Three Cheers for Catherine the Great!
By Sharon Asta,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Miniature mystery will keep kids engaged.
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What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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What's the Story?
No presents for Grandma's birthday? When Sara realizes that giving can come from the heart, she seeks out the perfect gift. What can she find that is as great as her amazing grandmother? This story about the love of a special woman, a resourceful girl, and a tight-knit community warms the heart.
Is It Any Good?
This warm story provides a glimpse into the lives of a Russian immigrant, her descendants, and her fellow apartment tenants. The writing is clear with a childlike tone. Russian words are included in the text.
Whimsical, folk art-style watercolors provide clues to the characters' personalities, customs, and everyday life: Russian nesting dolls sit on Grandma's dresser, and pictures of fur-hatted relatives and a dancing bear hang on the wall. The visual details create a sense of intimacy and invite readers to pause often and pore over them. A brief author's note and a recipe for borscht provide interesting touches to this well thought-out book.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the cultural differences and the characters' activities and behaviors.
Book Details
- Author: Cari Best
- Illustrator: Giselle Potter
- Genre: Family Life
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: DK Publishing Inc.
- Publication date: January 1, 1999
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 7
- Number of pages: 28
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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