The Best Gifts is the story of Sara and the important moments in her life. It starts with her birth and concludes when she welcomes her own baby. On each occasion, friends and family bring gifts to celebrate. In the end, though, the most cherished gifts are the ones that cannot be purchased. The first cherished gift Sara receives is her mother's milk and the story comes full circle when she gives that same gift to her own baby.
Originally published in 1998, The Best Gifts has been fully revised, with all-new illustrations and updated breastfeeding resource information.
Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch is the author of sixteen books for children and young adults. The first edition of The Best Gifts was published in 1998. Marsha received the SCBWI inaugural Crystal Kite for Stolen Child, and the Order of Princess Olha, in recognition of her outstanding achievement in the development of the culture of Ukraine, in particular for her picture book, Enough (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2001). And no, you do not have to call her Princess Marsha.
Elly MacKay works with paper arts. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax and then studied printmaking for a year at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. She lives near Owen Sound, Ontario with her family working on various illustration projects and teaching at the local art gallery.
"There is an elegance to the text, and Skrypuch conveys a comforting, peaceful mood to her story. This tranquillity is mirrored by the soft and colourful illustrations done in watercolours and paper artwork. The predominant hues are of a red/orange combination, with the beauty of nature playing a significant role. The dreamlike quality of the illustrations is appealing and serves the story well. McKay also presents a variety of interesting perspectives in her drawings. This title that was first published in 1998 is now accompanied by this lovely new artwork."
Recommended.
— CM Magazine
2017 Storytelling World Resource Awards honour in the Stories for Adult Listeners category
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