Feivel's Flying Horses
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 1–3—As the chief apprentice in Mr. Nathanson's Coney Island carousel shop, Feivel lovingly remembers his wife and children in the old country as he designs and carves wooden horses. He creates a glorious horse with a long, golden mane for his wife, Goldie; a proud, regal beast for his eldest son, Hershel; a gentle creature whose bridle is etched with deer for his son Shmuel; a lively and graceful horse adorned with flowers and ribbons for his daughter Sasha; and a beautiful pony ornamented with hundreds of glittering glass jewels for his baby, Lena. By the time the carousel is complete, Fievel has earned enough money to bring his family to America. When they are finally reunited, the happy family rides the carousel together. The historical note details the contributions of eastern European Jewish immigrants, once wood carvers of synagogue arks and Torah scrolls, who used their talent to create magnificent carousel horses enjoyed by generations of children. Watercolor illustrations with ink lines illustrate the immigrant experience on New York's Lower East Side in the late 1800s and help bring to life the magic of Coney Island. Like this team's Mendel's Accordion (Lerner, 2007), this story celebrates the richness of the Jewish American experience.—Rachel Kamin, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
The team who created Mendel’s Accordion (2007) offers another historical picture book celebrating the Jewish immigrant experience. Feivel leaves his wife and four children behind in the Old Country when he comes to New York. A wood carver by trade, he is hired to create carousel horses for a Coney Island amusement park. Thinking of the family he has left behind, Feivel fashions steeds for his wife and children, inscribing each masterpiece with a name. Van der Sterre’s ink-and-watercolor illustrations offer a pleasantly nostalgic look at life in New York’s Lower East Side and Brooklyn’s Coney Island during the late 1800s. The scenes are rich with street details and the beautifully crafted horses. An appended note explains about several real eastern European Jewish synagogue ark carvers who found work in the U.S. as carousel carvers. Slightly older audiences will also enjoy Deborah Lee Rose’s The Rose Horse (1995), which touches on the carousel carvers and is set in Coney Island’s Jewish community of the early twentieth century. Grades K-3. --Kay Weisman
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
This tale of Feivel, an East European Jewish immigrant, who found his dream on a Coney Island carousel, will delight the reader!
February 24, 2010
Format:Library Binding
Feivel was on board the deck of the ship. He held his hand over his heart and tentatively waved goodbye to his family down below. He was sadly leaving his wife and children behind to go to America in hopes of making a better life for them all. As the ship passed the Statue of Liberty he began to dream of them in his mind's eye. His oldest son Hershel had assured him that he would take care of the family, yet he was no more than a boy himself. There was Shmuel, Sasha, his little prima ballerina, and his infant daughter, Lena. His eyes held a glimmer of hope as he approached the shore, but he knew it would be a long time before he would hold them in his arms once more.
In the Old Country Feivel had been a wood carver along with his elders. They were the carvers of "the ornate reading desks that held the Torah scrolls, and the fearsome lions that guarded the holy arks in synagogues" so he was sure to find work in this new land of opportunity, but it was not the kind of work he was used to. Carving furniture was hard, but he would save his money and persevere. His family would one day join him if he worked hard enough. His cousin Mikhael tried to get him to relax and take a short day trip to an amazing place in Brooklyn called Coney Island.
No, no. There was no time for the frivolous when his family was counting on him. He had to save his money. Mikhael insisted and that very weekend they boarded the number thirty-eight trolley car and were on their way to see those fortune tellers, the Ferris wheels and the glowing lights ... but he had to think of his children. It was dreamlike place with the color the lights, and the screams of excitement, but his family was counting on him. The pair heard some organ music and soon came upon a "magnificent wooden carousel." The carvings were surreal and his heart began to leap when he saw a sign ... "WANTED Experienced Wood Carver." He was now thinking of his childen as Mikhael tugged as his arm in hopes of finding something good to eat. Was that carousel horse beckoning him from inside that door? Was he going to be able to bring his family from the Old Country if this Coney Island business took him on? "Tumbala, tumbala, tumbalalaika ..."
