A Royal Gift

by Marietta D. Moskin, Catherine Stock (Illustrator)

Anxious to present a special wedding gift to the King's son and his bride, two elderly sisters finally find something they can afford and that seems just right.

56 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1982

About the author

MOSKIN--Marietta D., 83, beloved widow of A. Donald Moskin and mother of James and Linda, died peacefully on August 3, in her home in Manhattan. Born in Vienna, Austria, she came to the United States with her parents in 1946. She earned a BA from Barnard College and an MA in economics from the University of Wisconsin, and worked as an economist for General Motors. Later, she became a prolific children's book author with sixteen books plus short stories and translations. She was a Holocaust survivor, and her book, I Am Rosemarie, was based on her experiences and has been translated into German and Dutch. It is still used in schools in the United States and Europe. She was a member of the Unitarian Church of all Souls for fifty-five years, and served on its board and committees and as editor of its Quarterly Review. Survived by her children, James and Linda. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

—The New York Times on August 7, 2011

Reviews

[Maria Antonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an adorable book! This is the story of a Royal Wedding and two old ladies (sisters: Miss Agatha and Miss Prudence) who decide to give a gift to the prince and his bride. And the gift (with the twist at the end)… well, I won’t spoil it.

As a chapter book, there are gorgeous illustrations on every spread… some in black and white and others in colour. The whole book has a very old fashioned feeling to it. (Sadly, I wouldn’t be surprised if this book is out of print! My copy came from my SIL and she got it from a library book sale. It’s a pity if it is out of print because the book and story are so beautiful.)

I really liked the author’s note at the end. She calls this story “one of those ‘it might be true’ type of stories.” Apparently, it made the rounds when the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and the Queen Mum) were married in 1923. [4 Stars]