Pacaritambo

AFTER THE WAR (An ALA Best Book for Young Adults)
by Carol Matas. B&W maps. Condition: UNREAD 1996 Aladdin paperback, first printing. Bookstore stamp half-title page. Tiny edgewear. Content: "Didn't the gas ovens finish you all off?" is the response that meets Ruth Mendenberg when she returns to her village in Poland after the liberation of Buchenwald at the end of World War II. Her entire family wiped out in the Holocaust, the fifteen-year-old girl has nowhere to go. Members of the underground organization Brichah find her, and she joins them in their dangerous quest to smuggle illegal immigrants to Palestine. Ruth risks her life to help lead a group of children on a daring journey over half a continent and across the sea to Eretz Israel, using secret routes and forged documents -- and sheer force of will. This adventure will touch readers, who will marvel at the resources and inner strength of mere children helping other children to find a place in this world in which they can belong. Carol Matas, one of the foremost authors of historical fiction, brings the desperation and passion of this remarkable journey to life. Grades 7 - 10 +. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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A BELFER BAR MITZVAH (SIGNED COPY)
by Gloria Teles Pushker. Color illustration by Judith Hierstein. Condition: Like-new 1995 Pelican Publishing (LA) hardcover (pictorial boards - 11.4 x 8.8 x 0.4 (32 pages). If a DJ was issued, this book doesn't have one. Signed by author on half title page. Content: Bar Mitzvah (son of the commandment) and Bat Mitzvah (daughter of the commandment) mark the age when adult reason and responsibility begin. In this third book about her, Toby Belfer, a Jewish girl growing up in rural Louisiana, learns about the Bar Mitzvah ceremony through her older cousin Paul. Beginning with Toby's invitation to Paul's Bar Mitzvah and ending with the cutting of the challah and the traditional dance called the horah, the reader is led through the experience of this ancient ceremony. Now Toby is better prepared to begin her own studies for the Bat Mitzvah, changing perhaps only one thing pink instead of green balloons! In this charming tale, as in the other Belfer stories, author Gloria Teles Pushker gives the appropriate Jewish terms and follows them with definitions so that Jews and non-Jews alike can gain a greater understanding of the traditions and rituals that make up the Jewish faith.
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BENI'S FIRST WEDDING
text and color illustrations by Jane Breskin Zalben. Condition: NEW 1998 Henry Holt hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: Beni is excited to be the ring bearer at his Uncle Izzy's traditional Jewish wedding, but when he trips and loses the ring, he finds a way to make the ceremony even better. Watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations accompany the text, which includes a recipe for Honey Wedding Cake. An appendix explains traditional wedding customs for a variety of religions including Christianity, Islam, and Sikhism. [1 copy available]
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BAR MITZVAH
by David Mamet. Color illustrations by Donald Sultan. Condition: NEW 1999 Little, Brown hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), stated first edition. Tiny edgewear to DJ top edge. Content: On the eve of his Bar Mitzvah, a boy learns about life from an old man in whose hands an antique watch reveals clues to mans relation to God. This brief tale, written with the familiar cadences of the best Mamet dialogue, moves in a mysterious journey from the intricacies of watchmaking to the horrors of Europe in the Holocaust, as the old man shares his understanding of lifes struggles and what it means to him to be a good Jew. Sultans striking images provide a counterpoint to Mamets story as gilded clocks and elaborate timepieces yield to blank watch faces, barbed wire, empty windows, and stark architectural renderings. A wonderful gift idea. [1 copy available]
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DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN: A Bible Story
