Brother Giovanni is a good-hearted and talented baker at his monastery, but when he's assigned to teach the attending children to say their prayers, he has no luck at all -- although they do have a fantastic time. Worried, Brother Giovanni prays one evening -- and discovers that his folded arms would make the perfect shape for small loaves of bread. With the new type of bread -- or pretzels -- as rewards, the children eagerly learn their prayers.
An afterword both explains that no one actually knows how pretzels were originally invented and gives a recipe for the little treats.
If this story were based on a true story, it could perhaps -- with a little stretching -- have some historical significance for being in an occasional school library. Not only is the story completely fictional, however, but it is also quite religious. In addition, I found many of the illustrations rather creepy -- especially the extremely intense-looking eyes on quite a few of the children. Perhaps for a public library -- if there's an interest in pretzels or monastery life -- or as a gift to someone who is interested in baking? Otherwise, it's a difficult one to recommend.
EL (K-3) -- NOT RECOMMENDED. Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist
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