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Gifts Of The Heart (2013)

by Patricia Polacco(Favorite Author)

4.2 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0399160949 (ISBN13: 9780399160943)

languge

English

genre

Middle Grade & Children's

publisher

Putnam Juvenile

review 1: As their grandfather gets ready to sell his beloved farm, Trisha and her older brother Richie enjoy one last Christmas there. A new housekeeper from the South, Kay Lamity, helps Trisha keep believing in the magic and miracles of Christmas while reminding both children that the best gifts aren't the ones that are bought. As always with this author, the message is positive and delivered gently even while being sprinkled with a touch of fairy dust. Like Trisha and Richie, young readers will wonder where those gifts came from and whether the sleigh tracks that disappear outside their farmhouse could have come from Santa. The illustrations, created with markers and pencils, allow the exuberant personality of Kay Lamity and the innocence of Trisha to shine through the book's pag... morees, possibly making believers out of the most cynical children and adults. This is a great read aloud for the holiday season even though it keeps readers guessing.
review 2: Book Title: Gifts of the Heart by: Patricia Polacco Short Description of the Book: This book is about Richie and Trisha who want to buy Christmas gifts for their family, but they don't have enough money. Then Kay Lamity, a new housekeeper comes into their lives. She is such positive energy and has a can-do attitude. Kay not only straightens them out when it comes to whether or not Santa Claus is real, she teaches them something about gifts: the just-good-enough kind that come from the pocketbook and the unforgettable kind that come from the heart. Because of Kay, Trisha and Richie—and the family—have a Christmas morning they will never forget.FOCUS: Narrative Features I would Use in a Mini-Lesson: *Character Development: Discuss how Polacco uses dialogue, description, and response of other characters to develop who Kay is. Teach the students that writers draw the readers in by letting them know who the important characters are in meaningful ways. *Memorable Ending: Polacco usually ends her books in a way that wraps up the story with a memorable ending. Sometimes it is a lesson that we can learn (theme), and other times it’s a sweet memory the characters have. Discuss the ending and discuss ways they can apply Patricia Polacco’s technique to their own writing. TEACH: CCSS Connection (4th grade): 4.W.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.a. Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.b. Use dialogue and description to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.e. Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events less

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