It is Zeesie's seventh birthday, and not only does she have an elegant new dress and her own dollar bill, but Papa has decided she is old enough to attend that evening's package party. The party is grand, with great towers of wrapped surprise packages to be auctioned to raise money for other new immigrants to the community. But, as Zeesie soon discovers, not everything and everyplace at the party is meant to be explored. And what she does see that night on Delancy Street leaves her with a new knowledge of what giving is all about.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
Absolutely outstanding:
This would be a fine book even if it were only a well-executed example of those "learn about a culture" books. But it is much more. The book teaches -- without the heavy-handed EXPLANATIONS that so often destroy the flow and writing and make the whole thing seem so artificial -- about Jewish values and the complexities of social responsibility, justice and dignity, without ever TELLING them to the reader. The author lets the story speak for itself, and the message comes through all the more clearly, not... more info
Excellent!:
This is an oustanding book for children. My daughter received it as a gift, and it is one of those rare books that adults feel delivers a powerful message, but children love anyway! The book gives an interesting look at an immigrant Jewish community without ever being pedagogical, and, even better, teaches a wonderful philosophy of social justice and "charity" without being in the least preachy and (even rarer) without stating in words the point the story has just made. You will love this one
