Doll Maker's Gift

Author: Sashi Fridman
Illustrated By: Jessica Schiffman

When Pogroms in Eastern Europe force little Nora`s family to flee to America, they discover at the last moment that they haven`t enough funds to pay for everyone`s passage. One of them will have to stay behind. The decision is difficult and Nora is to be left with a family friend, a kind doll maker who offers to care for her until they can earn enough money to pay for her journey. Nora`s mother is beside herself, heartbroken about leaving her youngest - yet the devoted doll maker shows that good friends are priceless and that all obstacles can be overcome when there is a true desire to help another.

Reviews

This heartwarming true story of a doll maker`s decision to risk everything to save another Jewish life comes alive with Schiffman`s charming illustrations in warm colors that depict each stage of the story, children will wonder at Nora`s miraculous story and learn the importance of saving another life.

-- Publishers Weekly 

The Doll Maker`s Gift is a children`s picturebook retelling the true story of how one man`s courage and insight saved a little girl`s life. When horrible pogroms in Eastern Europe forced little Nora`s family to escape to America, they discovered that they didn`t have enough money to buy passage for everyone - one member would have to stay behind. Six-year-old Nora was sent to live with a kindly dollmaker, who was a friend of the family, yet her parents and siblings feared for her safety. At the last instant, the dollmaker had an idea that could reunite Nora with her family - but only if she could be a good girl and stay very still for several hours. The soft, color illustrations add a realistic visual touch to this dramatic story of survival and human goodness.

-- Midwest Book Review