Gifts

by Jo Ellen Bogart, Barbara Reid (Illustrator)

A whimsical introduction to faraway lands and cultures is told from the perspective of a young girl, whose adventurous grandmother brings her back such treasures as an African baobab seed, an Australian didgeridoo, and a Hawaiian rainbow.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Travel, Canada, Adventure, Fiction

44 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Jo Ellen Bogart has written 20 books for young readers, including The White Cat and the Monk, which was named a Best Poetry Book by the National Council of teachers of English. Her bestselling books include Jeremiah Learns to Read, Daniel's Dog, and Gifts. Jo Ellen has won the Ruth Schwartz Award and has been shortlisted for the Mr. Christie's Book Award.

Reviews

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember seeing this one around as a kid, but I don't remember reading it. I'm pretty sure the claymation style of pictures creeped me out back then...

But I saw this out in the wild and picked it up, deciding I need to curate my own childhood faves.

I loved this so much! Such a fun way to show traveling through different cultures, and with a rhyming scheme. Also the clay images... insanely amazing. That's true talent. I wish we had more books made in this style.

Five out of five stars.

[Gabrielle - Le Mot Juste · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect book for any gift giving season/occasion. I also aspire to be this kind of grandma one day & travel around the world 😜

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rhyming text about a grandma who travels and asks what she can bring her grandchild from each place. It's always something interesting, unusual, and unique to the place being visited. The illustrations are made of clay and just jump off the page. Fun. You could liven this one up with an older group by having them predict what the child will ask for from each place.

[clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

joaquim gave it to me in kindergarden, and since then is my favorite childbook. it reminds me of tia lucinha amd vovó jacira and all the gifts i received from peoples travels <3 it was also the first book i "read" (my mom read it to me so many times that i remembered the words and pretended to read it according to the illustrations)

[Allison Turkish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for studying different cities/countries/continents/cultures around the world.

I loved the plasticine illustrations in addition to the wonderful rhyming, repetition, and humor.

It's a very sweet and all-around great picture book. I would like to own a copy.

[Scout Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the plasticine art style and the story is great too. Really liked this book as a kid, mostly due to the visuals.

[Mariam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute rhyming story about an adventurous grandma

[Pristine Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

noice

[Sunny Shaffner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book both for the story and for the art work! There is an unbelievable amount of detail in pictures made from clay, and it gives the reader the feeling that the images are jumping out of the page. I also think it's great to see such a cool grandmother character who inspires future generations! It's a book that really stands out from my childhood and is a nice introduction to other countries/cultures to start exploring these with kids. Also, this is a rhyming book and it has a repetitive phrase used throughout the book, making it a good option for language based activities.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a plasticine picture book that talks about a little girl and her grandma who brings her gifts from her adventures around the world.

I picked up this book to look at the plasticine illustrations.
I finished it so I could see all the pictures.

I would recommend this to Michelle T. because she is also very itnerested in art and I think she would appreciate the details and textures of the plasticine like I did.

[Courtney]

Grandma decides to travel around the world, and as she visits each place she finds fascinating souveniers for her granddaughter.

Barbara Reid did the illustrations for this book by moulding plasticine and pressing it onto 'illustration board'. She also used acrylic glazes or paints for effect, to make something look shiny, like gold or silver objects and details.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The remarkable Plasticine illustrations in this book add so much to the story. A grandmother is a world traveller - to Africa, Australia, Mexico, Hawaii, the Arctic, India, Switzerland, China, England - and she always asks her granddaughter what should she bring back for her? The answers are lyrical and lovely, and the illustrations are stunning.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing illustrations created with clay are the highlight of this picture book about a grandmother who travels to all of the contents and asks her granddaughter what she'd like as a gift from each place. The girl asks for creative presents like "a rainbow to wear as a ring..."

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute and inspriational story in rhyme about a grandmother who travels the world and brings back the most amazing gifts. Barbara Reid's classic plasticine pictures bring this story to life, and leaves a new surprise each time you read it.

[Jean Doolittle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This traveling grandma shared this book with her granddaughter and loved it. The illustrations, three-dimensional vignettes done in colorful clay, were lively and beautiful. The fanciful illustrations matched the verse's poetic fancies.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow the art work in this book is so detailed and really is incredible. check it out.

[Pam Klassen-dueck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet :)

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

... Une histoire plutôt simple... Les illustrations sont INCROYABLES ! Les détails, m'ont fait revenir plusieurs pages en arrières pour examiner les détails. Magnifique travail :)

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous work here, and an elaborate fantasy. Wonderful book.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my absolute favourite children's books. Love the illustrator!

[Jeanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Barbara Reid's illustrations. The poem was a bit awkward but not so much that it took away from it. I liked the progression of time and the intergenerational view.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

English - We all really enjoyed this one.

French - we own it.

[Melissa]

Canadian author

Story about travelling...