Reviews (2)

Essential for any children's book writer or illustator
As a children's book author and editor, I know that no one understands picture books better than Uri Shulevitz, and no one is more articulate about how they work. Most books about writing for children focus on young novels or on straightforward picture book stories. This book inspires you to think beyond those predictable formats and instead embrace the poetry of a good picture book, the magic of a good collaboration between text and art which is necessary whether you are working on a story book or a concept book or a nonfiction book. An intelligent and inspiring guide to the art of good bookmaking.

A Great Foundation for Creating Children's Books
I found this very readable book to be very well thought out in its explanation of what makes for a successful children's book. It has the most examples of illustrations of any book on writing children's books I have seen, with many illustrations showing why some methods work and others fail. Uri is vary clear and benevolent in his sharing the princeiples for successfully creating a book for children. It was like being in workshop. With this book I feel prepared to pursue creating a kids' book! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Amazon.com

Uri Shulevitz won a CaldecottMedal for his illustrated edition of Arthur Ransome's The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship, and has won numerous other awards for illustrating his own books. Not surprising, then, that he'd create such a lovely book as Snow, a touching story about childish hope, grumpy pessimistic grownups, and the wonder of snowfall. Will the snow come? (Oh, please?) In the first scene there is none, but the second has--if you can find it--a single flake. Then there are more--but they melt. And then, finally...joy! These are unusually subtle illustrations for a children's book: so many illustrators try to out-do each other with lurid effects and excessive brightness, but many of Shulevitz's exquisite panels are close to monotone. He paints whole cityscapes in a dozen shades of gray, with small human figures who you notice (at second glance) have coats of gray-green, gray-blue, or gray-brown. The adults have tiny Edwardian parasols or handle-bar moustaches. The abstract, atmospheric, folktale effect is heightened by a pared-to-the-bone text, just a few words per page. "'It's nothing,' said man with hat. Then three snowflakes. 'It's snowing,' said boy with dog." Snow perfectly captures the transformative nature of snow and the result is magical. Click to see a sample spread. Illustrations and text ©Uri Shulevitz, reprinted with permission from Farrar, Straus and Giroux. (Ages 3 to 6) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Simplicity of Snow
The children's book, Snow, by Uri Shulevitz is about a young boy who anticipates snow with only seeing just one snowflake. His grandfather and other people around town do not pay much attention to his words and just brush him off. More snowflakes begin to fall and make the town white. Finally, there is snow. This book is very bluntly written. There are no proper names, no possessives, and no descriptions. With the exception of the pictures, Snow is quite bland. The minimal title of Snow does somewhat suggest the simplicity of the story in the book. Perhaps Shulevitz's whole purpose of writing the book is to show the purity and incomplexity of snow itself. The sentences within the book are not long or complex in any way. Most of them consist of a simple subject and a simple predicate and four to six small words. For example, the first page says, "The skies are gray. The rooftops are gray. The whole city is gray." The next sentence is three words but is not really an actual sentence. However, the sentences do begin to grow in length and number of words as more snow begins to fall through out the story. During the climax of the book when the snow really begins to fall hard, there is a sentence with many words that runs for four pages. Another way in which the narration is very dull is that there are not any descriptions. The story does not say anything like, "the short boy with brown hair" or "the fat man carrying the briefcase." The boy, who is the main character of the story is just called "boy with dog" through out the entire book until the last page when he is "the boy." Also, the boy comes into contact with three nameless people: "grandfather with beard," "man with hat," and "woman with umbrella." Although none of the characters have names, they still fit into the story as well as the boy. Another item that is missing from the narration is the article "the." The boy or the people he meets would not sound so uninteresting if they were called "the woman" or "the man." Overall, this is a good story to read. If not for the excitement that many children have over seeing snow, Shulevitz would not have been able to be so basic with his telling of the story. However, the two parts of the story-the stirring idea of snow and the unexciting storyline fit perfectly to make the book balance.

Let It Snow!
This is such a lovely book. Simple text that easily portrays the joy of the season. I initially chose the book for it's stylish illustrations, but have found it has much more to offer. It's a favorite even on a sunny day!

It Really Feels Like Snow
The illustrations in this book capture the mood of snow. The gray sky gives way to more and more and more white snowflakes culminating in a snow covered world. The artwork's gradual buildup of the storm truly evokes the soft, silent feel of snow.

Simple, beautiful, and a classic
Since I love snow and obviously live in an area where it is a big deal if it does, I was immediately drawn to open the cover of this beautifully illustrated book. I love the simplicity of words and unique fun illustrations. It reads like how a child would think and that's what makes it so beautiful. Since it is not cluttered with too many words, the story allows the reader and the person being read to, to think and use their own thoughts and imagination. The storyline is about a boy's hope and faith that one snowflake will lead to two, and more, despite the unbelieving and cynical opinions of adults who cross his path. I can actually put myself in his shoes and jump right in those pages. I hope my children will grow to love this book like I do. It has become one of my personal treasures.