This tale of Feivel, an East European Jewish immigrant, who found his dream on a Coney Island carousel, will delight the reader. I was so enthralled with the story when I first read it, I barely even glanced at the sweeping, nostalgic artwork. The emotions of Fieval were captured perfectly with each brushstroke. This tale is not only one that can be read capture the excitement of Coney Island and those magnificent flying horses, but also one that captures a critical period in Jewish history. In the back of the book is an historical, note about the East European Jewish immigrant and the wood carvers of Coney Island.
In the Old Country Feivel had been a wood carver along with his elders. They were the carvers of "the ornate reading desks that held the Torah scrolls, and the fearsome lions that guarded the holy arks in synagogues" so he was sure to find work in this new land of opportunity, but it was not the kind of work he was used to. Carving furniture was hard, but he would save his money and persevere. His family would one day join him if he worked hard enough. His cousin Mikhael tried to get him to relax and take a short day trip to an amazing place in Brooklyn called Coney Island.
No, no. There was no time for the frivolous when his family was counting on him. He had to save his money. Mikhael insisted and that very weekend they boarded the number thirty-eight trolley car and were on their way to see those fortune tellers, the Ferris wheels and the glowing lights ... but he had to think of his children. It was dreamlike place with the color the lights, and the screams of excitement, but his family was counting on him. The pair heard some organ music and soon came upon a "magnificent wooden carousel." The carvings were surreal and his heart began to leap when he saw a sign ... "WANTED Experienced Wood Carver." He was now thinking of his childen as Mikhael tugged as his arm in hopes of finding something good to eat. Was that carousel horse beckoning him from inside that door? Was he going to be able to bring his family from the Old Country if this Coney Island business took him on? "Tumbala, tumbala, tumbalalaika ..."
This tale of Feivel, an East European Jewish immigrant, who found his dream on a Coney Island carousel, will delight the reader. I was so enthralled with the story when I first read it, I barely even glanced at the sweeping, nostalgic artwork. The emotions of Fieval were captured perfectly with each brushstroke. This tale is not only one that can be read capture the excitement of Coney Island and those magnificent flying horses, but also one that captures a critical period in Jewish history. In the back of the book is an historical, note about the East European Jewish immigrant and the wood carvers of Coney Island.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Jewish woodcarvers star in this sweet tale of late 19th century immigrants. Feivel, third generation wood artist, journeys to New York for a better life with the clichéd $5.00. He must leave behind his family, a wife and four children until he saves money for their passage. Despite working from the minute he arrives on the Lower East Side, saving takes years. Feivel misses his family terribly, and sorely regrets not seeing his children grow up. Feivel toils reduced from exalted synagogue Torah ark carvings to making furniture, until a cousin treats him to Coney Island. Astounded by the magnificent carousel and yearning for his artistic past, he spies a job opening for an experienced wood carver. Feivel designs and carves horses which capture the faraway family members he pines for. His Jewish identity is obvious when he sings Yiddish love songs at work and blessings in the synagogue. Feivel refuses to ride the finished carousel until his family rides with him. They arrive and happily mount their splendid, special horses. Feivel's life, like his carousel, becomes a joyous, complete circle. The text gently delivers the pain of separation faced by myriad immigrants while smartly teaching about talented Jewish artisans and their rich contribution to American culture. The picture book's art parallels the text in plot and emotion. Homey scenes in soft watercolor on two-page spreads deliver the magical milieu of Coney Island and its determined artist, well fed, neat and (please note) blonde whose sadness wells from separation, not the grime of a grinding ghetto. For ages 5-8. Reviewed by Ellen Cole
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Bozena Page
Format:Paperback
If you loved this story, you'll love this new fine-art book scheduled to be released in October 2010 by the Connecticut Press, depicting the horse carvings created by these immigrants and their history. The book is called "Flying Horses: The Golden Age of American Carousel Art, 1870 - 1930." There are over 150 photographs of these stunning, colorful wood horse carvings. You can learn more about this book in Facebook by typing in "Flying Horses." ISBN: 978-0-9825468-2-6
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic! Feivel's Flying Horses
Outstanding color picture book. Wonderful story of an immigrant wood artist, working to bring his family to America. A book to curl up in bed with.Feivel's Flying Horses
Published 17 hours ago by Bill Tillman
5.0 out of 5 stars
A tale of craftsmanship, longing and reunion
Disclaimer: I know the author. She has worked with my children for almost a decade, and I think she is a wonderful children's educator. Read more
Published on April 21, 2010 by Deb Nam-Krane
