Modern Jewish history lives through the moving voice of one participant.
A dream to return to their Jewish homeland becomes a reality for Ethiopian Jews.
As the narrator watches his brother become a bar mitzvah at Jerusalem’s Western Wall, he remembers his childhood in Ethiopia and the journey to their homeland, Israel. For generations, Yosef tells readers, Jews in Ethiopia believed that they “were the only Jews left in the world!” In his reminiscence, Yosef leaves his mother and sister to take food to his father and brother working in their fields before heading to school. He falls into a deep hole and cannot climb out. In a folkloric turn, Gazelle comes to him in a dream and promises him mountaintop visions of “far-off places.” Hyena then promises meals “of the scraps of others.” Finally, Eagle swoops down and promises him a flight to a new home. When he finally arrives at school, an Israeli official announces that they “can return to the land God gave to the Jews.” Preparations are made, and Yosef’s family boards the eagle, as foretold in Isaiah (40:31)—only now it is an airplane. An author’s note informs readers that in 1991, co-author Naim, the Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia, did in fact organize Operation Solomon, bringing home thousands of Ethiopian Jews. Blumenfeld’s colorful illustrations give the dark-skinned people and the animals personality and set the location memorably.
Modern Jewish history lives through the moving voice of one participant. (Picture book. 6-10)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-68115-506-7
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Apples & Honey Press
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Although a little too wordy for younger listeners, this is one of the more attractive books on Islam’s origins.
The lowly spider is a strong hero in this traditional story about Muhammad.
During the Prophet's flight from Makkah (Mecca) to Madinah (Medina) on the journey called the Hijra (Hejira), he stopped in a cave with his follower, Abu Bakr, to escape his pursuers. As the story goes, birds (usually pigeons, but here called doves) nested outside the cave, and a spider wove a web to fool the tracker sent by Makkah’s leaders. The animals instinctively thought that their presence would cause the tracker to think that Muhammad couldn’t be inside. (In similar stories, spiders also save King David and the baby Jesus with their webs. The image of a tiny creature standing up against stronger forces unites disparate faiths.) An unobtrusive asterisk and plus sign are used when Muhammad and Abu Bakr’s names are mentioned to indicate that Muslims should say a blessing after the Prophet’s name and the name of his companion. This is explained on the inside cover, but the blessings are omitted. Black silhouettes are cleverly juxtaposed against intensely colored watercolors, working within the Muslim injunction against showing human images. A source note would have been helpful, placing the story within the context of Muhammad’s life.
Although a little too wordy for younger listeners, this is one of the more attractive books on Islam’s origins. (Picture book/religion. 6-9)Pub Date: July 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-86037-449-7
Page Count: 30
Publisher: Kube Publishing
Review Posted Online: May 15, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2012
Not for every reader, but sweet in its own way.
Three penguins…but only two tickets to the ark, what’s a friend to do?
A trio of penguins stand on an ice floe hoping for something to happen as they try not to kick each other. Along comes a butterfly; the smallest of the penguins decides to squash it. The two larger penguins remind him God says not to kill, but the smaller penguin has never seen God; he accidentally squashes the butterfly and storms off in anger. A dove happens by and tells the two large penguins about Noah’s ark. She gives them two tickets and warns them not to be late. Not wanting to leave their grumpy friend behind, the two concoct a plan to stuff him in their suitcase. The three hide from the dove for most of the voyage, but how are they going to exit two-by-two? German playwright and actor Hub’s light, loopy riff on the biblical tale is based on his children’s play. Fundamentalists may take umbrage at the philosophical ponderings of the three penguins (not to mention the fact they’re all male, and one cross-dresses to disembark). However, this will make a good discussion starter for youngsters contemplating the nature and existence of a creator. Mühle’s black-and-white illustrations add a touch of endearing slapstick.
Not for every reader, but sweet in its own way. (Fable. 6-10)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5410-0
Page Count: 68
Publisher: Eerdmans
Review Posted Online: Aug. 7, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
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