Customer Reviews

Shikufitzky 5

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The latest entry into this humorous series about the Shikufitzky family with four children is a winner. The relationships between siblings are real, sometimes respectful to each other, but just as often not. A colorful mix of very short and simple stories is presented in a comic strip format about children's play at home and in their day-to-day life in school. Charming episodes are included that both manage to put a new spin on everyday life as part of a family and to teach kids about their own foibles in an amusing way. The children I gave it to giggled out loud as I read to them and as they read independently. Stories are color-coded to make it clear that a new story begins when the color of the border changes. The illustrations are boxed comic strip style and are in full color. Children's names are Hebrew or Yiddish and the illustrations show girls in skirts and boys with kippot, so this book is clearly marketed for Orthodox readers. The reality of the personalities and events will make this an appropriate read also for non-Orthodox children, keeping in mind that there are several Hebrew words used in conversation, such as Succos, Haggada and Shalach Manos. For ages 6 - 10. Shelly Feit

This is the fifth and last in a series of "graphic" or comic strip-type storybooks about the Shikufitzky family--Father, Mother, Yiska, Temima, Kehos, and baby Klonimus--and their relatives and friends. Author and illustrator Shifra Glick portrays the action in full-color panels with dialogue in balloons. There are many stories, some long and some short, and each new story begins with a change of color on the border. The stories are intended to be humorous and insightful encounters with life that teach us a lot about ourselves in a novel and amusing way. I imagine that Jewish families would especially appreciate them, but the observations are of such a universal nature that anyone can enjoy the books. At the end of Shikufitzky 5, the Shikufitzky family is moving, and Glick plans a new but related series: Shikufitzky Street.