This book is even more than just a wonderful tale of morality. It gives a hint of the joy of the ineffable that can hardly be spoken of in words. It can be felt--through the beautiful story, through the illustrations, and through something "between the lines".

I'd like to note that The Peddlar's Gift is the winner of the 1999 Sydney Taylor Award in the category of books for younger readers. This is an annual literary prize awarded by the Association of Jewish Libraries for excellence in children's books with strong Jewish content. The award is named after the late Sydney Taylor, the author of the All-of-a-Kind Family books.... Heidi Estrin, Association of Jewish Libraries, South Florida Chapter

I picked up "The Reading Woman" in a museum gift shop and have loved owning it. I use it as a journal of the books I've read in the past and what I'm currently reading. It's amazing how quickly you forget a books you've read, so I enjoy writing my thoughts right after I finish one. The illustrations are lovely, some of them paintings from other centuries. Women have made time for reading FOREVER. Now that I've filled this journal completely, does anyone know of a similar one I can start?

This is a beautiful journal for women who love books and reading. This lovely volume is organized for the books you've read, books you want to read, books you've loaned out, and more. What sets this jewel apart from other book journals are the lovely prints of paintings depicting women in various situations, simply enjoying reading. No cooking, caring for children, cleaning, teaching, nursing, etc. Just reading for pleasure. The journal also includes wonderful quotes about reading and books. Beautifully done.

This Book is an excellent book. Not only is it fun to read but it is imformative too. This book was set during world war one and the holocaust. This book is about a young girl and her life over a long period of time. It had a very clever plot and kept me interested the whole way through the book. This book is geared for people between the ages of 12-15. Buy this book and you won't be sorry.

Sacred Shadows is an exiting and touching book. It shows what it was like for a German Jew to live in Poland during the times of Hitler. Lena, a teenaged girl who helps her mother in the shoe store. Sala, a friend from school, and Lena become very good friends, but later Sala freezes to death near a lake after a cold night in Lena's basement. Further into the story Lena falls in love and goes to another country with him because it's too hard to be a Jew in Poland. This is a great book, I think that everyone should read it!

Maxine Schur's Enchanted Islands: Voices And Visions From The Caribbean is a beautifully organized and illustrated journal with a motif showcasing through paintings and quotations the joy and mystery of the Caribbean. Whether embarking upon a Caribbean cruise, or just armchair traveling with your own thoughts and observations, Enchanted Islands is an ideal, highly recommended repository for personal experiences, reflections, and memories.

Hannah Senesh is the symbol of virtue, valor, and compassion. She risked, and lost, everything she ever had to save others. This book deserves an accolade of praise, and should be recommended to young adult readers. Not only does it give the reader an understanding of this dark time in history, it also presents a sense of hope. For even in the darkest of shadows, there is a light- like Hannnah Sensesh. Highly recommended!

This is another in the American Girls series about Samantha Parkington, a nine-year-old orphan girl living with her grandmother in the America of 1904. In this book, Samantha is all excited, preparing for the coming Christmas. But, when the family finds out that Samantha's Uncle Gard is bringing his girlfriend Cornelia to visit (a serious matter back then), the whole household is turned upside down, along with Samantha's plans. Samantha begins to resent Cornelia, but before Christmas Day arrives, she might just learn a lesson.

The final chapter of this book is a highly informative look at Christmas in 1904 America. Also, I must say that I did enjoy the wonderful illustrations provided by Nancy Niles and R. Grace.

This is another very good American Girls book. Unlike the other Samantha books that my daughter and I have read, this one does not set out to show any of the less savory details of life in 1904 America, but it is nonetheless and enjoyable book with a nice lesson. My daughter and I both enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to you.

Not the best of all the Samantha books, but really great. Samantha is so excited about Christmas and preparing for the holidays. Her plans are foiled when her Uncle Gard announces he is bringing his girlfriend Cornelia home for Christmas. Samantha wants to be nothing but hostile towards her, but as she gets to know her she likes her more and more. A great story about family, people, and the Christmas spirit.

Samantha's Surprise is the third book in a series of books about Samantha. Samantha is invited to A Christmas party put on by her good friend Ida Dean. At the same time she plans to make a large gingerbread house with Mrs. Hawkins, and decorate the house herself. But Samantha's Christmas plans start to fall when her Uncle Gard announces that he plans on bringing his friend Cornelia along for this Christmas. Now, it seems that all of Samantha's plans are destroyed--and Samantha blames Cornelia for ruining everthing. But there's more than one surprise in store for Samantha on Christmas day!
While Samantha's Christmas story isn't neccessarily the best in the series, her story has it's good points, and Samantha learns to accept change as a result. The book is a recommended read to those who are big fans of the American Girls Collection series. The Peek into the Past section at the end of the book tells about Victorian Era Christmas, and how it differed for the rich and the poor.

Although I wasn't a huge fan of the book, it did give a good insight into the Russian world. Mendel's courage and dedication should be looked up to. This book tells the story of Mendel, a Russian boy, trying to get away from being forced into the army. It shows many ups and downs but tends to get boring. It does have some good moments but for the most part this is not the best book I've ever read.

This is a wonderful book about a little known period when children were conscripted into the army. The hero is an adolescent boy with the courage to change his destiny. It's an adventure story that keeps you glued from beginning to end. But unlike many adventure stories, there is a core of profound emotional truths that belie the genre. Obviously,the research that went into this book was exhaustive. And the power of the author to evoke the period is only one of the ways in which she excels as a writer. As a writer of historical fiction for young people she has few peers.