Pitch Perfect Pick: I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Dreidel

I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Driedel
by Caryn Yacowitz
Illustrations by David Slonim
Arthur A. Levine Books
2014
32 pages
ISBN: 9780439915304

Brilliantly imagined! This old folk song takes on a new life with Yiddish words rhymed beautifully by Caryn Yacowitz and illustrations by David Slonim that imitate great master works: "The Scream," "American Gothic," "Mona Lisa," "The Starry Night" and others.

The old lady swallows a dreidel thinking it was a bagel. She now has the problem of how to dislodge this foreign object. She tries everything: swallowing a menorah, a twenty ton brisket, gallons of sauce, mountains of latkes, buckets of oil. She thinks, "perhaps it's fatal." The family happily dances with their pet cat when they realize that the old lady will be okay after all.

The cute cat makes an appearance in every spread adding humor and sure to being smiles. The family looks on with wide eyes as the lady swallows more and more objects.

The prose is crisp, fun and new.  Yiddish words will be added to the young reader's vocabulary: dreidel, latkes, menorah,  Chanukah, gelt,  and hora.  The beautiful art not only tells the story but introduces youngsters to great master works. Parents may learn something about art, too.

Sure to become a Chanukah classic, I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Dreidel is a romping parody that will leave kids laughing and parents entertained.

Highly, highly recommended for young readers ages 2-8 and for any art teacher or art lover.

FTC Required Disclosure: I received the F & G from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

Gift Book Idea for Mom: The Smartest Woman I Know

The Smartest Woman I Know
by Ilene Beckerman
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
2011
112 pages
Available September 27, 2011

A sweet little memoir wrought with pithy wittiness and poignant charm, The Smartest Woman I Know poetically sings the praises of Beckerman's Jewish grandmother Ettie Goldberg who settled in New York City and was wise beyond her third grade education. The author captures Etta's voice and mannerisms and the reader is transported to a tiny store on Madison Avenue brimming with colorful characters.


The Goldbergs opened a stationery store that sold office supplies, stationery, magazines, newspapers, and assorted sundries and they knew every customer and every customer's quirks. There was Mr. Arnold who always wore a straw boater hat, carried a cane, and was always in the company of a much younger man he called "darling." Ettie always made the pair feel welcome in her store saying that it wasn't her business to know what people do at home ( this was New York City circa 1930 or so).

A little book that bursts with humor, wise life lessons, quirky vignettes, and Jewish proverbs--as told by Etta. Its eloquent appeal makes me wish I had my own Jewish grandmother.

A great gift idea for anyone who knows a smart woman and anyone who has a Jewish mother or grandmother. For mavens, machers, and meshuggerners everywhere.

Recommended for gift giving and holidays.

Adult humor and wisdom. High school and up.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.