Review by Booklist Review
Grandma Rose works wonders with a needle and thread, often surprising friends and neighbors with handmade gifts. When she does jobs for paying customers, whether hemming a skirt or making a wedding tablecloth, she always adds a little something extra. Must be magic, she says. Saving for a special set of dishes like ones she remembers from Shabbos as a child, Rose is chagrined to discover the coveted dishes are no longer in the department store. But the magic she sowed has a way of coming back, and the community bonds together to reward Rose's kindness. Jatkowska's bright, splashy drawings are filled with patterned fabrics and introduce children to the accoutrements of the trade an old-fashioned Singer machine, wooden spools of thread, dress patterns, and a dressmaker's form, all of which may excuse the dated portrayal of the white-haired, pince-nez-wearing granny. Children and grandmothers alike will enjoy the satisfying if predictable ending to this feel-good story where generosity is a two-way street.--Austin, Patricia Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Grandma Rose sews wonderful clothing and linens for her friends and family. The grateful recipients comment on the surprise touches she always adds to her pieces, but she just says, "Must be magic." She saves the money she earns to buy a set of pretty dishes like the ones her own grandmother used on Shabbos (the Jewish sabbath). A moment of crisis comes when the dishes are no longer available at the department store, but she arrives home to find that her family has bought her the coveted china and has gathered to celebrate her generosity. This is a pleasant (if somewhat saccharine) story, but children hoping for a tale of magic will be disappointed. Those seeking Jewish content may also be disappointed to find it limited to that one mention of Shabbos, although Grandma Rose could be used as an example of "a woman of valor." Bright, cheerful paintings in a mildly retro style show an iconic grandmother, complete with half-moon glasses and white bun. All in all, this is a rather girly story both thematically and visually, and the lack of any real action may limit its appeal.-Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Grandma Rose always sews something extra for her clients--all friends, neighbors, and family. When her satisfied customers discover that she is saving for a set of dishes, they find a way to thank her. Children may be unable to identify with Rose's desire for fine china, though they may enjoy the whirlwind of color and movement in the illustrations. (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
(Picture book. 4-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
