Item 1 of 1
The best kind of gift -
by Kathi Appelt ; illustrated by Paul Brett Johnson.
Publisher description
[New York] : HarperCollins Publishers, c2003.
1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 29 cm.
Annotations:
- Jory fears that he is too small to find a suitable gift to welcome the new parson.
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
- Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award, 2005-2006 ; Nominee; Grades K-3; Arkansas
Reading Measurement Programs:
Accelerated Reader
Interest Level Lower Grade
Book Level 3.6
Accelerated Reader Points 0.5
Lexile, MetaMetrics, Inc.
Adult Directed
Lexile Measure 690
Reading Counts-Scholastic
Interest Level K-2
Reading Level 3
Title Point Value 2
Lexile Measure AD 690
Reviews:
- Candice Ransom (Children's Literature)
When the new parson arrives at the All-Faiths Tabernacle, the folks in Dogwood plan to hold a pounding, an old-time Welcome Wagon where people bring "a pound a'this and a pound a'that." Jory Timmons wants to contribute a special gift to Brother Harper, too. His mother is baking a blackberry pie, ("the best kind of gift is a treat"), but Jory is too small to use the stove. His father is donating a pail of milk ("the best kind of gift is given gladly"), but Jory is too little to milk Betsy. Jory can't heft his brother's useful gift of corn or pluck eggs from beneath his grandmother's proud hens. His grandfather, whose gift of a sapling ("the best kind of gift is one you'd like to get yourself"), suggests Jory skip rocks instead of kicking them. As he and his grandfather skip stones across the pond, Jory knows what gift he will take to the pounding. Appelt's inspirational story is grounded in rural traditions and values. Though Jory sometimes feels as small as a corn cake or a barn cat, he grows when he hands Brother Harper exactly one pound of skipping rocks. Under Paul Brett Johnson's watercolor brush, the friendly folks of Dogwood come to life against cool mountain hues. Yes, indeed, Appelt has written a warm, wise story about the importance of giving from the heart. 2003, HarperCollins, $16.99. Ages 4 to 8.Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2003 (Vol. 71, No. 5))
A genuinely warm-hearted story of gift-giving that has a nice, traditional feel about it. The scene is Dogwood, somewhere in the rolling hills of the American South, and there is a new parson at the All-Faith Tabernacle. The townsfolk were "mighty pleased to have him, so right away they decided to have a pounding." This might alarm some readers, but they soon learn that a "pounding" has nothing to do with beating the parson to jelly; a pounding is "when everyone takes a pound o' this and a pound o' that to help make Brother Harper feel at home." Mama is making a blackberry pie, because it's a treat, and Papa is gladly bringing a bucket of fresh milk. Young Jory wants to bring something, too, something like his brother's useful sack of corn or Granny's basket of eggs, of which she is justly proud, but Jory is too little to put together a pounding like those. Grandpa's giving an apple sapling-a gift he'd like to get himself-which ultimately inspires Jory to give the parson a nice bag of rocks, good throwing rocks he'd like to have himself. A low thrum of kindliness runs through the proceedings, as it does through the artwork, despite what appear to be empty eye sockets and really bad teeth. There are a countless good reasons to give a gift-as a treat, because it's useful, makes you proud, or because you'd like it and can share in the pleasure-and they get a gladdening observance in this sweetly old-fashioned tale that's a gift to its readers. 2003, HarperCollins, $16.99. Category: Picture book. Ages 4 to 8. © 2003 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Subjects:
- Size Fiction.
Gifts Fiction.
| Language | Call Number | LCCN | Dewey Decimal | ISBN/ISSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English (eng) | PZ7.A6455 Be 2003 |
2001024751 |
[Fic] |
0688153925 0688153933 (lib. bdg.) 9780688153922 9780688153939 |