This is Patricia Polacco at her best—a true story from her childhood turned into a picture book that teaches empathy without being preachy. The interfaith angle is genuinely lovely: a Jewish family doesn't just tolerate their Christian neighbors' holiday, they actively make it happen when illness threatens to ruin it.
The sacrifice element is what makes this story sing. Grampa's carved animals were meant to be Hanukkah gifts for Trisha and her brother, but they become Christmas ornaments instead. That's the kind of generosity that sticks with kids—not just giving away extra stuff, but giving away something precious.
The book does feel a bit dated in pacing and illustration style compared to modern picture books, and the scarlet fever epidemic setup is very 'old-timey.' But the emotional core is timeless, and the 4.8 Amazon rating (plus 4.34 on Goodreads) suggests it still resonates with families. A solid holiday read that builds cultural literacy and models the kind of friendship we all want our kids to have.