by Jean Marzollo. Color illustrations by the Author. Condition: NEW 2003 Little Brown hardcover (pictorial boards) and DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. Content: Clearly designed for reading aloud and discussion, this chatty retelling of Old Testament story combines big, bright, thick-lined watercolor pictures with lively dramatic narratives that bring the stories to kids today. At the bottom of the pages stream tiny creatures -- ants - that ask questions and make comments that will encourage listeners to talk about the issues ("Daniel is loyal to both God and the King. That's hard to do"). Daniel's story doesn't downplay the thrilling drama of facing fierce, roaring lions, but the hero is saved by an angel who works for God, and the message is that Daniel's faith gives him the strength to stand up for what he believes. Pre-school to Grade 2. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE DEVIL'S ARITHMETIC (National Jewish Book Award)
by Jane Yolen. L. Knabel cover art. Condition: Gently pre-read, IF at all, 1988 Trumpet Club paperback, third printing. Light tanning to page edges. Content: This is another telling of the holocaust, but this time from the perspective of a modern teenage girl who only grudgingly accepts the Jewish traditions, but when she is asked to "open the front door" as part of the Seder feast finds herself, not unlike Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, to have entered the 1940's and has stepped into the life of a prisoner in one of the German death camps where she experiences all of its horrors firsthand. The 1999 made-for-TV movie was directed by Donna Deitch and starred Kirsten Dunst, Brittany Murphy, Mimi Rogers, Louise Fletcher, Lilo Baur, Paul Freeman, and Philip Rham. Excellent book - very good movie. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE GREAT HANUKKAH PARTY (A Lift-the-Flap Book)
by Suzy-Jane Tanner. Color illustrations by the Author. Condition: NEW 1998 HarperFestival softcover, first thus, first printing. Content: It's the first night of Hanukkah--time to light the menorah and celebrate! But where are the candles? Join in the search for the missing candles and discover all sorts of Hanukkah surprises in this lift-the-flap adventure. Too cute!
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HANUKKAH: A Counting Book in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish
by Emily Sper. Vibrant color illustrations.. Condition: NEW 2003 Scholastic Cartwheel Trade Paperback, first edition, first printing. Content: The Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah, celebrates the rededication of the Jewish temple after a group of ancient heroes defended their right to worship as they wished. This handsome little counting book honors the most joyful of Jewish holidays, and teaches readers how to count from one to eight in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish. With every page, another die-cut menorah candle appears, as well as the spelling and pronunciation of the ascending numbers in each language. On the opposite page of each two-page spread, symbols of Hanukkah are featured against bold, colorful backdrops: "one Hanukkah menorah," "four dreidels," "seven potato pancakes," etc., along with the Hebrew and Yiddish terms. Author Emily Sper shares her childhood memories of lighting the Hanukkah menorah, and a brief, age-appropriate story explains the symbols and meanings behind the holiday. This is a book best read together with a loving grownup who can elaborate on the rituals and stories of the Festival of Lights. (Ages 3 to 7).
$ 3.59 + $ 3.09 media shipping. (2 copies available) [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

THE HANUKKAH MICE
Words by Ronne Randall. Pictures by Maggie Kneen. Warm & appropriate full-color illustrations - with sparkles! Condition: NEW 2002 Chronicle Books (Templar Company) hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued). First edition, first printing. Perfect book. Content: Join the Mouse family as they set out to find the miraculous Hanukkah lights. With each passing night, the Mouse children discover shimmering chocolate coins, sparkling dreidels and delicious donuts, fancy gifts and other Hanukkah traditions (under flaps hiding shiny foil surprises), but it isn't until the last night that they glimpse the beautiful menorah with all eight candles illuminated. Fun and education and very respectful of Hanukkah's religous tradition. Highly recommended for very young children. Too cute! [1 copy available]
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HANUKKAH, SHMANUKKAH!
