 [Larger view] | Three Cheers for Catherine the Great!
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Average user rating:  | |
 Really original and fun. | |
| The 4 year old I am a nanny to has asks me to read this to her over and over and I am happy to because it is so charming. It is grandmas birthday and she wants "no presents". By the end of the story she is given things of real value by her family like a poem, a dance and best of all, the gift of a new language. It holds a wonderful sentiment for kids. But, don't expect miracles....when I asked the little girl if we should make her 5th birthday a "no present" birthday she quickly said, "NO!" A must have for any kids library. | |
 A Delightful Surprise | |
| This book was recommended to me by two people that I work with. I thought the title was kind of cheesy, but I finally did read it, and I am happy I did. The story is that of a young girl, named Sara, who is looking for the perfect "no-present" for her Russian grandmother. In this search, Sara reflects on many of the wonderful things about her grandmother, and finally comes up with a "no-present" for her grandmother, "Catherine the Great". The story is not just about Sara's search, but also brings into light some of the characters' histories. Grandma is "Catherine" because when they came to America, "Ekaterina" just seemed too odd. Even in this "New World", grandma has managed to keep much of her Russian-ness about her, speaking in Russian and keeping Russian traditions. Sara is definitely more "American", but still loves her grandmother very much, and has an interest in keeping some of her heritage about herself as well. I very much enjoyed the occasional phrases in Russian. I know to many people, these are unreadable and extraneous, but they are very sweet if you are fortunate enough to be able to read them. | |
| Gifts from the Heart | |
| A heartwarming story for all ages about people who give the greatest gifts of all - their kindness and sharing of their unique God-given talents. |
