Among Spain’s secret Jews—conversos—were well-educated merchants and professionals who worked and lived within the medieval Catholic society yet found ways to clandestinely practice their forbidden, ancient faith. When Don Fernando, the conductor of Barcelona’s Royal Orchestra, himself a converso, plans a new concert for the nobility, he devises a way to include a piece sporting exotic instruments made by the natives from the New World. It is fall and just in time for Rosh Hashanah, so with son Rafael’s bold complicity, the shofar, or ram’s horn, is included to sound the four distinct notes that usher in the Jewish New Year. Basing her tale on legend, Greene provides a smooth, suspenseful view into a rarely depicted portion of Jewish history, when Jews led a dual life and managed to maintain their Judaic rituals by blending in or hiding their beliefs and traditions, sometimes in plain sight. Chayka’s deep, opaque paintings reflect an upper-class, dark-haired Iberian society juxtaposed with the Judaic rituals of the Rosh Hashanah meal. (introductory, author’s notes) (Picture book. 6-10)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-8225-9915-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2009
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PLB 0-06-027359-3 The timorous specter from this team’s The Teeny Tiny Ghost (1998) reappears for a thrilling, hair-raising adventure. Woefully faint- hearted, the teeny tiny ghost knows he must practice being brave and in the school yard he valiantly faces the intimidating playground slide. However, when he returns home to discover empty rocking chairs moving on their own, mysteriously billowing draperies, and rattling chains, the apprehensive apparition’s courage is tested. Winters’s suspenseful story lends itself to a rousing recital at story hours; the steadily building tension as the diminutive spirit searches the house will generate delightful shivers, while the prosaic climax, in which it is revealed that Cousin Brad is completing his “hide and haunt” homework, prevents the tale from becoming too frightening for a younger audience. Munsinger’s merry illustrations, overflowing with many humorous touches, contribute to this gleefully boisterous tale. (Picture book. 3-8)
Pub Date: Aug. 31, 1999
ISBN: 0-06-027358-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1999
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An introduction to the history, symbols, and customary celebration of this African-American holiday. Scratchboard illustrations stress the importance of Kwanzaa as a family event with warmly colored, harmoniously composed domestic scenes. Cultural cross-connections are drawn in the first two pictures (an American family exchanges gifts, including a length of kente cloth; then identically posed figures are transposed to a traditional African village) and enhanced by borders in African motifs. The author briefly discusses the Seven Principles, suggesting activities for Kwanzaa and through the year. Similar in information to Chocolate's Kwanzaa (1990) and My First Kwanzaa Book (1992), but the visual riches and less didactic tone here are superior. Useful four-item reading list. (Nonfiction/Picture book. 7-9)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1993
ISBN: 0-8037-1292-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1993
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