"No one eats chicken at Christmas," says Radim's mother. Czechs traditionally eat carp on the holiday, instead, and so days before Christmas, Radim and his father bring home a fish and store it in the bathtub. At first scornful, Radim develops a bond with the fish, naming it Carl: "I know he's just a fish, but I'm sure something goes on behind those bulging eyes." Eventually, Radim sneaks out, and with the help of his friend Mila, he releases Carl into the Vlatava River. On Christmas Day, Mila's family invites Radim and his parents to share a chicken feast. Children may have a few questions about cultural details and landmarks, but they'll be drawn in by the nicely paced, descriptive text, which is well-matched with luminous, mixed-media illustrations that evoke both the excitement of the festive, bustling streets and the coziness of lamp-lit interiors. Direct references to the baby Jesus make this a good choice for observant Christian families, while families seeking multicultural holiday stories will appreciate this non-American view of tradition. Gillian Engberg
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Review
"This book will be an excellent addition to any collection of multicultural children's literature. Excellent" (Resource Links )
"nicely paced, descriptive text, which is well-matched with luminous, mixed-media illustrations that evoke both the excitement of the festive, bustling streets and the coziness of lamplit interiors. Direct references to the Baby Jesus make this a good choice for observant Christian families, while families seeking multicultural holiday stories will appreciate this non-American view of tradition. " (Booklist Magazine )
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