Fifteen brief stories, some from oral tradition (Eastern Europe,
the Middle East, the Orient) and others transcribed as early as the
fifth century (in Babylon) or as late as the nineteenth. Full notes
give sources and point out parallels with more familiar stories -
"The Water Witch," a variant of "Hansel and Gretel," features a
Solomonic whale king; the Turkish "Katanya" is a Thumbelina-like
child, gift of the prophet Elijah - who also rewards a hard-working
rag-merchant in "The Magic Sandals of Abu Kassim." Many of the
stories are didactic, but the instruction is always gentle. The
philosophically generous tone is dramatically exemplified in "The
Bear and the Children": after the mother has rescued her children
from the bear's belly, she replaces them with loaves of bread so
that "when the bear awoke, his belly was full, and he was perfectly
happy" - an extraordinary contrast to the retributive justice in
the Grimms' "The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids. "Clear, well-honed
language, intriguing detail, good pacing, and lots of variety make
this an excellent choice for storytellers. Appealing format and
Shulevitz's occasional full-page watercolors - elegantly
structured, rich with the stories' flavor and wit, and painted in
bright, sunny colors that perfectly reflect their lighthearted
wisdom - will recommend the book to young readers. A fine
collection that belongs in every library. (Kirkus Reviews)
"A beautifully designed collection comprises fifteen Jewish tales that span many centuries and come for the most part from countries of the Middle East, Africa, and eastern Europe. There are stories that readers will recognize as familiar tales, moral tales that teach lessons, and there is even a story about a giant who went with Noah on the ark. [Caldecott medalist] Uri Shulevitz's watercolors . . . add just the right touch of wit and fantasy." —H.
Notable Children's Books of 1992 (ALA)
Notable 1991 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
Children's Books of 1991 (Library of Congress)
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