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CHILDREN’S REVIEWS The Aleph-Bais Trip on the Aleph-Bais Ship Chanl Altein; Baruch Becker, illus.; D.L. Rosenfeld, ed. HaChai Publishing, 2009. 30 pp. $10.95 ISBN: 978-1929628254 Ahoy there Mateys! Gather ‘round and join the Aleph-Bais as they board their ship, ready to set sail. One by one the Hebrew letters make their way to the Aleph-Bais ship. Some hop by pogo stick, others fly in by airplane or hot air balloon, but come they do until they are all on board their old-time schooner. Well, almost everyone is there. It seems sof is missing. The letters set sail to find their lost companion. Once tucked safely aboard, the Aleph-Bet are ready to go. This is an adorable first look at the Aleph-Bet, according to the Ashkenazi pronunciation. The letters present themselves in Aleph-Bais order in the first half of the book, and then appear randomly in the latter half. They are cheerful card-shaped characters with smiley faces and sailor hats. The book pages are sturdy and plastic coated, perfect for little hands. For ages 2–5. MB An Adventure in Latkaland Karen Fisman; Thomas McAteer, illus. JoRa Books, 2009. 64 pp. $13.50 ISBN: 978-09812650-0-1 It is refreshing to find an illustrated chapter book with a Hanukah theme. In 10 short chapters, Fisman creates the imaginative world of Latkaland. With the arrival of a magic dreidl and the utterance of “Nes Gadol Hayah Sham”, young Sarah and Jacob are transported to a fantasy land inhabited by “Oily” and other strange looking latka makers. Once in Latkaland, Sarah and Jacob join forces with these “Lunchkins” to foil the Hanukah goblins. The Hanukah goblins are boiling all the potatoes that are used for latkes and destroying the Lunchkins’ ability to fry them to make the traditional pancakes. The children encourage the Lunchkins to “be like the Maccabees who were fearless and believed in themselves.” Their battles and their triumphs are wonderful reading for young children, with just enough suspense to keep them interested. The story is accompanied by colorful watercolor illustrations and maps that enhance the story. Additionally, the end of the book contains two recipes—one for latkes and one for a jujube dreidl. This book is perfect for an emerging chapter book reader or for a parent to read to a child as a fanciful bedtime story. For ages 5–8. MLK Clever Rachel Debby Waldman; Cindy Revell, illus. Orca Books, 2009. 32 pp. $19.95 ISBN: 978-1-55469-081-7 Riddles are the heart of this enjoyable retelling of a Jewish folktale. Young Rachel has been raised on riddles and is as clever as any boy, though her mother would prefer that she focus on learning to make kugel and setting a proper Shabbat table. Jacob, the baker’s son, doubts her ability to solve riddles as well as he does, so Rachel decides to teach him a lesson by stepping back when a distraught young woman named Miriam comes pleading for help. If Miriam doesn’t solve three riddles, her beloved will be forced to marry someone else. Jacob struggles with the riddles until he becomes flustered and finally turns to Rachel for the answers, remembering that true wisdom comes from working together. Although minimally sprinkled with old world phrasing, the text reads more like a picture book than a folktale. Appeal- ing full-page illustrations in golden hues depict traditionally garbed villagers with expressive faces that bring the story to life. But the true appeal of this book is the riddles, including a full page of them at the end just for fun. Read with Raisel’s Riddle by Erica Silverman and entries from While Standing on One Foot by Nina Jaffe for a great introduction to Jewish riddle and puzzle stories. For ages 7–9. TM Daniel’s Diary: How God Saved Me From the Lions Allia Zobel Nolan; Linda Clearwater, illus. Harvest House Publishers, 2009. 32 pp. $15.00 ISBN: 978-0-7369-2544-0 Here’s a fresh bible story for the just graduating from picture books crowd. Age appropriate hip language and the cult of celebrity deliver the scoop in a first hand, personalized tell-all. Daniel’s diary speaks directly about more than his escapade in the lions’ den, the dramatic incident on which picture books focus. Young readers learn the royal politics of Babylonian exile as written in the first half of the Book of Daniel, although, make sure to note that this version is based on a Christian bible. This story accurately agrees with the Tanakh, but the order of some events are changed to make vignettes clear about location, characters and motives. Daniel’s diary explains his experience in administrative terms. He rises to power through honesty and dream interpretation. He discloses his friends’— Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—escape from the fiery furnace. He works for three Kings, with co-workers, then promoted, above them. Envious cohorts devise a decree to get rid of Daniel whose crime is praying to God, not men. The tolerant King Darius, who accepts Daniel’s kosher habits, does not want to do this, but must obey his own laws. God’s angel saves Daniel and the happy king writes a new law. The breezy text adds annoying nicknames and names characters unnamed in the Hebrew Bible. The layout is enticing: the font, youthful; the illustrations, cute bordering on cartoon, but they deliver the message. Readers will chew over concepts of God, prayer and loyalty after reading this funny book where wild beasts and hateful men do not chew up our Daniel! For ages 8–10. EGC 62 Jewish Book World Spring 5770/2010 www.jewishbookcouncil.org