by Esme Raji Codell. Color illustrations by LeUyen Pham. Condition: NEW 2005 Hyperian Books for Children large hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. Content: This is such a fun & clever book - making Dicken's "Christmas Carol" into a "Yiddish Christmas Carol" for Hanukkah. "In this picture book for older children, Codell retells Dickens' A Christmas Carol, replacing Yule customs with those of the Festival of Lights. Old Scroogemacher, the owner of an early-twentieth-century New York City garment shop, mistreats his immigrant workers and reduces their wages at the slightest offence. The Rabbi of Hanukkah Past helps Scroogemacher to recall the origins of the holiday, the Rabbi of Hanukkah Present takes him on a tour of the crowded tenements where his employees live, and the Rabbi of Hanukkah Future informs her charge about current labor practices, offering Scroogemacher two possible scenarios for his nephew Moshe's future. Codell sprinkles her telling with a generous helping of Yiddish phrases, clarified in a glossary, and humorous asides designed for modern audiences: when Scroogemacher comments about the ubiquitousness of Christmas, the rabbi replies, "What can I say? They have good decorations." Pham's luminous artwork exhibits an Old World style suitable to the setting. Appended with source notes from the author and illustrator, this will find a niche as a family read-aloud (Ages 3 to 7). [3 copies available]
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ILAN RAMON: Israel's First Astronaut
by Tanya Lee Stone. Color (and a few B&W) photos illustrate. Condition: NEW 2003 Millbrook Press soft cover, first printing. Content: Stone recounts the life of Israel's first astronaut, born Ilan Wolferman, who died in February 2003 aboard the space shuttle Columbia. The son of an Israeli freedom fighter and a Holocaust survivor, Ramon became a top fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force before obtaining degrees in electronics and computer engineering and being chosen as Israel's first astronaut. Stone emphasizes that although Ramon was not religious, he chose to take several Jewish mementos aboard the shuttle because he realized others would note the symbolism. Nearly half the text deals with Ramon's journey into space, and the descriptions of the wide variety of scientific experiments performed will be welcomed as that information was not generally reported in the aftermath of the Columbia tragedy. Appended with a chronology, a bibliography, and list of Web sites are great resources. Excellent! [1 copy available]
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INVISIBLE KINGDOMS: Jewish Tales of Angels, Spirits, and DemonS
retold by Howard Schwartz. Illustrated in color by Stephen Fieser. Condition: NEW 2002 HarperCollins hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket). First Edition, First Printing. Content: Schwartz continues to explore mystical elements of Jewish folklore with nine tales from various regions and periods. his collection of nine folktales from many sources reflects the tone and quality of the genre quite effectively. The writing is lovely and fluid, with enough formality to capture the traditional style while still being accessible to young readers. Engaging and interesting, the pieces are not overly religious, and they have appeal for readers of many different faiths. Fieser's occasional full-page, full-color scenes are for the most part realistic and enhance the text.
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JACOB'S RESCUE: A Holocaust Story
by Malka Drucker and Michael Halperin. Condition: Gently pre-read 1994 Yearling Books small hardcover (Permabound), 24th printing. This is an ex-library book from a middle school with very few markings. Content: Filled with small but telling moments, this fact-based novel concerns a courageous Polish family that hides two Jewish brothers during WW II. Ages 9-12.
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JOURNEY TO AMERICA (Historical Fiction)
