Schwartz (The Day the Rabbi Disappeared: Jewish Holiday Tales of Magic) continues to explore mystical elements of Jewish folklore with nine tales from various regions and periods. Some recombine staple themes of fairy tales, as in "The Angel's Daughter," from Bukhara, wherein the youngest of seven sons embarks on a perilous quest to win the hand of a princess. Others more clearly incorporate Jewish teachings. In the Eastern European "A Roomful of Ghosts," for example, a wise rabbi with a magic staff ("like that of Moses") sends a boy to a cemetery to guide a seemingly doomed spirit to the grave of a miserly man; in begging a ruble from him, she permits him to perform an act of charity and save his soul, and thus she saves her own. Not all the entries are tightly edited, however, and some feel episodic rather than organic. This collection also lacks the interpretive framework that gave such depth to The Day the Rabbi Disappeared. These caveats aside, the writing feels steeped in color and can be easily enjoyed by a nonsectarian audience. Fieser (previously paired with Schwartz for The Sabbath Lion) enhances the book's innate appeal with dynamic full-page illustrations in radiant tones. His style is mostly representational (angels, for example, look like people with wings), reflecting the storyteller's equal emphasis on the natural and the supernatural. Ages 8-up.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-5-This collection of nine folktales from many sources reflects the tone and quality of the genre quite effectively. The writing is lovely and fluid, with enough formality to capture the traditional style while still being accessible to young readers. In one story, a rabbi talks to ghosts and sends a curious young boy to the cemetery to help put souls to rest. In another tale, a baby is born with a memory of his past life so that he may finish telling a story he began then. And in a third, a boy ends up in the demon's realm and escapes with the help of the demon princess. Engaging and interesting, the pieces are not overly religious, and they have appeal for readers of many different faiths. Fieser's occasional full-page, full-color scenes are for the most part realistic and enhance the text. The use of the word rabbi to describe several people, including a musician and a driver, may confuse some children, and the font is a bit narrow and hard on the eyes, but as a whole this is a worthwhile addition.
Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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