Customer Reviews

Carp in the Bathtub

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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

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.

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!

My parents read this story to me and my brother and sister every Passover. It's a wonderful, funny story about two children who make a pet of the doomed carp bought to become part of the Seder meal each year. I would note that like all of the books I've read by this author, you don't have to be Jewish to enjoy it--I think it would appeal as much to gentile children as it did to me.

I enjoyed this book a great deal as a child, though the ending always frustrated me greatly (and it will frustrate your children; I guarantee it). The story is clever, though somewhat sad, and offers a nice look at some Jewish-American traditions. Children coming from that background might find the book particularly interesting. Also, children who tend to personify animals might enjoy this book, as the titular carp has a distinct personality. Strict vegetarians might find the book slightly distressing, however.

This was a Great book. My sons read this as one of their AR reading books for school. It's about a carp that is to become apart of Passover Dinner. The children become attached to the carp and want to keep it for their pet. It has a cute ending.

This carefully written book is a guaranteed success for children because it captures a child's perception of parental exhaustion and sacrifice. For example, the narrator and her brother regret being the fortunate family with a bathroom in their apartment, since it means they have to take more baths. When the children meet their father at the subway, as he is returning exhausted from a long day of work in a sweatshop, his fatigue vanishes at the sight of the children, they barely notice their own effect. The histrionics of the widow downstairs are slyly manipulated by the children in an ill-thought-out plot to save their beloved carp, and they treat her grief as alien. The voice of the narrator never breaks the childhood blitheness of which the reader is fully aware. The children really don't understand why the carp has to be sacrificed, and while they don't realize the sacrifice their parents make for them, they do understand the love they receive. Young readers and listeners get the same message.

As a synagogue librarian, I was horrified to discover that both copies of this beloved book had "walked" off my shelves. I bought five new copies and will dole them out carefully. The story and pictures and wonderfully appealing to children, and harken back to a sweet, simpler time that is equally appealing. A GREAT Passover gift for children!

I agree most with the review just previous to mine, although I am all the more unhappy with this book. While the premise is interesting the execution (so to speak)leaves a lot to be desired. Perhaps, being charitable, this is because it is dated. Its appeal (being charitable) seems to be in its evocation of nostalgia. However the ending involves a fish (which the children in the story view as a pet) being dispatched by a mother wielding a club on the kitchen table. This does not inspire warm feelings about Passover. My son and I were both upset by the ending. I am not a vegetarian, but this book could well lead me to this.