Boris, a kind­ly musi­cian from Rus­sia, and Stel­la, a kind­ly bak­er from Italy, are best friends. As Hanukkah approach­es, Stel­la decides to buy Boris a drei­del to add to his trea­sured col­lec­tion. To have enough mon­ey to buy this per­fect gift, she sells her most cher­ished pos­ses­sion, the pine tree she grew from a seedling that came from her family’s farm in Italy. At the same time, Boris decides to sell his drei­del col­lec­tion so he will have enough mon­ey to buy Stel­la the per­fect Christ­mas gift, a glass star orna­ment to sit atop her beloved pine tree. On the eighth night of Hanukkah, which also hap­pens to be Christ­mas Eve, Boris serves Stel­la pota­to latkes with sour cream, just the way she likes them. After din­ner, Stel­la serves Boris a panet­tone cake, topped with choco­late, just the way he likes it. And then they exchange gifts. At first, Stel­la is sad that Boris has sold his drei­dels, but cheers up when he says her gift will be the start of a new col­lec­tion. And though Boris is sad that Stel­la will not be able to place the glass star atop her beloved pine tree, he is hap­py when she tells him that, togeth­er, they will grow a new tree. The soft col­ors of the pen­cil and water­col­or illus­tra­tions bring the gen­tle char­ac­ters to life. For ages 5 – 9.