The First Gift [Paperback]

A. S. Gadot (Author), Marie LaFrance (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The introduction to names begins with the biblical David, who, as a young boy, was called Son by his father and Useless by his brothers, but grew up to be called Your Majesty by his subjects. This beginning is contrived and a little confusing (incorporating such contemporary phrases as "the kids on the block called him Red"), but the text gels nicely when it moves into its short discussion of how God named Adam, and Adam named the animals. A sampling of names from around the world doesn't convey much information, but a transition back to a boy of today named David works to show the importance of names. An afterword explains Jewish naming customs, and it's too bad more of this information wasn't incorporated into the text. The book gets a lift from the solid artwork, in which the characters have the look of carved wooden figures. The artwork's child appeal comes from links between pictures of the past and those of the present. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

Review

"...this book celebrates what a special possession a name is. Lafrance's creamy acrylic paintings feature fluid ... folk-art-style motifs." -- Publishers Weekly --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 24 pages
• Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing (September 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580131492
• ISBN-13: 978-1580131490
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,797,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The First Gift, October 12, 2006

By 

Jewish Book World Magazine (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The First Gift (Paperback)

A little boy tells how he received the gift of his name by first introducing King David, then discussing how Adam named all of the living things, listing biblical names and names common in Mexico, Russia, and Israel, and then explaining how he was named after his great-grandfather. Jewish naming customs are briefly explained in an author's note. The text jumps from King David to Adam to naming customs around the world without any transitions, resulting in a narration that feels random and choppy. The illustrations lack dimension and movement, and the changes in font sizes are distracting. So while the concept of this book is appealing, it is ineffective at showing the reader how truly wonderful the gift of a name can be. Reviewed by Rachel Kamin.

ANOTHER VIEW (four stars)

This charming picture book is about how we are given the gifts of our names. It begins with the story of a boy named David, who is called different names by his parents and his friends, but when he grows up, his people call him "Your Majesty". To his son, Solomon, he is simply "Daddy." Gadot then explains in simple terms how names come from many origins, including the Bible, and that names vary by culture and geography. The story then shifts to the first person, and is told from the perspective of a modern boy named David, who was named after his grandfather. "The very first gift my parents gave me was my name," he says, and then he tells how he, like King David, is called many things by the people in his life who care about him. Marie Lafrance's beautiful illustrations depict both Biblical and modern scenes with bright colors and bold brush strokes. An appealing read-aloud, this book could be used as a discussion or writing prompt to have children share the stories of their own names. A brief explanation of Jewish naming customs is included.

Reviewed by Alison Kelly.