Folklore and Fairy Tales

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)

Something From Nothing

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.

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.

While Standing On One Foot: Puzzle Stories And Wisdom Tales From The Jewish Tradition

The wit, wisdom, and lore of Jewish tradition is captured in a collection representing thousands of years’ worth of folktales, legends, and literature, with each story containing an entertaining conundrum that young readers can attempt to solve.

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.

 

Strudel, Strudel, Strudel

A rollicking text and colorful paintings explain why, in Chelm, teachers may not live on top of a hill, own a trunk with wheels, or eat apple strudel. By the author of The Adventures of High John the Conquerer.

The Way Meat Loves Salt: A Cinderella Tale From The Jewish Tradition

In this Eastern European Jewish variant of the Cinderella story, the youngest daughter of a rabbi is sent away from home in disgrace, but thanks to the help of the prophet Elijah, marries the son of a renowned scholar and is reunited with her family. Includes words and music to a traditional Yiddish wedding song.