by Sonia Levitin. B&W illustrations & cover art by Charles Robinson. Condition: NEW 1986 Aladdin Paperbacks Trade Paperback edition, 19th pritning. Content: Reviewer: "This the story of Lisa Platt, who, along with her mother and sisters, escapes form 1938 Berlin to Switzerland (as did the author's family) to escape persecuction of the Jews. Not only is she torn from her familiar home, she and her mother and sisters are without Lisa's father, who went to America and had them wait in Switzerland until he could send for them. The thing that makes this book memorable are the very believable emotions that Lisa and her family have...saying good-bye to their beloved housekeeper, leaving treasured belongings behind, and living with terrible uncertainty and little money in Switzerland. It is all told though first-person perspective by Lisa, and it brings a "personal" touch to the Holocaust. Journey To America shows us another heart-wrenching journey to the "land of the free" far different than the that of Pilgrims. Winner of the National Jewish Book Award. [1 copy available]
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KING SOLOMON AND THE QUEEN OF SHEBA (Storytelling World Honor)
by Blu Greenberg & Linda Tarry. Color illustrations by Avi Katz. Condition: NEW 1997 Pitspopany Press large hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), assuming first edition, but no edition given. Content: This version of the story has exciting original material - fresh new tales and riddles, an equal relationship, and a naturally multicultural, as well as slightly feminist, bias. Beginning like a fairy tale, it introduces the precocious African princess Makeda of Sheba, a child whose wisdom, fame as a riddler, and kindness prompts her elderly father to name her, rather than either of her brothers, his heir. And she becomes Queen. (This is the first time that the Queen of Sheba has been given a history, a family, and aggada [legends] of her own, or that she has been shown to be of the African race.) Meanwhile, "In a land far away" lives a wise Jewish King, named Solomon, who had also manifested great wisdom as a child. Inevitably, traders bring news of the other to their rulers. Queen Makeda accepts King Solomon's invitation to visit. The two quietly earn each other's respect and love while also discussing the other's country and religious beliefs. They marry; she conceives his child and returns to Sheba. When their son reaches the age of 13, he returns to his father. There the story ends, but the legend continues in an afterword that explains the prevailing desire of today's Ethiopian Jews to return to Jerusalem. While the writing is graceful and dignified, the art accomplished and charming with valid ethnic representation, and the book design elegant, the real importance of this title is its more accurate portrayal of the Queen of Sheba. [1 copy available]
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THE MANY ADVENTURES OF MINNIE
by Jan Siegel Hart. B&W illustrations by J. Kay Wilson. Condition: UNREAD 1997 Hart Publishing (Temple, TX) hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued), stated first edition - but there was an earlier publication by Eakin.. Only problem: name stamped inside front cover - but never even read. Too bad. Content: Growing up in the only Jewish home in the small town of Dublin, Texas was the esperience of Minnie - and her daughter, the author Jan Siegel Hart. Minnie's parents left Russia and came to Texas in the early 1900's to enjoy religious freedom. As a young girl Minnie is learning the traditions of her ancestors while striving to do as well as her older brother and sisters. (The story of Minnie's mother is chronicled in Hann, the Immigrant.)
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MAZEL AND SHLIMAZEL Or The Milk of a Lioness
by Isaac Bashevis Singer. Translated from the Yiddish by the author and Elizabeth Shub. Illustrated (watercolors) by Margot Zemach. Condition: Good only c. 1967 Junior Literary Book Club edition, ex-library with all markings. Hardcover (pictorial boards) with mylar-covered DJ. The exterior shows wear, but the interior is still clean & tight. Content: This artful retelling of a Jewish folktale centers on a wager between the spirits of good and evil. Good is pitted against evil in open contest when the debonair Mazel, spirit of good luck, makes a wager with the wicked old sot Shlimazel, spirit of bad luck. The story has all the traditional elements of the folk tale, enhanced by the vitality and humor of Singer's inimitable style and by the vigorous, colorful illustrations. Questions welcome.
