Brother Giovanni is a happy monk with a cheerful disposition and a special God given talent for cooking. Now the monastery is anticipating a visit from the Bishop during which the children in their school will need to say their prayers.
Brother Giovanni is assigned to find a way to get the children to learn their prayers. He tries having them sing and dance them; he makes a mean face to motivate them. None of these efforts work. Then he has an idea. He bakes a treat for them that resembles praying hands. The Bishop is very pleased when the children recite their prayers perfectly, and they all enjoy the "pretiolas" or pretzels.
Anna Smucker has written this alluring children's picture book with illustrations by Amanda Hall. It is based on sources that say the pretzel was invented in 610 A.D. by a monk in northern Italy or southern France. Brother Giovanni's Little Reward is for children four to eight years old.
