As the time for caroling, dancing and gift-giving approaches in his remote, snowy Romanian village, young Peter wonders if he can play the Christmas drum well enough to live up to his father's reputation.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Hooper bases her touching tale on the Romanian Christmas Eve ritual of colindat, caroling to the music provided by villagers playing a variety of instruments, including a tiny drum called the duba. One year, Peter is called on to play the duba in place of his father, who is away working in a city factory. Can he do justice to this important job? Deftly depicting old-world costumes and customs, Paterson's buoyant watercolors capture the villagers' high spirits-and the joy of one child in particular. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Ages 4-6. Young Peter longs for his father to return by Christmas Eve to take part in the colindat cu duba, a Romanian Christmas custom in which men go from house to house caroling to the beat of a special little drum. If father does not return in time, Peter must take his place singing and playing the drum. Rehearsing with the men of his village night after night, he becomes increasingly discouraged about his ability to play the duba, but when the holy night arrives, he finds that he can play very well. At the end of the colindat, Peter's father returns and proudly passes on his drum to his son. While the Christmas custom may be unfamiliar, children will recognize Peter's feelings of uncertainty, determination, and satisfaction. Watercolor illustrations bordered with holly sprigs give the pages a festive look. For larger collections. Carolyn Phelan
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great story for kids!,
By Michael Hernandez (Michigan) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Christmas Drum (Hardcover)
We enjoyed this story. It explains some specific traditions in some of the rural regions of Romania; it does it with a light-heartedness that the entire family enjoyed.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Christmas of traditions and family!,
By
This review is from: The Christmas Drum (Hardcover)
As the mother of three beautiful children from Romania, this book has an obvious place in my heart. However, it is so lovely it should have a broad appeal for families of all backgrounds. It is one of the few Christmas books without reference to presents. Instead the emphasis is on family sharing and traditions. With beautiful illustrations and gentle text, the book shares the wonderful caroling tradition in Romania. In addition to its Christmas theme, it also looks at the challenges children face in learning new things and figuring out their place in their community. You will love this book! By the end you may even want to go caroling yourself!
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