Childhood optimism comes to life.
I read this book at the preschool I work at. With beautiful illustrations and simple words, it shows the reader that one little snowflake can certainly turn into a snowstorm. The children loved it. It demonstrated the "faith like a child" we all wish we still had. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

The artwork has been underrated
I think the artwork in this book has been underrated, perhaps because only a few colors were used in printing. It's clever: the run-down New York City neighborhood is drawn in meticulous detail. I use it to show Inuit students what a city looks like! By contrast, the royal entourage is cartoon-style, not realistic. Not only does the royal family's entourage grow larger with each repetition of the pattern, but the characters themselves grow larger, until at the end of the book they have to hunch over to fit into the boy's tenement apartment. At the very end, the characters turn into playing cards (only in the art, not in the text) and the royal barber (who, we somehow suspect, is a self-portrait of the author) becomes a doll that has been sitting half-seen on the window sill all along. Lots to look at in this book.

Little boy gets interesting visitor.
One Monday Morning is the story of a little prince who each day of the week brings more friends to visit. However the little boy he's coming to visit isn't home. The story is much like the 12 days of christmas with the addition of interesting characters each day of the week.

Great First Reader. Please re-publish
This book is a great first time reader. It is better than Dick and Jane for several reasons. This book adds people and words as the story unfolds. It is an easy story to follow. It adds words that are pretty common to today's early readers. I am a literacy volunteer and I use this book for my older reading students. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Biblical stories of valorous women--from Eve to Yael--have helped shape the human character and spirit. Rarely, though, has the essence of these heroines been revealed as poignantly as it is in Daughters of Fire. Fran Manushkin’s sensitive retellings of stories from the Bible and Jewish tradition portray strength and honor, but also jealousy and fear, and Caldecott Medalist Uri Shulevitz’s heroic illustrations highlight the bold, passionate essence of each woman and her world. The result is a collection of tales with heroines who are, above all, human. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Just wonderful
This book is just wonderful. Ms. Manushkin presents the stories of the matriarchs and other women from the tanakh with such character, and in such an honest and vibrant style, I have to admit that I was moved to tears when I read it. Yasher koach! ... Read more

Book Description

It's a day like any other when young Hans enters the forest to chop wood for his father. Then he discovers the Golden Goose.

With gentle humor Dennis McDermott brings children a delightful traditional tale with a favorite folkloric theme--the success of someone who's kind and good. His endearing illustrations show Hans, the young hero, and Rosamund, the beautiful princess--as well as the wondrous Golden Goose and the greedy, inquisitive townsfolk--in lively scenes that evoke a timeless and appealing world. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Delightful Retelling
A perfect story to read aloud to young children! With beautiful illustrations and a wonderful moral, The Golden Goose has the ability to captivate a young audience. Would recommend it to any storyteller! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Luck soup
You could say I like Chelm stories, and that I buy every one I can.

You could also say that Isaac Bashevis Singer, who wrote this tale in 1973, was no ordinary purveyor of Chelm shtiklech. You can tell from his beginning, a master's parody of Genesis.

"The pious believed that God said, 'Let there be Chelm.' And there was Chelm. But many scholars insisted that the town happened as the result of an eruption.

" 'Before Chelm,' they said, 'the area was one huge chaos, all fog and mist. Then came a great explosion and Chelm appeared.

"At the beginning the surface of Chelm was so hot that even if Chelmites had already existed, they could not have walked on the earth because they would have burned their feet." The first Chemites, this version goes, were not people but microbes, amoebas and other such creatures. When people finally arrived in town, they had names like Gronam the First, aka Gronam Ox, and Dopey Lekisch, Zeinvel Ninny, Treitel Fool and Shmendrick Numskull. And they practically invented problems.

One of the biggest was that the people of nearby Gorshkov called the Chelmites fools. Gronam Ox told his compatriots, "We Chelmites know that, of the ten measures of wisdom sent down to earth from heaven, nine went to Chelm. But the conceited people of Gorshkov think they are the clever ones and we are the fools." What does he propose? Why making war, of course.

Needless to say, the Chelmnicks end up in the wrong place, a God-forsaken town called Mazelborsht (translation: luck soup). Defeated by their own foolishness, they returned to Chelm half naked, weaponless and with broken noses and black eyes. This produced the expected seven days and seven nights of contemplation which resulted in four sage proclamations.

Next the Chelmites abolished money, decided to hold elections once every 40 years, asked Zeckel Poet to compose a hymn of 12,000 lines which schoolchildren must learn by heart and appoint Shlemeil secretary. Of course, the merchants refused to part with their goods for nothing, which resulted in a system of barter in which Zeckel Poet was the most eager participant, followed by Shmoyger the matchmaker, Fultsha Jester and the Chelm band. Nothing was exchanged.

