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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
This is a wonderful story. There are so many of us who live amongst people who celebrate in different ways. Everyone's traditions are special and it is nice to find ways to be a part of it even if you are not a part of that religion or culture.
A young Jewish girl moves to a small village in France with her family, and is dismayed to find that she is the only child in her class who will not be celebrating Christmas, until she learns that one of her classmates comes from a family too poor to celebrate the holiday.
A short, sweet tale about the many ways different cultures meet and can come together, and about the magic of giving.
A short, sweet tale about the many ways different cultures meet and can come together, and about the magic of giving.
"When Charlotte and her family move to France, there is a lot to adjust to. Because she can't speak French, Charlotte is put in the lowest grade, which she doesn't like. And what she dislikes the most is when Colette, a girl in her class, calls her a -foreigner.- But the holidays are coming, and Charlotte is fascinated by the preparations being made for Christmas---Noel- in French. To her disappointment, her mother tells her that this is not for their family, they will have Chanukah instead. But when Charlotte learns that Colette's family will miss Christmas too, not because they are Jewish but because they are poor, she puts aside her hurt feelings and convinces her parents that they should give Christmas to Colette's family, as a gift."
I was rather bothered by this story. Charlotte is Jewish but wants to celebrate Christmas with all the lights, decorations, and presents. Her parents say no, but then Charlotte learns a classmate, Colette, won't have Christmas because they are poor. Charlotte convinces her father to let them make Christmas for Colette and her family, so that she can also experience the holiday. I felt this book failed to make Chanukah special for Charlotte, and instead privileged Christmas - making it really not a Chanukah book.
A nice historical story about a girl who wants Christmas so she helps her friend so they both can have it. Illustrations are dark but add some good context to the setting.