Review - What Is Given from the Heart

What Is Given from the Heart
by Patricia C. McKissack
illustrated by April Harrison
Date: 2019
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

This final picture book from author Patricia McKissack is a celebration of the joy of giving.

"Misery loves company," Mama says to James Otis. It's been a rough couple of months for them, but Mama says as long as they have their health and strength, they're blessed. One Sunday before Valentine's Day, Reverend Dennis makes an announcement during the service-- the Temples have lost everything in a fire, and the church is collecting anything that might be useful to them. James thinks hard about what he can add to the Temple's "love box," but what does he have worth giving?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I was almost put off at the very beginning. Taking a page from Disney, the narrator's father "goes to sleep" on the porch and never wakes up, leaving his wife and son destitute. Because of this rather traumatizing beginning, I'd be hesitant to give the book to very young children.

But, as I kept reading, the story grew on me. I wasn't a fan of the colloquial language, and not because of the vernacular; it just didn't seem all that consistent. The story itself, though, is pretty good. James Otis and his mother hear about a family who has lost everything in a fire. Despite the fact that they have very little to give, James Otis and Mama come up with a way to contribute, which makes everyone's heart fill with joy.

The illustrations are really nice. They're sort of collage-like, with stylized characters and lots of textures. The few close-up pictures of the characters are really lovely.

Because of the subject matter and the rather scary beginning (kids might never want their dads to take a nap again!) I'd be hesitant to recommend this to really little kids. The child characters in this book are nine and seven, and that's probably a suitable target audience for this particular story.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.17 out of 5