In this Chassidic story, Shlomo’s friend Meir has done something foolish. He has left his newly earned money in an open drawer, where anyone can take it. To teach Meir a lesson Shlomo takes his friend’s money. But when Shlomo tries to return the money, he is too embarrassed. What if people think he has stolen the money? Shlomo can’t figure out what to do until he runs into the Ba’al Shem Tov, who helps him out of his dilemma.
Full-color illustrations depict the dress and house furnishings of that era; the artist credits Marc Chagall’s techniques as his inspiration. A glossary follows the text, along with a biographical note about the Ba’al Shem Tov. Shlomo’s Little Joke is the latest entry in a Kerem series with Chassidic rebbes — The Ba’al Shem Tov and the Rebbe Reb Zushe — as protagonists. Other titles include Zushe’s Find, Hirsh’s Secret, and The Shepherd Boy who Loved G‑d. It is a somewhat pedantic re-telling of a classical story, loosely adapted from a story taken from Kol Sippurei HaBa’al Shem Tov, by Yisroel Ya’akov Klapholtz. A read-to for children from ages four to six, and an independent read for ages seven and eight.
