In this retelling of a traditional Jewish folktale, Joseph’s baby blanket is transformed into ever smaller items as he grows until there is nothing left–but then Joseph has an idea.
Something From Nothing
Primary (ages 6-9)
Material appropriate for primary age groups
Kibitzers and Fools
Thirteen brief, illustrated, traditional Jewish tales, each accompanied by an appropriate saying.
Clever Rachel
In this retelling of a Jewish folktale, Rachel and Jacob must work together to solve the trickiest riddles of all.
The Angel’s Mistake
Explains how a botched mission by two angels created the town of fools known as Chelm.
It Could Always Be Worse: A Yiddish Folk Tale
Once upon a time a poor unfortunate man lived with his mother, his wife, and his six children in a one-room hut. Because they were so crowded, the children often fought and the man and his wife argued. When the poor man was unable to stand it any longer, he ran to the Rabbi for help. As he follows the Rabbi’s unlikely advice, the poor man’s life goes from bad to worse, with increasingly uproarious results. In his little hut, silly calamity follows foolish catastrophe, all memorably depicted in full-color illustrations that are both funnier and lovelier than any this distinguished artist has done in the past.
Five Little Gefiltes
Five little gefilte fish sneak out of their jar and explore the world, causing their poor mother great worry. Includes a note about gefilte fish and a glossary of Yiddish words.
Something For Nothing
Dog lived in the noisiest part of Bialystok. All day long he heard the hubbub of the nearby marketplace, and all night long he heard the banging and clanging of workmen unloading their goods. When he could take the racket no more, Dog set off for the country to find a quieter place to live. On his first night in his new home, a gang of howling and yowling, hissing and screeching cats terrorize him, destroying his newfound peace and quiet. Inspired by a Jewish folk tale, how Dog outwits the rascally cats makes for a humorous, satisfying story, exuberantly illustrated with stunning jewel-toned paintings reminiscent of Marc Chagall’s. Afterword.
Aesop Accolades (Awards)
Golem
A retelling of the Jewish legend of the golem created by the Rabbi to defend the Jews of Prague
Shlemazel and the Remarkable Spoon of Pohost
A retelling of an Eastern European tale in which Shlemazel, the laziest man in town, is tricked into believing that the lucky spoon given to him by a neighbor will bring him fortune and fame, if it is used in the right way.
The Wonder Child
An illustrated collection of traditional Jewish tales from various countries.