by Joe Praml Kidsplay ‘47 is the coming of age story of Skippy Chandler, an imaginative 11-year-old boy. It is set in the Midwest near the Mississippi River during the summer of 1947. Skippy tells a tall tale about finding a cave full of cigarettes, comic books and candy. This sets off a summer of adventures and conflicts with schoolboy bullies. His skinny-tired bike that belonged to his strict railroad fireman father is stolen. He fears punishment and must find the bike. Above all he yearns for the affection and respect of his father. In the end he finds the bike and is reconciled with his father.