Customer Reviews

Uncle Vova's Tree

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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We have read this book every year since 2001 with our children, now ages 8 and 10. We all love this book- it is a reminder that Christmas is about family, love, traditions and faith. We have taken on two of Uncle Vova's traditions in our family- we set a place at the table for those who can not be with us and we put a gold dollar coin in someone's soup. Beware: if you lost a loved one recently, you may not be able to get through the end.

This book is about Patricia Polacco's Christmas traditions. I think this book will teach you a lot about Patricia Polacco. This book would interest elementary kids the most. I really liked this book.

As a former librarian, this book was always one I recommended at Christmas time. Now that I am retired, I wanted it for my private library. (My grandchildren are my excuse, but I love the story myself.) Polacco's stories are always special and warm and typically tell of a personal family experience. This story covers themes of family loss and the traditions that give meaning to such loss. Through words and pictures(Polacco is the illustrator as well as the author)the story is a happy celebration of love and warmth. I highly recommend this story for all ages.

I love this story, and used to read it regularly every year to my children when they were younger and to my elementary classroom when I was teaching. I completely disagree with the Publisher's Weekly reviewer who claimed that the end seems contrived. I am very sensitive to "contrived" sentimentality and despise it. But, this book genuinely brings tears to my eyes. I never felt manipulated, and I greatly enjoyed the story.

This is one that I plan to read to the grandkids...and probably cry all through the end.