The overall effect is a vivid portrait of characters who are hopeful, proud and compassionate. Katz agrees on one condition: that Larnel helps her take care of the kitten she names Tush. Katz, very well, until he asks her to adopt an abandoned kitten. Polacco's vibrant pencil and wash illustrations evoke the ethnic flavor and human warmth that are central to the story. Friends from different backgrounds come together in this heartwarming picture book from beloved childrens book author Patricia Polacco Larnel doesnt know his neighbor, Mrs. Unfortunately, passages in the latter part of the book that explain the Passover holiday seem tacked on and a bit heavy in their message. Katz's experiences are nicely paralleled by Larnel's knowledge of his own African American family's difficulties. Tackling some of the same themes as in her earlier Chicken Sunday, Polacco again offers prose rich with images of the struggles and triumphs of her immigrant ancestors Mrs. Katz shares freshly baked kugel and stories of her Polish homeland and her Jewish heritage. Larnel helps the old woman care for her new tail-less pet-``Tush''-and in return Mrs. Things begin to look particularly bright when the boy offers the runt of a litter of kittens to Mrs. Katz appreciates the frequent visits from her young neighbor Larnel and his mother. An elderly widow and a scrawny, abandoned kitten provide each other with love and comfort in this gentle picture book.
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