Jackie's Gift

Robinson, Jackie Robinson's daughter, adds to her oeuvre with this Christmas anecdote, based on family history, about cultural differences and common ground. Young Steve Satlow's Jewish family welcomed the Robinsons to their Brooklyn neighborhood, while others protested their arrival. Befriending his baseball hero, Steve mentions that his family doesn't have a Christmas tree and, not realizing that the Satlows don't celebrate Christmas, Jackie brings them one. It's a wonderfully human moment, the awkwardness of which is eased by laughter and the spirit in which the gift was given. A tender and nuanced holiday story, all the more moving because it's true. Ages 3–up. (Oct.)