A GIFT FOR MAMA

by Esther Hautzig ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 27, 1981

Poland during the 1930s, Sara's artistic mother always insists that the best presents are handmade and those Sara makes are best of all. But for once Sara wants to buy Mama a Mother's Day present, a pair of black satin slippers to wear with the black satin robe from Papa. Mama, who goes around in an old red flannel robe, says she'll wear the grander one when she has new slippers. But how to get nine zlotys for slippers? Sara, who is adept with the needle, will be a ""clothes doctor"" for her young aunt Margola's college friends. ""Their clothes do look shabby,"" says Margola. ""Many of my friends aren't from Vilna. They live not with their families but in rented rooms. . . ."" So Sara works busily for weeks, and though at first Mama accepts the store-bought slippers coolly, she melts when she sees all the hand work Sara did to get them. There's no more to the story than the title suggests--namely, family warmth and social studies value--but it will no doubt find its place.

Pub Date: April 27, 1981

ISBN: 0140385517

Page Count: -

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1981

Categories: FICTION