This was an adorable story set in Germany about a girl who is given money for Hanukkah by her father. She wanted to spend her money on many things but could not decide the right thing to buy. She went to many stores and looked to purchase many toys and objects, but she always left before purchasing it. When she was stopped in front of the pet store thinking about buying a kitten, she heard a beautiful song being played. When she turned around she saw a man playing an accordion in front of the grocery store. After listening for a while, the little girl threw her coin into the musician’s hat! He then invited her to sit down so he could teach her to play. She soon learned to play a whole tune. Many people had gathered around and began throwing money into their hat. The girl however did not care about the money because the music was enough happiness. The setting affects this entire story. In Germany, many years ago coins were worth a lot. It is a very different world than the one we live in today. First, coins can almost buy you nothing and children do not understand the value of money anymore. The girl wanted to buy something great, but she was careful about how she spent her money. The year is never stated, but it is assumed that it was many years ago maybe around the time of the war. This story was a lesson that money and materials do not make you happy in life. However, music can change someone’s life in such a small way as it did for this little girl. ( )

Based upon the author's experiences growing up in post-World War II Germany, Aliana Brodmann's The Gift is a lovely picture-book about the pleasures of choice, the importance of generosity, and true spirit of the Hanukkah season. When the young narrator is given a five-mark piece as a holiday gift by her father, she takes her time deciding how to spend it, visiting the shops in town - from the toy shop to the pet store - and lingering over the treasures on display. But then she hears a beautiful tune, and discovers a street musician playing an accordion. Enchanted by his music, she stands and listens for a very long time, eventually deciding that here is where she wants to "spend" her money...

I don't know that there is anything particularly "noteworthy" about the narrative here, but I found the overall effect of The Gift quite pleasing. The story doesn't just impart a lesson (although it does do that), it also depicts the pleasure that comes from being able to savor a choice of gift - both as recipient and giver. The illustrations by Anthony Carnabuci are just lovely, evoking the feeling of a quaint old town. All in all, just an immensely engaging little holiday book! ( )

NO OF PAGES: 27 SUB CAT I: Children's Resources SUB CAT II: Feasts/Festivals SUB CAT III: DESCRIPTION: With her Hanukkah money in her pocket, a little girl eagerly sets out to find the perfect way to spend her treasure. Will she choose a fancy hat? A new doll? A soft, gray kitten? Nothing seems just right until aNOTES: SUBTITLE: A Hanukkah Story