Customer Reviews

The Trees of the Dancing Goats (Aladdin Picture Books)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a rare find. Patricia Polacco grabs the readers interest with her usual warmth. The story tells of a winter on the farm when most of the rest of the families in the village have come down with Scarlet Fever. As Trisha and her family prepare for the upcoming Hanukkah celebration, they realize that the other families will not be well enough to celebrate Christmas. Trisha's family decides that they will take a special holiday dinner and decorations made from their Hanukkah presents to the other families homes to surprise them. The example of unselfish giving is one every child should be exposed to.

I have read this book to my first grade class each year for the last three years. Each time I read it, there will be at least a couple of children who begin to cry. I cannot read this story without getting a lump in my throat. I recommend this book to EVERYONE!

This lovely tale of goowill and friendship between Christians and Jews is a must for every elementary media center and public library collection. Never preachy, Polacco's theme is clear to children as the touching story unfolds. You should have this one

This is my favorite new book of this holiday season. Here is a story for Christians and Jews alike...a story that celebrates the spirit of humanity. Through her rich, lively paintings, Polacco brings us a message of love, through the friendship of two young girls, who although they do not share the same religion and traditions, they in fact DO share this one particular holiday season. Warm your heart with joy as you read this story of two families and how we truly are all one.

My teacher does an "author study" program and our first featured author was Patricia Polacco. My teacher read some of her books to my class and during reading I would read them to myself. I read this book and it was one of my favorites. We bought it and I love it. I recommend this book for anyone who loves to read! The author writes about the time when she was a young child and a lot of her neighbors got scarlet fever. The girl and her family is Jewish, and since they are not sick, the girl, her older brother, her mom, her babushka, and her grandpa go out and chop down trees and decorate them with colorful animal figures. I won't tell you the surprise ending, but this book is awesome! I recommend this book highly.

Trees of the Dancing Goats is a beautiful, poignant story and one of my all time favorites. Grown-ups love it as much as the kids. If you don't have this one on your bookshelf, you should get it! If you've been good, maybe Santa Claus will drop a copy in your stocking this year!

A few years ago I was lucky enough to overhear our school librarian recommend this book to another parent at the school book fair. There was only one copy left so I took it.

Now, each December I get out our family's box of holiday books and this is the first one we read. My youngest child handed me a tissue before I started reading it last December! She knows how this book touches my heart and warms my soul.

I have given this book to family and friends ... young and old. Great book to spread the message of what is really important -- at the holidays especially.

Drawing upon her own family's experience, Patricia Polacco shares a story of true holiday giving. Her Russian grandparents teach the meaning of friendship and miracles as they relate the story of Hanukkah and as they reach out to their Christian neighbors who are suffering from a deadly epidemic of scarlet fever. They adapt the symbols of their Jewish celebration to bring Christmas to those who are too ill to create their own festivities. Polacco's colorful illustrations capture the warmth and spirit of the characters and do much to enhance this wonderful story.

This is a great book! I will read it to my 4th and 5th grade class this year and discuss the love and open-mindedness of the Russian family. This book gives children and adults a genuine example of how they can honor others' beliefs and traditions.

This is a great holiday story. It teaches people a wonderful meaning of what the holidays are about! It is about a girl whose family is from Russia and they celebrate Hannukah. The little girl's best friend celebrates Christmas. One day she goes to her house and finds that the girl and her family has scarlet fever! A deadly disease. It is also very contagious. The jewish girl's friend is upset because they are to weak to set up a tree. Well, the jewish family is the only one not sick so they cut small trees, make food, and then take them to their neighbors! They soon get well and the christian family makes them a monorah. They celebrate the last day of Hannukah together. It is a wonderful sory of how two religions can get together and have a great holiday season!

This is another book I purchased to use with my elementary students. What an absolutely delightful story! Any book that so wonderfully illustrates respect of many different beliefs gets high marks from me.....and this book does just that. Through this delightful story the reader learns of Christmas and Hanukkah traditions AND that they can compliment each other very nicely. I also think the story is a great example of service and being a great neighbor.