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THE MENORAH STORY
text and beautiful color illustrations by Mark Pdwal. Condition: NEW 1998 Greenwillow hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), second printing. Content: This excellent, accessible book begins with the original menorah, the seven-branched symbol given to Moses by God. It burned, day and night, in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and was hidden until the Jews, led by Judah Maccabee, overcame the might of Antiochus and returned to the city to rebuild the temple. It began with a prophet and a precious metal, when Moses threw a piece of gold into a fire and created the first menorah. It continued with a wicked king, his ruthless army, and a people who battled tirelessly for their faith. And it endures in the yearly celebration of Hanukkah, the festival of lights that rejoices in the memories -- and the miracles -- of long ago. Rich, abstract gouache and colored-pencil paintings face each page of text, adding depth and drama to the straightforward text. Questions welcome. Ages 4 - 8. [2 copies available]
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MIRIAM'S CUP: A Passover Story
by Fran Manushkin. Beautiful, dreamy color illustrations by Bob Dacey. Condition: UNREAD 2003 Scholastic large hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), third printing. Content: In a feminist variation on the many stories told about Passover, Miriam, Moses's older sister, is the heroine. It is she who watches over Moses in the bulrushes, and it is she who tells the Egyptian princess who finds him that Jocheved, Moses's mother, should be his nursemaid. Years later, when the Israelites are wandering in the desert, Miriam leads the women in dance, and it is in her honor that God creates a well of spring water. This story is told as a modern-day family gathers to celebrate Passover. Miriam, the daughter, hears about her namesake and receives a gift of a goblet in honor of the prophet to place next to all the other ritual objects on the table. Bright watercolor paintings lend drama to the story. The text is framed on a background resembling papyrus. An author's note provides background on the origin of the story while the back cover contains music and lyrics for Miriam's Song, written by Debbie Friedman (in 1988). Ages 4+. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM: 3000 Years of Jewish Stories
retold by Howard Schwartz. Neil Waldman has given us beautiful reverent, peaceful watercolors in rainbow hues accompany this collection of Jewish stories adapted from a variety of sources that explain ancient customs and history. Condition: NEW 1996 Puffin Books soft cover, first printing. Content: A collection of 11 Jewish folktales and legends from around the world, all centering on the city of Jerusalem. Stories are taken from the Talmud and Midrash, from folklore, or from mystical or Hasidic sources. The selections, printed in readable typeface, take up two-thirds of the page width, while in the wide margin, Schwartz has provided commentary on the story. From Iraq's oral tradition comes "The Bird of Happiness," a fairy tale that recalls the Exodus story as a magic bird guides wanderers in the desert to Jerusalem. "The Mountain That Moved," from ninth-century Italy, may have been written to explain an esoteric psalm (22:22) by King David centuries before. "The Vampire Demon" from first-century Greece, pits the wisdom of King Solomon against the vampire who tries to stop the building of the Temple. From 19th-century Spain comes the "Princess of Light." Like many of these tales, it can be read on two levels - as a fairy tale or as a parable. Great book. Grades 3 - 6+. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE NIGHT JOURNEY
by Kathryn Lasky. B&W drawings by Trina Schart Hyman. Condition: UNREAD 1987 Puffin Books Trade Paperback, no printing given. Light edgewear. Content: Thirteen-year-old Rachel dreads the afternoons she has to spend with her great- grandmother, Nana Sashie-until Sashie begins to reminisce about her childhood in Russia and Rachel finds herself caught up in a whirlwind of memories. As the events and characters of Sashie's past come to life, Rachel discovers a distant country and time, a time when Jews were forced to serve in the Czar's armies or were murdered in pogroms, a time when nine-year-old Sashie devised a wonderful plan to save her family from danger.1991 National Jewish Book Award. [1 copy available]
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NIGHT LIGHTS: A Sukkot Story
by Barbara Diamond Goldin. Beautiful color paintings by Louise August. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1995 Gulliver Books hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), second printing. Gift inscription loose end page. Content: Daniel and his family are happily preparing for Sukkot, the Jewish harvest festival. Daniel is excited about the holiday, but nervous about spending the night outside in the sukkah hut with only his big sister for company and protection. In the dark of the hut, Daniel is frightened by night noises and imagined monsters. His sister comforts him by pointing out the stars, and helping him remember the stories of their ancestors. A page of information about Sukkot concludes the book. Ages 4 - 7. [1 copy available]
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O JERUSALEM