Monika Schroder Front Street, 2009. 163 pp. $17.95 ISBN: 978-1-59078-701-4 The Dog in the Wood The Dog in the Wood is a fictional story focusing on the Soviet occupation of East Germany beginning in 1945. It was inspired by the life of the author’s father and by her 1989 visit to the village of his birth. She reminds us that not all victims of the German war machine were Jews, and certainly in the aftermath of the war, many German children endured great hardship. This book tells the heartbreaking story of nine-year-old Fritz, a boy who lives with his mother, sister and grandparents on a rural German farm. Fritz’s life is thrown into chaos when the Soviets arrive. His grandfather is a staunch Nazi supporter who commits suicide in the barn when he realizes the Germans have lost the war. Russian soldiers move into the family’s home, steal the cows, and eventually dispossess the family of their farm. The narrative relays the many disappointments Fritz endures as he leaves the home and garden he loves and moves in with relatives. Just when She reminds us that not all victims of the German war machine were Jews. he thinks life can get no worse, the Soviets accuse his mother of breaking the law and they march her away at gunpoint. An author’s note informs the reader that there were ten “special camps” run by the Soviets (some of the same ones used to imprison Jews) where many innocent Germans suffered and died. The unrelenting narrative of sad events may make the book more appropriate for older teens, as only the rare Russian soldier shows any kindness to the family. The reader does come away enlightened about the aftermath of the war and how difficult it was for ordinary Germans to simply survive. This riveting debut novel could serve as an additional read for those already familiar with Holocaust themed literature who would like to learn more about its aftermath. For ages 12 and up. LK CHILDREN’S REVIEWS Fox Walked Alone Barbara Reid Albert Whitman & Company, 2009. 30 pp. $16.99 ISBN: 978-0-8075-2548-7 Fox wakes one morning feeling that “there was something in the air.” He notices pairs of animals marching by in a hurry and joins the procession without quite knowing why. After a long journey, including a night when “tooth and claw and fur and feather...lay down to sleep together” and a detour to free a pair of caged doves in an abandoned city, fox finds a she-fox waiting for him and they enter Noah’s Ark together. The rhyming text is serviceable, although there are few awkward moments as in the forced rhyming of “thought” and “not” and the sudden shifts from couplets to monorhyme. The internal logic is a little shaky as well: it’s odd that all the other animals, including the female fox, know what is going on while the fox does not. Noah’s appearance at the end of the story is a surprise to the fox, and the significance of the ark is not explained in the text. Reid has supplied a springboard from which the religious content can be supplied by readers who bring their own background knowledge with them. This book is best used as a supplement to more Torah-traditional retellings, rather than as an introduction to the Noah story. Despite the weaknesses of the text, Barbara Reid’s signature plasticine art elevates this book to a “must have” level. The bright colors, the variations in texture, the intricate detail, the changes in perspective, and the touches of silent humor all make this a book to pore over again and again. For ages 4–8. HE Hoppy Hanukkah! Linda Glaser; Daniel Howarth, illus. Albert Whitman and Company, 2009. 24 pp. $15.99 ISBN: 978-0-8075-3378-9. Two small bunnies, Simon and Violet, do not remember previous Hanukkahs, but are old enough this year to help their parents place candles in the menorah. They are excited to hear about the customs of Hanukkah from their parents, and enjoy both smelling and eating grandma’s latkes. Grandpa successfully teaches them to play dreidel, and also is depicted wearing a blue kippa while lighting the hanukkiah. There is enough introductory information for a young reader with little or no Jewish background, while the book is also satisfying for the reader who knows what holiday customs to expect. This is a holiday story filled with sweetness and family love, written for pre-schoolers. Illustrations are charming and colorful and are totally appropriate to the juvenile text. For ages 2–5. SF Simone Elkeles Flux, 2009. 264 pp. $9.95 ISBN: 978-0738718798 How to Ruin Your Boyfriend’s Reputation i, my name is Amy Barak-Nelson. My “Hmom is a Nelson and my dad is a Barak and just in case you were wondering, I’m aware I have two last names. If you don’t know me, I’m a seventeen year old American teenager with red, white, and blue blood running through my veins. You’re probably wondering why right now I’m on a bus in Israel on my way to an Israeli boot camp.” In Simone Elkeles’ third book of her “How To” series, How to Ruin Your Boyfriend’s Reputation, you don’t have to wonder long. Amy Barak-Nelson—drama queen—holds nothing back. This Chicago princess has signed up for one week of Israeli boot camp in order to see her boyfriend, Avi, who is stationed there. Accompanied by her friends, Amy deals with the heat, her hair, the language, and the unexpected discovery that her boyfriend has kissed another girl behind her back. The Israeli boot camp experience provides challenges for the Americans, but no real danger. Although the tone of the narrative is always fun and light-hearted, this book offers themes that include friendship, loyalty, forgiveness, as well as pride in Israel. Some readers might find Amy shallow or superficial, but all will find her fun loving, and when it counts, able to pull it together. Chick lit readers will love this series. The humorous tone and content is suitable for readers 12 and up. SA www.jewishbookcouncil.org Spring 5770/2010 Jewish Book World 63
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Spring 5770/2010 Vol. 28, Number 1
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Now available from the Jewish Book
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JEWISHBOOKAWARDS The following syno
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ANTHOLOGIES AND COLLECTIONS Winner:
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out whom they can trust. In additio
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Page 15 and 16: Finalists: THE WARSAW GHETTO: A GUI
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Page 19 and 20: SCHOLARSHIP Nahum M. Sarna Memorial
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Page 27 and 28: A Conversation with David Sax By La
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Page 43 and 44: JEWISH SLOW COOKER RECIPES Laura Fr
Page 45 and 46: JUDAISM: A WAY OF BEING David Geler
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Page 51 and 52: Shushan “Shoeshine” Cats, a sel
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Page 69 and 70: A CHAT WITH ZACHARYSHAPIRO By Barba
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