Emma's Gift

Publisher's description (Kegedonce Press, 2014): 
Emma wants to participate in her community’s annual ‘King’s Day’ celebration that is held every year on January 6th. She loves to see the gifts that are given and hear the stories people tell when they visit. Her mother, however, feels that Emma is too young. 

When Emma’s grandmother hurts herself, Emma reluctantly agrees to help. In helping her grandmother prepare and serve her King’s Day meal, Emma discovers the meaning behind this special day. ‘King’s Day’ is about celebrating Christ’s birth and the Three Wise Kings who visited the baby Jesus bearing gifts on this holy day. Emma learns that ‘King’s Day’ is not only about exchanging gifts, it’s also about helping family and friends by giving one's time. Deborah L. Delaronde is Métis, and Jay Odjick is First Nations.

Creator biographies (Kegedonce Press): 
Deborah L. Delaronde-Falk lives in central Manitoba on a cattle ranch along the western shores of Lake Winnipegosis. She honours her Metis heritage by writing and publishing under her maiden name. Deborah’s twelve published stories except for "Friendship Bay" and "The Rabbit’s Race" focus around Metis protagonists with story situations that she hopes will convey the way of life of the Metis people in both a historical and contemporary context. Louis Riel Day: The Fur Trade Project is Deborah’s twelfth book. Deborah retired as a children’s librarian having worked for twenty-six years at Duck Bay School in the community of Duck Bay, Manitoba. She earned her employer Frontier School Division’s ‘Outstanding Contribution Award’ and the prestigious ‘Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Literacy’ Award presented by The Honourable Peter M. Liba’, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba. Deborah is the first recipient of the ‘Beatrice Mosionier Aboriginal Writer of the Year Award, 2015.

Jay Odjick is an artist and writer from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Alogonquin community. He works as a freeland illustrator in publishing, children's book illustrations, design and television as well as writing and drawing comic books.
 

Resource format: Picturebook

Age recommendation: Kindergarten - Grade 6

Keywords: gifts, community, family, Métis, Métis tradition, kinship, King's Day, Jesuit, Three Wise Kings, baby Jesus, woolen fish mitts, sew, bead, create, fish, mukluk, helping, generosity, nurture, moose stew, bannock, shaking hands custom, King's day customs, share stories, appreciation, work, exchanging gifts, giving time, star blanket quilt

Year of publication: 2014

Publisher information: Kegedonce Press