Good Yontif: A Picture Book of the Jewish Year

Blue, Rose

ISBN 10: 0761301429 / ISBN 13: 9780761301424

Published by Millbrook Press, Brookfield, CT, 1997

About this Item

Oblong 4to, 32 pp., Signed by the illustrator on the title page, along with her smal drawing of a bird. Seller Inventory # 115371

Bibliographic Details

Title: Good Yontif: A Picture Book of the Jewish ...

Publisher: Millbrook Press, Brookfield, CT

Publication Date: 1997

Binding: hardcover

Illustrator: Illus. by Lynne Feldman

Condition: Fine copy in fine dust jacket

Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included

Signed: Signed by Author(s)

Edition: 1st.

About this title

Synopsis:

Information about the various Jewish holy days throughout the year precedes a series of illustrations showing a young boy and his family celebrating each holiday

Reviews:

Kindergarten-Grade 2. The title of this wordless picture book is taken from a Yiddish expression: "Gut yontif, gut yohr," which loosely translates to "(Have a) good holiday (and a) good year." It shows how one family celebrates Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simhat Torah, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover, Shavuot, and Shabbat. Each holiday is covered in two-to-four page spreads with its name provided in English and Hebrew. The imaginative art is wonderful; it's done in vibrant purples, dark reds, greens, and black, outlined in a fine black ink line, and is as tightly patterned as an oriental rug. However, few of the pictures are self-explanatory. Children must examine the art closely to separate the images and to make sense of them and they must also know what they symbolize. For example, the sound of the shofar is represented as red dots on blue smoke and the Book of Jonah is alluded to by a large red goldfish spewing Jonah into waves. Except for youngsters who have been carefully taught about each holiday, the images may be unfamiliar. This book is best used in Jewish homes with a knowledgeable adult explaining each picture. Brief notes on the illustrations appear at the back of the book. Michelle Edwards's Alef-Bet (Lothrop, 1992) and David Adler's Picture Book of Jewish Holidays (Holiday, 1981) both show families enjoying the Jewish holidays and are more accessible to youngsters.?Marcia W. Posner, Holocaust Memorial and Educational Center of Nassau County, Glen Cove, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.