Today was the best day ever! I got to spend the whole day with my dad and Uncle Tom. I was so excited that I couldn't sleep last night. I kept thinking about all the fun things we would do. Reference: "A Day with Dad and Uncle Tom"

The middle third of the book, roughly pages 20-45, shifts the setting to a diner. This is where Robins’ dialogue shines. The father quizzes the child on math and facts, a loving but tense exercise in performance. Uncle Tom, meanwhile, asks about dreams and fears, sliding a milkshake across the table as a peace offering. Robins wisely avoids melodrama. There is no argument, no raised voice. Instead, the tension is conveyed in the spaces between words—the father’s tapping finger, Uncle Tom’s easy smile, the protagonist’s attempt to make both men laugh. Dad shook me awake and said, “Sheila, get your shoes on

Uncle Tom: Sheila’s uncle, portrayed as a hardworking farmer.