ELIJAH'S TEARS

Five stories of Elijah the Prophet, linked to the major Jewish holidays, limning many aspects of Jewish life, and told in the polished manner of lessons often repeated. In a preface, Pearl sets Elijah's place in the Bible and in folklore, pointing out her additions and inventions, e.g., giving the prophet a family. In one story, ``The Tallis,'' a widowed father introduces his religion to his son at the late age of five, giving him a precious prayer shawl, and launching him on a lifetime of kindness toward others. Typically, the stories emphasize charity, point out the wonders of God in nature, and glorify the mitzvah, or good deed, with which Elijah is associated. Penney provides idiosyncratic black-and-white pictures that capture the mood of each piece. Compelling, sometimes ethereal, the tales occasionally address readers directly, forging a link between the magical settings and real ones. (glossary) (Short stories/folklore. 7-11)