Customer Reviews

My Name is Not Gussie

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

 

 

A beautiful book to be handed down to future generations. A combination of enchanting artwork and distinctive prose; the "voice" is lively, imaginative and funny-sad; the illustrations colorful, exquisitely drafted and authentic. These stories, in the tradition of oral history, are enhanced by the author-artist's superb talent.

Reminicences of a hundred-year-old grandmother's experience as a Jewish Russian immigrant girl shine through first-person vignettes, each one funny, frightening, sad and moving in turn. The story telling voice is so personal, turning the last page of the book is truly like saying goodbye to a friend...my only complaint, if I might be a "kvetch" like Tante Feindele in the story, is that it left me wanting more, hundreds of pages worth! As it stands, it is a perfect picture book for older children, with an especially attractive layout: each double-page spread offering on one side a two-column anecdote and on the other a brightly-colored, detailed watercolor. I disagree with the Booklist review above. Text and illustration are married perfectly to create this celebration of the American experience that no book-loving classroom or household should be without.

Excellent book with magical and lifelike illustrations. Writer is brilliant to have captured this time in such a charming and realistic way. The book was truley inchanting and true to the immigrante experience. It touched my heart and took me back to my heritage.The illustrations were true to the Mikki Machlin style of inifinite detail and perfection. It was indeed an honor to have this book in my library and to beable to pass it along. It captures the soul of my heritage.I hope she will write more books with her beautiful illustrations. Mazal Tov