Eddis, Attolia, Sounis

I was thinking of thisreally sweet book called "The Quiltmaker's Gift" for your niece. It's is about this king who is really unhappy, and in order to be happy, he orders everyone in his kingdom to give him a gift for his birthday - and when that doesn't make him happy, he orders his birthday to be celebrated twice a year!! There's an old woman in his kingdom who makes beautiful quilts and goes out at night and gives them to the poor. The king finds out that she's never given him one of her marvelous quilts, and she says that she will indeed give him once when he gives away everyting he owns. By the end of the book, he has traveled the world and given away all his possessions and he has finally found happiness. The book has the most gorgeous illustrations, too. I read it to the 5-year-olds I teach during the summer, and they always love it.