The Gift of You, The Gift of Me [Hardcover]

Nila J. Webster (Author)

Book Description

"At the end of the lane / Stand two trees side by side." So begins "The Gift of You, The Gift of Me," the tale of the little creature Jamile and of his enduring friendship with the trees at the end of the lane, whose meditations on life offer hope and courage, both to the hero of the story and to its readers. Written as a picture book, this story is a source of inspiration for both young people and adults. Beautifully illustrated by George M. Ulrich in deeply rich tones, this book is a pictorial tribute to nature. It is also a poetic vision on the miraculous power of gratitude and love in the face of the sorrows of life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fascinating and delightful." --Gregory Maguire, author of "Wicked"

"A great book -- not just for children but for anyone seeking inspiration. Ms. Webster [writes] eloquently and simply." --Kathryn Hamilton, Assistant Editor for Children and Young Adult Books

"Lovely and profound." --George M. Ulrich, author of Mrs. Picasso's Polliwog

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: StarMist Books (October 17, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0961829230
• ISBN-13: 978-0961829230
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,003,132 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully illustrated with an important message, August 17, 2006

By 

Patrick D. Goonan "see profile for URL" (Livermore, CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gift of You, The Gift of Me (Hardcover)

This book is a very thoughtful reminder about the virtue of gratitude. It also brings awareness to the wonder and miracle of life and our connection to the environment. It promotes values that are important and does more than simply entertain. The content can spark meaningful dialogues with your children about the things that really matter most in life.

The book also explores adversity and the need to turn inward for guidance when things get tough. This is a good lesson to learn early and The Gift of You, The Gift of Me makes the point that after a storm the sun returns and the whole process of life is a miracle.

The illustrations in this book are colorful and creative. Every other page is a full page water color drawing that convey emotion and has highly symbolic content. Just the thing to spark a young person's imagination.

The book is short and doesn't have a lot of words. However, the words were chosen carefully and are packed with meaning. It is the type of book you can be interactive with and you can uncover layers of meaning with as a child gets older.

I have an upcoming speaking engagement where I am going to read this book to a group of children as a separate part of my speaking committment. I am using it because this book is a good touchstone for talking about the mystery of life, hope and gratitude for the good things in life that so often go unnoticed, especially when adversity hits like physical illness. I think it's perfect for this occasion, but no time is the wrong time to introduce children to an attitude of gratitude for what is good in their lives.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Gift of You" makes a wonderful present., February 9, 2006

By 

Ogden "Ogden" (Annapolis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gift of You, The Gift of Me (Hardcover)

"The Gift of You the Gift of Me" cleverly captures how the little cat Jamile appreciates the really important things in life, especially nature and those we love and those who love us. When difficult times come, Jamile thinks of those really important things, and finds courage and peace of mind. The poignant story of the "Gift of You" makes a wonderful present for young and old alike.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Classic, January 5, 2006

By 

Lorenzo (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gift of You, The Gift of Me (Hardcover)

"The Gift of You, The Gift of Me" is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book which offers hope and wisdom. At its center is the little cat Jamile, who each day walks down the lane to visit his "tree friends." He listens to the trees quietly expressing their gratitude for the beauty of nature in a cadence that will sooth and comfort both child and adult alike:

Thank you for
A place of peace
A place of dreams
And a place of sleep

Thank you for the ancient stones
For sand and sea
And a place called home

Such flow is reminiscent of the soothing tone of "Good Night Moon."

"The Gift of You, The Gift of Me" also carries a message of hope. One day, Jamile is unable to visit the trees because of a terrible storm, and he retreats to his home, "tired and cold." Yet even in his sadness, he is able to recall the voices of the trees, and in doing so, he finds not only comfort but also strength and courage. He realizes that expressing our gratitude helps us, and so he is able thank his eyes, his ears, his hands:

Thank you hands,
For reaching out,
Over sadness and over doubt
Toward all that is of wonder.

The book also offers "a secret" that makes us free, which is recongizing what Martin Buber calls the "I-Thou relationship": that "you" are a gift, and so am "I."

An Amazon-Listmania reader/writer has already said that the illustrations are worthy of a Caldecott, and I truly agree. This book is one of the greatest picture books I have seen in a long time.