The Brothers' Promise [Hardcover]

Frances Harber (Author), Abby Levine (Editor), Thor Wickstorm (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1998 | Age Level: 6 and up

When the brothers Yankel and Josef keep their promise to their dying father by sharing with one another, they cause the angels in heaven to weep with joy.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3AThis retelling of a favorite Jewish tale from the Talmud is set in turn-of-the-century Eastern Europe. When a father dies, he leaves his farm to his two sons, making them promise to divide the land in half and to always care for one another. The siblings are very different: lighthearted Yankel marries and has a family, and Josef, the serious scholar, does not. When a serious drought brings a shortage of food, each brother remembers his promise and secretly tries to help the other, not realizing that the other is doing the same. In the end, it is as though God were watching and their kindness is rewarded with much-needed rain. Jewish folk sayings are sprinkled throughout the text, and the love the brothers have for one another is clear. The bright, expressive oil paintings feature figures outlined in black, swirling landscapes, and cloud-filled skies. They suit the tone of the story. Florence B. Freedman's Brothers (HarperCollins, 1985; o.p.) and Neil Waldman's The Two Brothers (Atheneum, 1997) both take place in Biblical times. This version complements the others nicely; although the setting is different, the message is not lost, pointing out the timelessness of the tale.AElisabeth Palmer Abarbanel, Brentwood School, Los Angeles
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 4^-6. In this traditional Jewish tale, a father dies and leaves his farm to his two sons, who share the farm and look after each other, despite their very different lifestyles--Yankle is a happily married family man, and Josef is a loner who spends his time reading religious books. When a drought threatens the farm, the brothers independently decide that the other needs whatever food has been saved. In a comic episode, the duo go back and forth delivering food and wondering why they are each winding up with more instead of less. Finally, they run into each other and, in a happy moment of realization, remember their father's words: "When a brother helps a brother, the angels in heaven weep tears of joy." This tells the same story as does Neil Waldman's recent The Two Brothers (1997), which has a soft-toned Jerusalem setting; Harber's tale is located in eastern Europe. Here, the pictures are vigorous both in color and in style of drawing. There's lots of movement in the art, and the pictures capture the story's humor and the worry that comes with farming life. Ilene Cooper

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (March 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807509000
• ISBN-13: 978-0807509005
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,065,569 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Praise for THE BROTHERS' PROMISE, May 5, 2001

By 

S. Brooks (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Brothers' Promise (Hardcover)

This is such a wonderful book! It has become my three-year-old daughter's absolute favorite bedtime story (I kept it from the library for six weeks before finally buying a copy!) The story is very moving and even manages to make the death of the father so tender and natural that I don't think most children would find it the least bit upsetting. The oil paintings are beautiful and colorful and complement the story perfectly. I would highly recommend this book!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chagall-flavored Talmud, September 9, 2001

By 

Alyssa A. Lappen (Earth) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Brothers' Promise (Hardcover)

This Talmudic story of two brothers determined sacrifice their own needs to look after one another, reconstituted into an Eastern European setting, provides a classic ... lesson about the importance of charity and selflessness.

A happily married brother shares a farm with his single brother who pores over Torah and Talmud. Lean years that descend on the farm sends each brother secretly scurrying at night to the other's home with provisions he thinks the other needs more. "When a brother helps a brother, the angels in heaven weep tears of joy," their father had taught them. And indeed, the heavens open upon mutual discovery of the other's generosity.

The vibrant and fanciful illustrations evoke at turns the styles of Van Gogh and Chagall, including spirits flying over the fields.

Whatever your faith, this story will nourish your child's spirit.

---Alyssa A. Lappen

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love Thy Brother, As Thyself, September 24, 2000

By 

Paul Martin (Waukesha, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Brothers' Promise (Hardcover)

Good for 4-8 yrs. The story is about two brothers, Yankel and Josef who shared, and worked together on a farm. Then hard times visit the two farm brothers when a drought hits. Both brothers, in need of food, worry more about the other brother's welfare. All turns out well in the end, and we're all better for having read this story!

This is a truely excellent story for children. The book only has one flaw, but it can be a big one with children. The illustrations are rather primitive, and don't seem to really capture the essence of the wonderful text. But the story is so good, it overshadows this flaw. Such a great message for children!