Patricia Polacco has a gift of recalling her childhood
memories so vividly, and retelling the experiences so realistically,
the reader is immediately thrust into the main character's shoes without even realizing it. The same can be said of the endearing Christmastime memories Polacco recalls in Uncle Vova's Tree.
Uncle Vova is the quintessential uncle or grandpa we've all had. Hearty and jovial, Uncle Vova is like the irreplaceable centerpiece at the Christmas dinner table. He's the heart of the season for Polacco.
Uncle Vova has a tree which he and his wife planted when they had immigrated from Russia. The tree holds great significance for the family, and each year they decorate it. It's a Christmas
tradition. This Christmas, Uncle Vova casually tells the
children they must carry on the tradition of decorating the tree, even after he is gone. They could not have known it would be their last Christmas spent with their beloved uncle.
The following Christmas, with one empty chair at the dinner table, the children suddenly realize they'd forgotten to keep their promise to decorate their uncle's tree. They rush out to the bitter cold, only to find....something they never could have expected. To find out, you will reward yourself immensely by reading the book, Uncle Vova's Tree.
Thousands of miles from my family, reading this book brings me back home...to the encompassing warmth of the fire dad always built, the smell of mom's fresh-baked sugar cookies, and the sight of our 5 red stockings hanging over the fireplace--begging to be searched through and relieved of their contents.
Uncle Vova's Tree is an endearing book that's not just for children, but for the inner child who, hopefully, always remains in the hearts of us all.