This simple story about two friends, a rabbit and a pumpkin, is also a parable about life, love, death, and renewal. Angela the pumpkin becomes aware of the sun, wind, earth, and rain both around her and inside her. Moved by the beauty of the world, she willingly sacrifices herself to provide light, love, and life to others. Sammy the rabbit watches as his beloved friend becomes first a lantern to help those afraid of the dark, then pumpkin pie to provide nourishment, and finally seeds to give birth to new life. The Gift is a wonderful way to introduce stewardship to children, especially the ideas of moving from gratitude to stewardship and of being a steward of one's own talents. Angela first responds with praise a hundred times a day for the gifts she's received. Then, her immense gratitude moves her to make a response with her whole being, which in turn inspires others to gratitude. This is a timeless lesson about sacrifice that readers of all ages will carry in their hearts forever. The Gift is similar to The Giving Tree without suggesting that title's often-criticized subtext of female subservience and of enabling. The Gift succeeds on its own as a beautifully written picture book for children ages five and up. It's also a unique "sermon starter" on stewardship for pastors, preachers, retreat directors, and stewardship committees--as well as a provocative class "discussion starter" for teachers and catechists to use with students from grade school through adult. Because the story remains closely tied to its rabbit and pumpkin characters, it is appropriate for a wide general interfaith audience. +
