Rachel's Gift [Hardcover]

Richard Ungar (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

Named a 2003 Notable Book for Young Readers by The Association of Jewish Libraries

Spring has come to the little town of Chelm and everyone is busy making things clean and fresh for Passover. At Rachel’s home, a special gift has arrived: Bubbie from Bialystok has sent along her recipe for Bubbie’s Own Matzo Ball Soup. Rachel’s mother is thrilled. Maybe the fragrance of the soup will lure Elijah the Prophet to their home and he will bestow good fortune on them.

The soup is indeed wonderful, and soon it draws the neighbors. But none of these everyday folk could possibly be the great prophet. Or could they? As in Rachel Captures the Moon, the solution lies in the hands of a loving child.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-As Passover approaches, Rachel's mother plans to make the best soup in the world to woo Elijah the Prophet and reap a rich reward. Using Bubbie's secret and not very helpful recipe, she begins to cook, and the aroma attracts many visitors with helpful hints of their own. In the end, it is Rachel's gift of kindness to an old man that brings a reward that is more than money. Although this tale lacks the outright silliness of many of the Chelm stories, the "lesson" is accompanied by lively action and smooth prose. The rich watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations in the style of folk art capture the European village setting, and the reds, yellows, and oranges add to the warmth of the tale. A companion to Ungar's Rachel Captures the Moon (Tundra, 2001), the book is "inspired by the story `The Magician' by I. L. Peretz." A welcome addition to Jewish folklore shelves.
Amy Kellman, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. In this companion to Rachel Captures the Moon (2001), Rachel and her family are preparing for Passover in their village of Chelm. Hoping to lure Elijah the Prophet to their seder, Rachel and her mother decide to make Bubbie of Bialystock's matzoh ball soup. Although they are frustrated by the recipe's inexactness ("just enough onions" and "matzoh balls--made the usual way"), they make do with the ingredients they have on hand, and are pleasantly surprised when the aroma of their soup brings a host of visitors, including one weary traveler who just may be the elusive Elijah. Ungar's brightly colored paintings have an old world aura appropriate to the folkloric setting of the story. Smaller pencil drawings are interspersed throughout the text as well, meshing nicely with the full-color spreads. A natural choice for religious school collections, this will also be welcomed in larger public libraries where demand is high. Kay Weisman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Tundra Books (April 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887766161
• ISBN-13: 978-0887766169
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.4 x 10.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,733,269 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars With superbly executed illustrations awash in color, September 12, 2003

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rachel's Gift (Hardcover)

Set in Biblical times, Rachel's Gift By Richard Ungar tells of a young Jewish woman who, just as Passover approaches, has received the special gift of a recipe for amazing and delicious matzo ball soup. They hope that the soup's fragrance will lure Elijah the Prophet to their home, and bring them good fortune. Many neighbors come, but could any of these ordinary people be the great prophet? Richard Ungar's superbly executed illustrations are awash in color and bring this spiritual picture book tale to life in the mind's eye of young readers ages 7 to 10.