By
– September 1, 2011
This rhyming alphabet book attempts to present philosophical ideas, key quotes, famous people, translations, and holidays in a jumble of English, Yiddish, and Hebrew to express what being Jewish means to the author. The cartoon like illustrations add a brilliant humorous layer to the many ideas presented here. Although nominally an alphabet picture book, this is definitely not written for young children. Sometimes using first names to go with a letter, sometimes using last names, mixing in Yiddish and Hebrew, the author really stretches to fit his text into a rhyming alphabet format. (Example: “‘K’” is for Kol Nidre, The fast that goes slow. But for Koufax on Yom Kippur it was to synagogue he did go.”) Adults will enjoy the quirky drawings reminiscent of boardwalk caricatures, and may find it fun to place on the coffee table (it is larger than a regular picture book), but the jumble of factoids, quotes, and definitions do not add up to a book which covers at all what it means to be Jewish. Ages 8 – adult.
Susan Dubin was the first librarian honored with a Milken Family Foundation Jewish Educator Award. She is the owner/director of Off-the-Shelf Library Services and library instructional consultant at Valley Beth Shalom Day School in Encino, CA.
