Gifts of the Heart

Loved the story. Great author illustrates the books

Another Children's Christmas Book masterpiece from the heart and pen of Patricia Polacco. The whole essence of this wonderful book can be summed up in the following excerpt from the book, "A gift of the heart ain't opened by pullin' on a fancy bow or rippin' pretty paper off a box. It's about openin' your heart... and givin what's inside. This is the greatest gift of all!"The story opens under rather sad circumstances, This is Trisha and Ritchie's last Christmas on Grandpa and Grandma's farm. Grandma passed away in the Fall and Grandpa was selling the farm in the Spring. Trisha and Ritchie lived with Grandma and Grandpa on their wonderful farm. Grandpa was selling the farm -- too many memories. Trisha and Ritchie's mom took a teaching job rather far from the farm and it was always very late in the evening until she got home. Grandpa made arrangements with an agency to obtain a housekeeper to help clean and cook for the kids. At first, Ritchie could not accept the new housekeeper - Kay Lamity, taking the place of his dead grandmother but soon the new housekeeper won the hearts of both children and taught them some valuable lessons about the true meaning of Christmas gift giving.Patricia Polacco also weaves some other valuable lessons into this wonderful children's book like faith and encouragement to others, forgivemess and the joy of intangible gifts as well as the joy of giving something of yourself to others. The author also includes a certain amount of mystery and irony in this book. You will want to read the book to appreciate the mysterious ending.The illustrations are typical "Patricia Polacco" and so skillfully capture the emotions of each character. I heartily recommend this wonderful children's' Christmas book. It would be great to share with your sons and daughters and grandchildren at Christmas time. It would also be great to use as a "read aloud" book in the classroom. While I don't normally like secular treatment of the Christmas story, I feel the important values and morals found in this story makes this a very worthwhile children's Christmas book. One word of caution - if the treatment of Santa Claus as a real person offends you, then this is not the book for you.

This is a good book but not one of her best. The artwork was beautiful as always. The story, however, was weak compared to so many of her other wonderful picture books.

Great story. Beautiful pictures.

This is a wonderful and most lovely book. I used this to teach my students that the best gifts aren't always something that is purchases, but how we treat others. I have never been disappointed by Patricia's book. She is such an inspiration in so many ways, to me and my students.

Yet another wonderful Polacco book, which brought tears to my eyes with its message. I had hoped it would be a memoir, like Thank You, Mr. Falker and others by Polacco, but it's not; although it does seem to have elements of Polacco's actual childhood, there is no point at which she stands back and reflects on what she learned from this housekeeper. So although I look forward to doing this as a late December read aloud every year, I won't be adding it to my memoir bin. (If you're looking for memoir by Polacco, in addition to Mr. Falker, get The Art of Miss Chew, Mr; Wayne's Masterpiece, and When Lightning Comes in a Jar.)

My students LOVE Patricia Polacco, so when this book came out I bought it immediately. It's another story about Patricia, her brother Richie and her family at Christmas. The story is about the last year at their grandparent's farm after Grandma died. It's a poignant story that will touch your child's heart, especially if they've read other books about Patricia and her family.

Lovely story expressing true meaning of Christmas. Anyone over the age of 5 could appreciate this story and message. I hope more stories like this will continue to be written as I look each year for a new story to give to my son who is now 26 with the hope he will still treasure the messages and pass them on to his children

Such a wonderful message. Of course Patricia Polacco is like Santa all year long!Her messages in everything she writes is spot on.

Good Christmas story