Mazel and Shlimazel: Or the Milk of a Lioness [Hardcover]

Isaac Bashevis Singer (Author), Margot Zemach (Photographer), Elizabeth Shub (Translator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A retelling of a classic tale pits Mazel, the debonair spirit of good luck, against Shlimazel, the wicked spirit of bad luck, in a confrontation that enables a poor but honest lad to win and marry a king's daughter. Reissue.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This artful retelling of a Jewish folktale centers on a wager between the spirits of good and evil. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Good is pitted against evil in open contest when the debonair Mazel, spirit of good luck, makes a wager with the wicked old sot Shlimazel, spirit of bad luck. The story has all the traditional elements of the folk tale, enhanced by the vitality and humor of Singer's inimitable style and by the vigorous, colorful illustrations." --Saturday Review

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover
• Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux; Ex-library edition (September 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374348847
• ISBN-13: 978-0374348847
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #723,663 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful tale for all ages, February 9, 2001

By 

KaguyaHime (Fomalhaut) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mazel and Shlimazel: Or the Milk of a Lioness (Hardcover)

A lively tale reminiscent of the story of Job.

One fine day, Mazel (the spirit of Good Luck) and Schlimazel (the spirit of Bad Luck), are strolling through a small village. Mazel boasts to his companion about his popularity; he is welcomed by all, called upon often, and loved by everyone. "No one ever calls for you," he tells Schlimazel. Scoffing, Schlimazel claims "The world is ruled by the powerful, and what takes you a year to create I can destroy in a second." So they strike a wager: Mazel will brighten the life of the poorest man in the village for a year. At the end of the year Schlimazel will have one second, just one second, to ruin the man. The man is not to be killed, impoverished, or made ill. A cask of magical wine if Schlimazel wins, if Mazel wins Schlimazel must go away for fifty years. They find the poorest man, Tam, and Mazel goes to work.

Through extraordinary good luck (of course), Tam rises from sleeping among toadstools to sleeping in a king's palace. The man the entire village once laughed at becomes the king's trusted advisor and Master of Horses. The fair Princess Nesika, the king's only child and sole heir to the throne, falls in love with him. Tam becomes renown for his wisdom, talent, and skill. Minstrels travel the world recounting tales of Tam's great deeds. How can Schlimazel possibly undo all this in one second?

The king falls ill, and only one thing can cure him: the milk of a lioness. Bravely, Tam sets out, Mazel still secretly at his side. The successful Tam returns to the king, and suddenly, the year is up! Schlimazel pops in, and true to his word, in one mere second Schlimazel manages to utterly ruin Tam's life.

Mazel wallows in guilt and Schlimazel drinks himself into a stupor with the magical wine. Once unconscious, Mazel returns to Tam's side. After all, with the bet completed, Mazel is free to do as he wishes. With Mazel's deft assistance Tam's life and reputation are restored. Mazel sticks around for a while, but now we are told that Tam no longer needs Mazel: for those who are diligent, honest, sincere, and helpful are indeed lucky forever.

A charming story with enchanting watercolor pictures of exotic characters and locales.

Highly recommended.