Customer Reviews

Clever Rachel

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4 star:		(1)
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What crosses the river but cannot move? What has an eye but never sees? In this retelling of a Jewish folk-tale, Clever Rachel is a girl who loves riddles. A smart boy, Jacob, hears about her and decides to challenge her. He is astonished when she answers his best riddles in no time flat. But when a desperate woman visits Rachel needing answers to some riddles, Rachel and Jacob realize they must work together to help solve the riddles, which will allow the woman to marry the man she loves. My seven-year-old son really enjoyed guessing the answers to the riddles woven into this story. Seven more riddles are printed on the last page. This would be a great book to read aloud to a class. I have included this book in my Gender Equality Bookstore online.

My twins have enjoyed having this read to them over and over since it arrived the other day. I bought it because knowing Debby, I know she is a great story teller and writer. The beautiful illustrations were a bonus. I'm going to give a copy to some friends now, to spread the enjoyment.

Riddles are the heart of this enjoyable retelling of a Jewish folktale. Young Rachel has been raised on riddles and is as clever as any boy, though her mother would prefer that she focus on learning to make kugel and setting a proper Shabbat table. Jacob, the baker's son, doubts her ability to solve riddles as well as he does, so Rachel decides to teach him a lesson by stepping back when a distraught young woman named Miriam comes pleading for help. If Miriam doesn't solve three riddles, her beloved will be forced to marry someone else. Jacob struggles with the riddles until he becomes flustered and finally turns to Rachel for the answers, remembering that true wisdom comes from working together. Although minimally sprinkled with old world phrasing, the text reads more like a picture book than a folktale. Appealing full-page illustrations in golden hues depict traditionally garbed villagers with expressive faces that bring the story to life. But the true appeal of this book is the riddles, including a full page of them at the end just for fun. Read with Raisel's Riddle by Erica Silverman and entries from While Standing on One Foot by Nina Jaffe for a great introduction to Jewish riddle and puzzle stories. For ages 7 - 9. Teri Markson