From Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4-This uneven presentation may fill a need in collections serving large Jewish communities, but leaves a bit to be desired. The book begins with an introduction explaining what the Commandments are and how they were received, followed by an illustrated retelling of the story of Moses. The remaining pages feature double-page spreads that state each Commandment with a brief explanation of its meaning and an accompanying illustration on the facing page. The watercolor paintings are pleasant but somewhat static, and the text varies in language from quite simple to more complex. The explanations are oversimplified. The introduction implies that the Commandments belong to the Jewish people, without mention of any other religious groups who follow them. It is unclear who the intended audience is, as the artwork will appeal to preschoolers, but some of the language is too complex for them, and the introduction is clearly intended for a more mature audience. Religious schools may find what they are looking for here, but most libraries will want to pass on this serviceable but uninspired effort.
Amy Lilien-Harper, Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Delicate watercolors paint the drama of Moses' delivering the Ten Commandments to the Israelites. With a turn of the page, Nerlove's succinct history segues into a restatement of the laws, with each of the commandments receiving a double-page spread encased in a tablet shape. Beneath its Arabic and Hebraic numeral, a large, boldface statement of the commandment appears, followed by a brief and relevant explanation of its meaning. The opposite page illustrates a contemporary application of the commandment in children's lives. The laws' continuity is reaffirmed on the concluding page, where a young shepherd, representing history, and two modern-day children hold up the tablets on which the commandments appear. Sure to engage children in a discussion of the fundamental basis of their faith, this will be a popular selection for libraries serving Jewish patrons.
Ellen Mandel
