Yiddish for Dogs: Chutzpah, Feh!, Kibbitz, and More: Every Word Your Canine Needs to Know [Hardcover]

Janet Perr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 18, 2007

Is your dog a shmendrick? A putz? Oróoy veyóa goniff?

There is only one way to find out, so nu, dive in to Yiddish for Dogs. This alphabetical handbook of Yiddish words features adorable and hilarious pictures of irresistible pooches. These dogs embody the meaning of well-known words such as kibbitz, tsuris, feh!, shlep, chutzpah, and many more. But thatís not all. Consider yourself warned. Once the Yiddish comes out, these dogs have much to say.

These dogs kvell. They go through the dreck. They recognize a mensch. They appreciate a nosh. And, believe it or not, they know youíre mishuggeh. So the next time your canine friend does a flying leap into your lap, instead of exclaiming, ìWhat a klutz!î, ask yourselfóDoes my dog want to kibbitz?

Written and illustrated by award-winning art director and graphic designer Janet Perr, Yiddish for Dogs will have you howling with laughter.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

AUTHORBIO: Janet Perr is an art director and graphic designer responsible for the package design of hundreds of CD and book covers. She lives with her family in New York City.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (September 18, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401303234
• ISBN-13: 978-1401303235
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Instruction > Yiddish
  • #10 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Instruction > Slavic Languages

More About the Author

JANET PERR is an art director, graphic designer, author, and illustrator. She has had an extensive career designing record covers, ads, posters, CD packages, and book covers, and is the author and illustrator of the books Yiddish For Babies (Simon& Schuster, Nov. 2009), Hip-Hop For Dogs (Simon & Schuster, Nov. 2008) and Yiddish For Dogs (Hyperion, Sept. 2007).

Janet won a Grammy Award for the art direction and design of Cyndi Lauper's debut album She's So Unusual. She has worked with artists such as The Rolling Stones, Run-DMC, and Devo, and her clients include the major record companies and publishing houses. She has also been acknowledged with numerous art directors awards and her work has been featured in the books Designing For Music and 1001 Covers.

Currently, Ms. Perr is designing book covers and CD packages and is working on her next book project. Visit her on the web at janetperr.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you are Jewish, a dog lover, or both you should buy this book., May 9, 2008

By 

Lynda Lippin (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yiddish for Dogs: Chutzpah, Feh!, Kibbitz, and More: Every Word Your Canine Needs to Know (Hardcover)

I grew up in a New York Eastern European Jewish household where Yiddish was spoken interchangeably with English. We never ate chicken gizzards, and I would pale at the thought of eating stomach, but I loved the "pupick".

When something was bad a simple "Oy!" would do, but if you heard "Oy vay is mir" you knew things were really bad. Instead of glowing with joy we would "kvell". And people were never crazy, just "mishugeneh".

So much Yiddish has entered into typical American English vocabulary that it makes sense that our dogs, even strays from a "goy" background, would still understand the words.

I mean, what dog likes to "shlep" her owners around? And who wants only kibble when there is a "mishmash" of food in the trash? Why be on a diet when we can "fress"? And how can a dog not start barking or "plotzing" when lots of people come over the house?

This is a short picture book written from the viewpoint of dogs. So we have fat fireplug of a dog saying : "What can I say about FRESSING? Obviously my favorite activity. And believe me, I'll eat anything that you put in front of me." And we have a "shlemeil" cigarette smoking dachshund sitting in front of a "no smoking" sign.

If you are Jewish, a dog lover, or both you should buy this book. Short, hysterically funny, and the pictures are just too cute! Keep it out for company, show your friends, look at it when you're in a bad mood, and don't forget to keep speaking Yiddish to your dogs lest they lose the tradition!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really really funny and cute, September 19, 2007

By 

Dog Lover - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yiddish for Dogs: Chutzpah, Feh!, Kibbitz, and More: Every Word Your Canine Needs to Know (Hardcover)

This is a unique and hilarious book. The descriptions are little stories in themselves and match the photographs so well--besides which, you really laugh out loud! Great gift to any type of person who loves dogs and has a sense of humor.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Genius!, September 19, 2007

By 

J. Johnson "Pretty Pictures" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yiddish for Dogs: Chutzpah, Feh!, Kibbitz, and More: Every Word Your Canine Needs to Know (Hardcover)

Thank God for this book. I now know what the heck my pups have been saying all this time. I had no idea they were Jewish!

This book is fantastic...so funny...extremely insightful...very clever.