by Jane Yolen. Beautiful color paintings by John Thompson. Condition: Very good ex-library book, 1996 Blue Sky Press hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Does have all normal library markings, but the interior is clean & tight. Content: Jerusalem is a holy place for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In her poetry, Yolen captures the feelings all three of these religions have toward the city, and Thompson brings them to life in his exquisite paintings. The poems thoughtfully explore moments of history and myth: the life of young David and his effect on the Jewish people, the meditations of the angels as they watch pilgrims make their way to Jerusalem to honor Allah, and the hope and horror that are sealed in the city's stones. Each double-page spread has a poem and a bit of narrative that tells about the history from which the poem springs. But it is Thompson's pictures that really call to you. The painterly acrylics reflect the majesty of a Jerusalem dawn, the old city panorama as seen perhaps from the Mount of Olives, black-faced sheep blending against a background of stone wall, an adolescent David contemplating his decision, and other striking perspectives. Thompson is a superb draftsman who also handles color eloquently. As each illustration is unique and a work of art, so is each poem. Together they form an integral unit and provide a most fitting celebration of the Jerusalem 3000 anniversary. For grades 3 and up. Lends itself beautifully to read-aloud sessions. [1 copy available]
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ON ROSH HASHANAH AND YOM KIPPUR
by Cathy Goldberg Fishman. Illustrated in color by Melanie Hall. Condition: NEW 1997 Antheum hardcover (pictorial boards) and DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. Book is in perfect condition, but DJ has problems: repaired short tear bottom at hinge & small edgewear top edge. Now enclosed in protective mylar jacket. Content: A solid introduction to the customs and symbols of the Jewish New Year and Day of Repentance that can be understood by both Jewish and non-Jewish children. The young narrator describes her family's preparation for each holiday, succinctly explaining the meaning and use of each symbol in both home and synagogue. Italicized Hebrew words are identified in a one-page glossary. Hall's skillfully blended, autumn-toned, mixed-media illustrations show the young girl interacting with her family as they celebrate the two special days. Layers of paint and oil pastel or crayon add texture and depth, sometimes producing a scratchboard effect. Lace and woven materials are either printed or used as an underlay to the paint. The illustrations are tied together through the inclusion of small cards bearing traditional New Year's greetings. A clear, interesting, attractively illustrated introduction to these holidays. Pre-school +.
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PEARL'S PASSOVER: A Family Celebration Through Stories, Recipes, Crafts, and Songs
text and color illustrations by Jane Breskin Zalben. Condition: NEW 2002 Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket) first edition, first printing. Lovely soft, warm & appropriate color illustrations. Content: A large family, neighbors, and a rabbi (all portrayed in loving domestic detail as sheep) play a role in the stories, recipes, crafts, and songs featured here. Zalben individualizes her characters through humorous touches that make the rather large cast easy to distinguish. The colored-pencil and watercolor illustrations of the vignettes are charming, and those that accompany the clear directions given for crafts and cooking are both helpful and inviting. Children will enjoy reading about Pearl and Avi and their twin cousins, Sophie and Harry ("the two terrors from Teaneck"); adults will appreciate the way that essential information about the history, meaning, and customs of Passover is interwoven throughout the stories and activities. Ages 5 - 9. [2 copies available]
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THE SECRET SEDER
by Doreen Rappaport. Color illustrations by Emily Arnold McCully. Condition: NEW 2005 Hyperian Books for Children hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. Tiny short tear top DJ edge (repaired). Interior perfect. Content: This is a picture book that uses the themes of exodus and freedom associated with Passover to contrast the reality of Nazi-occupied Europe. The narrator is a French boy whose family lives openly as Catholics, but secretly observes their Jewish faith. Despite the fear that their true identity will be discovered, he and his father attend an all-male Seder held in an abandoned shack in a nearby forest. They arrive with a roasted egg for the meager Seder plate, which lacks many of the traditional ingredients. One man says, "We have no bitter herbs to dip in salted water," while another replies, "We do not need bitter herbs....Our lives are bitter enough." The highlight of the evening is when the boy recites the four traditional questions, which he had secretly practiced with his mother. The men provide secondary answers to the customary ones: "I think tonight is different because tonight all over Europe, Jews are being murdered." Their sadness, fear, and misery are underscored by the idea that tonight they are free in their hearts and by their hope for a brighter future. Watercolors depicting gloomy, foreboding images of the village, forest, and shack counter the child's memories of happier meals at his grandmother's home. Rappaport interweaves themes and descriptive text to create a meaningful story in a distinctive setting. An excellent discussion starter. Ages 5 - 9.
