The recent political atmosphere makes this book even more profoundly important. Children see the need and are starving to understand each other's cultures. I read it to my 11-yr and 13-yr. Puerto Rican - American born niece & nephew a couple of days before Thanksgiving, wondering if they'd be too old & too sophisticated to enjoy it, (they are Harry Potter fans.) This book both empowered them and satisfied their need to more fully understand how children from a different culture (Jewish) relate to "Thanksgiving." It 's apparent that we've gotton away from the roots of this American holiday and that "Thanksgiving" had never clicked in their heads. It helped them to understand why people from other countries still come to America today. My "kids" strongly identifed with "Rivka's" courage to stand up for her own point of view . They were thoroughy engaged in the story and loved the illustrations-and so did I. J. Gardner

Elsa Rael's book fills a truly needed place in American-Jewish children's literature and children's literature on the whole. The story of a clear headed and plunky little girl who mounts up steep wood tenement steps to confront first one austere little rabbi in his book-filled room to a whole roomful of them to explain why Jews should celebrate Christmas is wonderful! The Lower East Side is everyone's heritage, and Ms. Rael and her magical illustrator bring it to life. You see the world of the 1930's through the eyes of a child. Original and heartwarming.

In rich and spirited prose, accompanied by warmly rendered illustrations, Rivka's First Thanksgiving captures the texture and cadence of early 20th century Jewish immigrant life in New York City. The story teaches children the importance of old traditions, as well as the necessity for creating new ones. The reader can almost smell the turkey -- and the challah!

I began reading this to my daughter when she was just a few months old, and I have never tired of it. Now, my daughter is nearly 2-1/2 and she still loves hearing the tale over and over. The illustrations are clear and colorful, and it's fun to look for the egg in each one. The text (a la House that Jack Built) does a nice job in showing the progression of relationships: "This is the corn, that fed the hen, that laid the egg, that went into the cake that Mack ate. etc."

Here is the (well-earned!) praise from the back of the book:

Booklist said, "A rollicking cumulative tale...a perfect preschool read-aloud."

School Library Journal said, "Will delight audiences."

Los Angeles Times said, "If you want to share a hearty laugh with your preschooler, get your lap ready. [This is ] one of those rare picture books an adult won't mind reading thirty-seven times in one week."

I'm a music teacher and my students just love this book! It is
a great way to teach "Jingle Bells" and a great introduction to
a Winter lesson! They love Jenny and Joanna and Grandma!

Perfect for the preschooler, to help develop language skills and rhythm. Great if you can get it with the audio tape where the author reads her own work....makes it easier on Moms and Dads to get the tongue twisters right.

My daughter loves this story. She loves cute, pudgie Omar and the other bears. She loves iceskating and drawing. I love the subtle message of "try, try again." We read this one over and over and over. - And I don't mind!

I don't think many famous authors can achieve good books for children, but Atwood did it! Princess Prunella not only is a beautiful story, but the way the author plays with words and adjectives is fantastic. Very good book for children who are not very interested in reading. If you read it aloud for them and play it as a tongue twister, they'll love it!

This book is very entertaining. Both my daughters enjoy listening to me read it to them. A very good girls book with a lot of humour and lessons learned. You don't have to be pretty in life to be happy. I would recommend it to a friend or give it as a present. Appropreiate for ages 4 to 9.

In this fun-filled, flamboyant adaptation, a grandmother remembers riding red double-decker busses and singing this traditional song when she was a child. She shares it with her grandchildren with such animated energy while they wait for their modern-day bus, that they all get carried away in the enthusiasm of the moment and their present bus passes them right on by! This book made my toddler laugh out loud-a great accompaniment to the well-loved song.