Ages 5^-8. "Why do you have your clothes inside-out?" asks Rosie, and so begins a delightful story that twists and turns as Grandma explains. Inside-out clothes remind Grandma of her son, Rosie's father, who never dressed carefully; and her son reminds Grandma of her late husband, Reuben. Thinking of Reuben's red hair brings to mind a shiny new penny, and from there it's a short leap to Hanukkah
gelt. . . Somehow, Grandma does bring the story full circle, so that inside-out clothes result in reminding Grandma to buy lots of oil for frying her delicious potato pancakes for the holiday party. Despite the story's distinctive Jewish parameters, kids of many ethnic persuasions may recognize a grandmother who likes to tell stories as well as enjoy the warmth that a family celebration can engender. The gouache-and-pencil artwork is chock-full of memories and decorated with festive borders.
Bubbemeis means grandmother story in Yiddish, and this is a
bubbemeis, par excellence.
Ilene Cooper
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.