In this Czech Christmas tale, Radim and his father choose a traditional carp for Christmas dinner and bring it home to live in the family bathtub until the big day. However, Radim becomes very attached to Carl the carp and sets him free in the river. Christmas references throughout the book make it as universal as it is unique, and bright, mixed-media illustration by Vladyana Krykorka bring the story to life. ( )

Reviewed by Me for Kids @ TeensReadToo.com

Radim only wants one thing for Christmas, and that's a new pair of ice skates. If his mother has anything to say about it, though, he'll get a lump of coal in his stocking for not eating his cauliflower! Radim hates cauliflower, and he's not even sure that a bright, shiny new pair of skates will be enough to convince him to eat it.

Along with his friend, Mila, Radim spends the last few days leading up to Christmas in Prague trying to slip bits of cauliflower to his dog, picking out just the right carp for the family Christmas dinner with his father, skating in his old skates, and looking at the giant Christmas tree in the Old Town Square.

Once his father finally makes a decision on what carp to choose for dinner, though, Radim has a problem. The fish floating sluggishly in their bathtub looks a lot like his Uncle Carl--and suddenly Radim knows that eating this particular carp, no matter how stupid an animal he might be, just can't be allowed.

This is a nice bedtime story for the kids, or a story for the entire family to read around Christmas. All children, at one time or another, have thoughts of rescuing a live animal, especially if it's going to become dinner! ( )