Tali's Jerusalem Scrapbook [Hardcover]

Sylvia Rouss (Author), Nancy Oppenheimer (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

This moving story describes the current situation in Israel as seen through a child's eyes.

Every year Tali's relatives from the States come to celebrate her birthday party in Jerusalem. But this year no one is coming. Why?

Tali shows us her scrapbook of pictures which contrast the happy times of only a few years ago with the sad times of today. Yet, through it all, Tali is certain that life in Jerusalem can once again be wonderful and full of joy.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4--This book focuses on nine-year-old Tali's disappointment when she learns that her American relatives will not be traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate her birthday this year because of the unsafe conditions there. She laments the reality that Israelis face every day when they go to the market or travel on a bus. She meets an older neighbor in the park and shares her feelings with him. Acting as the voice of reason, Mr. Feldman explains that "life is never perfect" and that it's OK to be afraid as long as you move forward. When one of Tali's friends suggests that things might be safer "if only Jews lived in Jerusalem," the man sends the girls for ice cream. They discuss how they live in a city of many flavors, and think about how boring it would be if there were only one type of ice cream. Tali reminisces about a simpler time by looking over her photos in a scrapbook and wishing that her family could enjoy day-to-day experiences without looking over their shoulders in suspicion. In the end, the girl hopes that next year her American relatives will be with her to share her special day. The clearly written story is enhanced by Oppenheimer's complex, rich illustrations. The painterly artwork shows close-up views of the characters interacting as well as scenes of the city. This is a specialized purchase that would work best with discussion groups.--Sandra Kitain, Abrams Hebrew Academy, Yardley, PA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. A Jewish child in Jerusalem remembers when the Jews lived peacefully with their Arab neighbors, but "Now there are some who want to hurt us . . . . They don't want us to live here . . . . Many people have been injured and killed." The pictures, from Tali's perspective, show her memories of peace, her glowing family scrapbook, and beautiful images of the city she loves. In contrast, one double-page spread dramatizes her trauma about young Arabs who threaten her with stones and flames. The message in the lengthy text is heavy-handed as Tali and her family celebrate her birthday with her friends (one is from Iran, another is from Russia), and she speaks to an elderly mentor about the riches of diversity. But as there's very little for young readers from the viewpoint of Jewish children in Israel now, this will be of use. For slightly older readers, pair this picture-book presentation with Cathryn Clinton's novel A Stone in My Hand (2002), about a Palestinian child's suffering, and with the books of Naomi Shihab Nye. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simcha Media Group (NJ) (September 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930143680
• ISBN-13: 978-1930143685
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,889,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sylvia Rouss is the award-winning author and early childhood educator who created the popular Sammy Spider and The Littlest books.


Even with her success as an author, Sylvia has not given up what she loves most, teaching. She is currently a preschool teacher in Los Angeles, and says that she "is inspired by the children in my classroom".


Sylvia also received awards as an educator and she conducts seminars for parents and teachers.


Sylvia is a featured author and lecturer at book fairs throughout the United States and Israel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars tackles a difficult subject, November 11, 2004

By 

heART "artist heart" (seneca sc) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tali's Jerusalem Scrapbook (Hardcover)

This book sensitively tells and shows how a young Israeli girl- Tali- is affected by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
The lovely illustrations and well composed story work in harmony. The story begins with Tali's sorrow because her American relatives will not be visiting her this year due to the conflict. She reflects on their annual visits with excursions to beautiful locations throughout Jerusalem. Simultaneously, the friendship with an older neighbor proves enlightening, for it is here we learn the deepest lesson of the book: our differences are good; neither right nor wrong, and to live in peace and harmony, helping one another, is of the highest merit. The book is filled with hope and understanding.
There is nothing else like this book on the market.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dangerous, May 30, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Tali's Jerusalem Scrapbook (Hardcover)

This book had beautiful illustrations, and the storyline seemed very genuine. Unfortunatly though, it shows one side of an issue that is very fragile by creating villains out of the Arabs community and for that, I feel it promotes hatred toward that community. I was hoping this book was somehow aimed at creating peace between the Isreali and Arab community.