The Gift [Hardcover]

Gabriela Keselman (Author), Pep Montserrat (Illustrator), Laura McKenna (Translator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

Mickey's birthday is coming and his parents cannot figure out what to do when he tells them that he wants something big, strong, smooth, sweet, warm, funny, and long-lasting.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mr. and Mrs. Goodparents sit in their Thinking Chair and ponder what to give their son Mikie for his birthday in the opening scene of this fairly obvious tale. Since the chair is "kind of hard," after awhile they have "three problems: A pain in their bottoms,/ A pain in their heads,/ And still not a single idea." When they finally ask Mikie what he would like, he announces that he wants a "very special present and I want it to be very... BIG!" A fold-out page reveals his parents' translation of this requestA"He wants an elephant!"Awhile Montserrat's thickly outlined, stylized cartoon shows Mikie swinging from the trunk of a blue pachyderm sporting two rings in one floppy ear. Subsequent pages fold out to illustrate the Goodparents' speculation on other gifts that might fit the bill, prompted by Mikie's descriptions (for a gift that makes him "fly," they imagine a helicopter). In spots, the narrative may lose readers completely (e.g., when Mikie says he wants his gift "to last a loooong time!!" his parents surmise, "He wants a day that lasts as long as his bowl of soup"). Funky fonts, silver ink and metallic pages give this volume a distinctive look, but the conclusion will satisfy grown-ups more than birthday boys and girls: when his parents give him an apologetic hug in lieu of a present, Mikie announcesAwith a smile and a wink of his eye, "Just what I wanted!" Ages 3-6. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-When Mr. and Mrs. Goodparents ask their son what he would like for his birthday, Mikie requests a gift that is "big, strong, soft, sweet and warm." It should also "rock from side to side, make him fly, make him laugh, and last a very loooong time." The perplexed parents try to imagine what it might be, but they can't come up with a thing. As they try to explain the problem to their son, the difficulties are resolved by a "big, soft, strong, sweet, warm hug" that rocks from side to side, makes Mikie laugh and fly, and lasts a long time-just what the little boy wanted. The simple text is carried by Montserrat's bold cartoon illustrations. Strong black line sets off the simple geometric shapes of which the graphics are composed. The layout, double-page spreads with gatefolds on the right that show what the parents think their son wants, enhances the book's charm. When Mikie asks for something warm, for example, the foldout page reveals a smokestack. Listeners will enjoy trying to guess what Mikie wants as each adjective is added. Use this with Barbara Joosse's Mama, Do You Love Me (Chronicle, 1991) and Margery Flack's classic Ask Mr. Bear (Macmillan, 1968) for a touching look at the love between parent and child.
Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 52 pages
• Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Publishers (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 091629191X
• ISBN-13: 978-0916291914
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #254,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gift for big and small, April 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Gift (Hardcover)

I like this book so very much, with its warm and beautiful message of love. Specially in these hard times. The story and the illustrations are simply wonderful.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Gift is a Treasure, March 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Gift (Hardcover)

The Gift is a beautifully and brightly illustrated book with foldout pages that makes both children and parents remember what is truly important. In this day of expensive toys and gadgets, The Gift reminds that the best gift we can give our children is our love.

4.0 out of 5 stars What a fun book!, January 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Gift (Hardcover)

This is an adorable story about two "Goodparents" agonizing over what to get their son for a present. They make guesses based on hints from their son. My three year old loves to squeal "no!" every time the guess is incorrect. I like reading it to her because it's very easy to become animated while doing so.