The Carp in the Bathtub [Paperback]

Barbara Cohen (Author), Joan Halpern (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

Leah and her brother hatch a plan to save the Passover carp from the cooking pot. A classic!

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing (March 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0930494679
• ISBN-13: 978-0930494674
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #424,919 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #55 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Religions > Fiction > Jewish

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gefilte fish, September 24, 2001

By 

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

This review is from: Carp In The Bathtub (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (School & Library Binding)

This wonderful 1972 story recalls the days in Brooklyn when most families had to share their bathrooms with neighbors and everyone managed.

The narrator recalls a particular year, perhaps during the 1930s or 1940s. Rosh Hashonah and Passover, aside from more important things, then also meant eating Mama's gefilte fish, which she made from fresh carp. By the day before the holiday, the market had no more big fish, so Mama always bought her carp a week in advance, and stored it, fresh, in the bathtub.

This particular year, though, Harry and Leah fell in love with the carp. "Some carp are much more lovable than others, and that Passover, we had an unusually playful and intelligent carp in our bathtub," says Leah. To save the carp, they brought the fish downstairs to Mrs. Ginzburg, who agreed to put the carp in her bathtub instead.

They hoped their father would save "Joe," but Papa would have none of it. He went straight to Mrs. Ginzburg's apartment, and retrieved their beloved fish before their mother even knew he was missing.

The children in the story never ate gefilte fish again, but a few weeks after their favorite carp died, their father brought home a cat, which they also named Joe.

Aside from teaching kids about bygone traditions, this story explains that they cannot always have what they want. No surprise, they love it as much as most kids love gefilte fish. Alyssa A. Lappen

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT BOOK !, December 10, 1999

By 

Mandy (Osawatomie, Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Carp in the Bathtub (Paperback)

I think that Carp In The Bathtub is a great book for ages 4-13 the pictures were very funny ,and creative. It was interesting. It was entertaining also you can picture it in your head like you were in their shoes. The characters were pretty average people. I think the ending was a surprise. Like the rest of the normal books it starts off as a normal day some of it is boring. also some of it is exciting to. The basicage spain is about 4-13 on average ofmost of the readers would find it entereasting most of the book and so do I.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book!, August 28, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Carp in the Bathtub (Paperback)

I loved this book growing up. I agree with the previous reviewer...I am not Jewish and this ranks up with one of my favorite children's books. (My favorite being Fourteen Bears in Summer and Winter). I always thought it was so neat that they had a carp swimming in their bathtub!