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THE SONG OF SONGS
by Sholom Aleichem. Translation by Curt Leviant. Color illustrations by Devis Grebu. Condition: NEW 1996 Simon & Schuster hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. Content: The Jewish gift book of the year! Never before issued as a complete novella in English, this is Sholom Aleichem's elliptical tale of a love that cannot be, exquisitely rendered by the world's leading translator of the Yiddish master--and beautifully illustrated by an award-winning artist. 15 watercolors. [2 copies available]
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THE SPOTTED PONY: A Collection of Hanukkah Stories
retold by Eric A. Kimmel. Illustrated in B&W by Leonard Everett Fisher. Condition: NEW 1992 Holiday House hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: A very worthy collection of 8 short stories that will appeal to the entire family. The stories are sometimes clever, sometimes humorous, but always enjoyable. This is a book that can be read silently alone, or out loud to others. The author also includes a very touching story concerning his collection of the stories in this book. Stories: Ibn Ezra & the Archbishop; The Kabil's Donkey; Leviathan and the Fox; The Wonderful Shamir; Did the Rabbi Have A Head?; The Caliph and the Cobbler; When Herschel Eats; The Spotted Pony. Ages 4 - 10. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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TOBY BELFER NEVER HAD A CHRISTMAS TREE (SIGNED COPY)
by Gloria Teles Pushker. Illustrated in color by Judith Hierstein. Condition: Like-new 1994 Pelican Publishing (LA) over-sized hardcover (pictorial boards - 11.5 x 8.7 x 0.3) No DJ issued. First edition, second printing. Content: Living in a small Louisiana town where hers is the only Jewish family, Toby Belfer gives a party for her friends in order to explain Hannukah, including the story of Judah Maccabee, the significance of the menorah, how to make potato latkas, and how to play the game of dreydl. Ages 4 - 10
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THE VERY BEST HANUKKAH GIFT
by Joanne Rocklin. B&W illustrations and cover art by Catharine O'Neill. Condition: NEW 1999 Delacorte hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), fourth printing. Content: Daniel may be the middle child in the Bloom family, but he feels like the baby; his younger sister isn't afraid of the new dog, Rusty, next door, but Daniel is. To make matters worse, the dog's owner has invited the Blooms for Christmas cookies and hot chocolate. Daniel occupies himself before the dreaded visit by making Hanukkah presents for his family. The Blooms retell the ancient holiday story, light the candles, and cook traditional foods. On the night of the visit, Daniel accidentally drops the lucky dreidel he received as a gift. The dog scoops it up and places it at Daniel's feet, an overture of friendship that Daniel tentatively accepts. On the last night of the celebration, an ice storm knocks out the power and the Blooms' invited guests can't come, so they ask the other building residents, including Rusty, to share their Hanukkah meal. With refreshing, believable characters, this engaging story of a boy's fears, a supportive family, and a celebration that reflects traditional values is a great Hanukkah gift in itself. Ages 9 - 12. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE YELLOW STAR: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark
by Carmen Agra Deedy. Illustrated (oil paintings) by Henri Sorensen. Condition: NEW 2000 Peachtree large hardcover (pictorial boards) and DJ (in mylar jacket). Warm & appropriate illustrations. Content: Blending fact with legend, Deedy tells of Denmark's King Christian X's simple act of rebellion and courage, which served to unite his people against the Nazis. It is the king's custom to ride through the streets of Copenhagen unguarded, counting on the love of his people to protect him. When the Nazis circulate the order that all Jews must wear yellow stars on their clothing, the king devises a way to protect them. He makes his morning rounds as is his custom, but wears a yellow Star of David on his finest suit. The final illustrations depict shopkeepers, policemen, and others, all following their monarch's lead. "And, once again, in the country of Denmark, there were only Danes." Deedy's language is simple and rhythmic. This is an interesting and thought-provoking piece of work, but readers are sure to be disappointed to find out that it is legend, and not verified history. I have to admit I had never heard this story was not history, but legend. I'm very disappointed. The Danes did, however, save some 7,000+ Jews by smuggling them into Sweeden. Up to you.
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