School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-4Loose retellings of five stories from around the globe. Readers learn why children leave offerings for baby camels in Syria, the reason bread dough rises in Malta, the significance of poinsettias in Mexico, how kindness is repaid in Ghana, and why gifts in Russia are delivered by Babushka. Underscoring each selection is the event of Jesus's birth, the very first Christmas. The handsome, brightly colored folk illustrations help establish the locale for each story, support its succinct text, and provide a strong visual focus. Source notes reveal that the reteller has drawn for the most part upon other contemporary retellings rather than from primary material; these tales are thus only indirectly linked to the cultures represented. Despite that caveat, teachers looking for a multicultural approach to the celebrations and meanings of Christmas may find this useful.SHP (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Folk-art-style illustrations in vivid gold, purple, and green tones add life to this collection of five mostly unfamiliar Christmas stories from Syria, Malta, Mexico, Ghana, and Russia. The tone of the writing is informal and at times distractingly contemporary: referring to soldiers who are chasing them, Mary says, we gave them the slip. The author lists one or two sources--some of them oral--for each piece. From HORN BOOK Fall 1999, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
