A Gift for Me? (I Want It!)
Zeena Pliska, author
Zeena Pliska is a Filipino-Egyptian author, educator, and blogger. She has worked as a kindergarten teacher for over thirty years, and has been involved in children’s and women’s issues for the bulk of her adult life. Zeena lives in Los Angeles with her teenage daughter.
Read more about Zeena.
Hazel Quintanilla, illustrator
Hazel Quintanilla studied graphic design and illustration. She enjoys putting the bold colors and cute shapes living in her mind on paper. Hazel has produced work for numerous brands and magazines, as well as illustrating over one hundred children's books published around the world. She’s the proud mom to nine dogs and lives in Guatemala with her husband.
Read more about Hazel.
- Coming soon!
Children's Literature
The Arctic Hare family knows, "Getting presents is fun!" and "Giving them is wonderful, too." Sure, it can be just as fulfilling to give as to receive, but babies don't always understand this right away. Little Arctic Hare is very interested in all the gifts his parents and older sister are making. When Arctic Fox gets mittens that Papa Hare knitted, Little Arctic Hare cries, "I want those mittens! My favorite color is red!" The same yearning happens over the strand of sparkly stars Sister made for Polar Bear and the painting Mama did for Snowy Owl. The family members recognize Little Arctic Hare's feelings while also explaining that each gift is being given for a reason. He is not convinced; he's even rather pouty. When Little Harp Seal greets the family, Little Arctic Hare realizes nobody has a gift for their friend. Little Arctic Hare recalls the other moments of giving on a climactic spread showing his various expressions and body positions as he wrestles with his decision. Rather quickly, Little Arctic Hare goes from being hesitant to taking action and then showing joy as he gives a snow globe from his backpack to Little Harp Seal. Everyone enjoys a bonfire together to celebrate the season of giving, when "everyone is in good spirits...especially Little Arctic Hare!" Enriching the moral message, the bright colors and simple scenes on each spread introduce basic elements of the arctic. The last page offers a note to parents with more insight and practical tips on how and why to instill a generous spirit with youngsters.
Board Book
ISBN: 978-1-62354-420-1
Ages: 0-3
Page count: 22
61/4 x 81/4