Gifts

Joan Buchanan is a writing instructor and storyteller, and the author of
Taking Care of My Cold! and The Nana Rescue.

No mistaking this cover—you can tell right away it’s by Barbara
Reid. Reid’s Plasticine work seems to get better and better. Gifts
presented a challenge to her, in that so many of Jo Ellen Bogart’s
gifts were intangible. The challenge was met and the result is a
rollicking, visually stimulating marriage of verse and pictures.

The premise is travelling Grandma’s simple question “What would you
have me bring?” As the story progresses, the reader wonders how much
more impossible the requests can become. For example, when Grandma goes
to Hawaii, the granddaughter asks for “Just the secret wish of a
flying fish, and a rainbow to wear as a ring.” There isn’t a great
deal of text, but what there is bounces right along.

Reid’s colors and details are astounding. The title page features a
gold-handled Chinese teapot decorated with Grandma riding an intricate,
textured gold dragon. The symmetry and the flow of the page work
extremely well. The overall design of the book is very pleasing. Added
touches, such as a Plasticine world map on the inside front and back
covers with markers showing the countries Grandma visits, help make this
an instructive and very attractive book. Highly recommended.