The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

Seven Good Years: A Yiddish Folktale by Shoham Smith, illustrated by Eitan Eloa, translated by Ilana Kurshan Kalaniot Books (imprint of Endless Mountains Publishing), 2023 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Suzanne Grossman Buy at Bookshop.org The proverb from Pirkei Avot, “Who is wealthy? One who is content with what he has,” is brought to life in this cozy portrayal of Jewish life in Eastern Europe. This is a child-friendly adaptation of a story by Isaac Peretz, first published in the early 1900’s. Poor Tuvia meets a stranger who offers him enough gold to last seven years. After he and his wife agree to accept the gift they enjoy seven bountiful years. But when the stranger returns, Tuvia and his family are still wearing their raggedy clothing and living in their ramshackle hut. The stranger asks why Tuvia hasn’t spent all the gold. Tuvia replies that they spent what they needed to educate their children but had no need for anything else. They were satisfied with meeting their simples

The Melody by Oded Burla, illustrated by Assaf Benharroch, translated by Ilana Kurshan Kalaniot Books, 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Suzanne Grossman Buy at Kalaniot A breezy melody drifts through the air, seeking another creation to share its existence. Personified elements give a variety of excuses for rejecting the connection, Mountains give no reply, stones try but fail to join the singing, river can’t slow down, crow is afraid he will be transformed, mole prefers isolation and horse fears ridicule. Melody asks itself universal questions, “What is my purpose if no one will listen? Why am I here? Whose am I?” Finally, a mother shares the melody with her baby as a lullaby. This is a lovely parable of the midrash of many nations being offered but refusing the gift and responsibilities of the Torah, with the final acceptance by the Jewish people. It is also a parable for seeking friendship in the face of rejection, as well as transmission of heritage through the generations. T