To discover what became of Singer's Chelm, you'll have to exchange some abolished currency for this masterwork, which contains much hilarity. And of course, you'll be in luck soup if you find a copy. Alyssa A. Lappen

Fools are we all!
It is always a pleasure to read something by I.B.Singer. Although this short tale is recommended for ages 9-12, it is certainly also addressed to any age beyond. The tale is a delightful satire of society's political and ideological systems, in may aspects a short version of George Orwell's "Animal Farm." ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Notable Children's Books of 1992 (ALA)
Notable 1991 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
Children's Books of 1991 (Library of Congress) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

best childhood book
I'm 17 now, but every once and a while, I go back to this book and read it again. I've been reading it since I was little, and I love it. The stories in it are so well written, perfectly geared for children, but then okay if I want to look back and reflect on the more serious side of them. I highly recommend this book: I dont think its cheesy or silly. Its like the Aesop's fables for jews, and I think it will last a long long time.

More Jewish Folk Tales
Like all of Howard Schwartz's books that I know, this is a collection of fairy tales with a Jewish or biblical theme. The stories in this collection are fun to read, geared for kids 9-12, but appropriate for younger onestoo. One of the things I liked about these stories was that when readingthem to a younger child, I enjoyed them too. So many books for kids arecrashing bores for an adult reader. This one definitely isn't! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Teacher finds book sweet and charming.
I read this book nearly ten years ago, and have forgotten much of my experience with it. Since it was one of my selections for my Children's Literature Class in college, I do have a completed review.

SUMMARY: Rain patters on the window, rain patters on the roof. Rain patters all over town on the people and in the streets. As rain patters everything a nameless little girl imagines streams streaming, rivers rushing, and the sea swelling to swallow up the sky. Rain falls all around, and one little girl leaps over "pieces of the sky" as she watches the world around her grow.

CRITIQUE: This poetic celebration of rain is an interesting and familiar way to view a grey and gloomy day. Using strong descriptions and watercolor pictures, the author effectively pours emotions and senses over everything throughout the book. Though the book is geared for younger children, readers of all ages will appreciate the book's poetry and art.

ACTIVITY SUGGESTION: Perfect for a rainy day. After reading this book with a young child, especially on a rainy day, provide supplies and guideance in making Watercolor Pieces of the Sky. Cut paper into odd puddle-like shapes before painting. Older children should be encouraged to explore possiblities not mentioned in the book. Since puddles are reflections of life, this may be a good time for them to reflect on something about themselves to include in their painting. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Toddlecreek Post Office
Toddlecreek Post Office opens as a pleasant read with beautiful illustrations (bravo) and quirky, likeable characters. However, that takes a turn when the author *seems* to send a political message to young readers (i.e.: that the government (signified by the postal inspector) is "bad" and is to blame when it faces a grim reality in a small-town community). The government is placed in a negative light -- literally -- when the postal inspector arrives, and that attitude continues to the end of the book.
Shulevitz'purpose may have been to depict what small-town life consisted of in the past and how life has changed over time. It could have ended differently. I was left feeling disappointed -- not so much at what sad event ultimately happened in the plot, but rather in how the content (plot) was designed. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Reviews (2)

High praise from a lover of all things silly
The little gnomish people on the front cover encouraged me to open it up, and I was pleasantly rewarded with a tale that is as engaging as the colorful illustrations. The tale is indeed silly, with a few tales of its own tucked inside. I liked the way that Shulevitz didn't villainify the emperor - I find that most children's books have a clearly defined "bad" and "good," and Shulevitz allows children to see the traditional "bad guy" character as a person who has some flaws rather than evil incarnate. Great imaginative use of words. Most importantly, this book answers the question that has plagued mankind for centuries: "If one had an itch on a Sunday at 3:16 in the afternoon, should one scratch with the third finger of the right hand or with the second finger of the left hand?" You'll have to read the book to find out what answer this wise bird gives.

Marvelous!
What do you get when you take a strange land called Pickleberry, inhabited by an emperor and his brother, the janitor, a very wise bird named Lou and Lou's, Aunt Millie, a half invisible man with half a large mustache, a traveling salesman and a bear who's lost his tail? Easy...a charming, creative, laugh-out-loud picture book by award winning author and illustrator, Uri Shulevitz. And Mr Shulevitz has done just about the impossible, woven three seemingly unrelated nonsensical stories together and made it work. His wonderfully absurd text, full of imagery, made-up words and wild, ridiculous events is only outdone by his truly inspired and magical artwork and youngsters will be mesmerized by the colorful, detailed, expressive illustrations. What is a Wise Bird Like You Doing in a Silly Tale Like This? is a very special story, really three special stories, that's perfect for children aged 4 and older. Uri Shulevitz never disappoints and he's not starting now! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Magic of Believing
A beautiful Passover story, just right for any child.A poor couple cannot have a seder (ritual passover dinner) due to lack of funds. A traveling magician comes to give them the neccesities for their seder. How did it all happen? Perhaps he was a messenger after all.

Teaches us all to hope and believe. ... Read more