Customer Reviews

Tickety Tock

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

 

 

From the second he was born, Schmuel was told to hurry up. He had to talk, he had to talk. He had chores to do and lessons to learn, and, most important of all, he had his craft to master. His father -- a tailor -- taught Schmuel the value of hard work. And work hard Schmuel did, from dawn til past dark, every night. Then one day, a girl asks Schmuel to make her a most beautiful dress. He wishes he could, but there isn't a moment to spare. And yet the dream of that dress lingers on as he toils alone for 41 more years. One magical night, a wall clock makes Schmuel the most tantelizing offer: take the time to make the dress, live his dream, and recapture his youth.

Apparently, this book is based on a song, so perhaps the cadence makes sense if you know how it goes. But for the rest of us, the rhythm of this book can soar and tumble. Nonetheless, it is an intreguing story with a fine message of making sure to make the time for the most important things in life. Mary Grand Pre (of Harry Potter fame) adorns the book with lovely, sweeping illustrations and even manages the fine trick of drawing a dress you could imagine someone dreaming about for all their life.

This is a fine book that children who understand allegory will enjoy.

I have been a Jason Robert Brown fan for 10 years or so and when I heard him talk about publishing a childrens book based on the song of Schmuel from his show "The Last Five Years" I knew I had to own it. The story does start off differently than the song but the lyrics are incorporated into the book. The illustrations are magnificent and meticulous. I bought a copy for myself and one for my nieces. I definitely recommend this book!