The Gift

This 28-page picture book is based on the author's post-World War II memories, as the child of Holocaust survivors, of the Hanukkah season in Germany.The book does not cover the War period at all. This fictional tale, rather, recasts the author's post-war meeting with a German veteran of the Battle of Stalingrad who played an accordion and earned his living as a street musician. As the Horn Book quotation on this page notes, the girl goes shopping for Hanukkah with a five-mark coin in her pocket, "but, instead, gives the money to a street musician, who teaches her to play the accordion."I can't give away the ending, but it teaches an important lesson: Those who give are often repaid many fold. Alyssa A. Lappen

This is sweet and very dear story taken from the author's childhood in Germany. The dilemma of what to do with her Chanukah gelt takes this young girl from enticing store to store, each of which she has visited before, but now has the means for a MAJOR purchase. The final choice is a suprise and a treat for the reader as well as a triumph for the girl. Carnabuci's illustrations grow on you, and he has some beautiful scenes, like the cover picture. This pair, author and illustrator, made a great book together. I hope they can collaborate on more books in the future