The gift of the Magi

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Title:

The gift of the Magi

Author:

Henry, O., 1862-1910, author.

Zwerger, Lisbeth, illustrator.

Summary:

A young man and a young woman sell their most prized possessions to buy each other Christmas gifts, in this famous tale of unselfish love.

Audience:

4-6

General Note:

Originally published: Natick, MA : Picture Book Studio, c1982.

Edition:

1st Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers ed.

Physical Description:

1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 26 cm.

Genre:

Picture books.

Program Information:

Accelerated Reader AR UG 6.2 0.5 7913

Subject Term:

Christmas -- Juvenile fiction.

Gifts -- Juvenile fiction.

Author(s):

Zwerger, Lisbeth,

Publisher:

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers,

Publication Date:

2006

1982

ISBN:

9781416935865

9780907234173

Publication Information:

New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2006, c1982.

Call Number:

P HENRY

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607002822677	Holiday Picture Books	HENRY	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

A classic piece of American literature given new poignancy by beautiful watercolors by award-winning artist Lisbeth Zwerger.

One dollar and eighty-seven cents is all the money Della has in the world to buy her beloved husband a Christmas present. But all she has left to sell is her one greatest treasure--her long, beautiful brown hair. A simple tale about the rewards of unselfish love.

Author Notes

O. Henry is the pen name of William Sidney Porter, who was born on September 11, 1862 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Porter was a licensed pharmacist and worked on a sheep ranch in Texas. He was a draftsman for the General Land Office and a teller for the First National Bank of Texas. He was convicted of embezzlement and eventually served five years in prison.

While in prison, he began writing short stories under his pseudonym and eventually wrote over 300. As O. Henry, Porter is one of America's best known writers, and his stories, such as "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Ransom of Red Chief", are still taught in schools. In 1918, the O. Henry Awards, an annual anthology of short stories, was established in his honor.

Porter died on June 5, 1910.

(Bowker Author Biography)

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 5 Up-An illustrated, unabridged version of the classic short story in which a young husband and wife each, unbeknownst to the other, gives up a most treasured possession to buy the other a wonderful gift. The gifts, of course, are useless as a result, but the couple's love is presumably all the stronger. The sepia-toned watercolors have an authentic period look; the details present in the New York City street scenes and the couple's rather shabby apartment add a strong feeling of time and place to the story. Very different in style from Lisbeth Zwerger's lovely and delicate version (S & S, 2006), this is a fine choice for libraries needing another illustrated edition of this Christmas tale.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

Lizbeth Zwerger's earth-toned palette fittingly compliments the classic O. Henry story The Gift of the Magi, first published with her artwork in 1982-"the first American story" illustrated by the Viennese artist, according to her bio. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

Publisher's Weekly Review