The Schlemiel Kids Save the Moon

By: Audrey Barbakoff, Rotem Teplow (Illustrator)

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Hardcover | 23 April 2024

At a Glance

Hardcover
32 Pages

Age
4 - 8

Hardcover

$31.99

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A joyous modern-day twist on a Wise Men of Chelm folktale written by a fresh Jewish voice filled with humor, some juicy Yiddish terms, and smart, savvy kids brimming with innovative solutions.

In The Schlemiel Kids Save the Moon, the foolish adults of Chelm believe the moon has fallen into the lake. It's up to the extremely clever Schlemiel siblings to save the day (er, night). This story will introduce readers to the fun, humor, and cleverness of Jewish folktales. A brief introduction to the Chelm stories and a Yiddish glossary provide grounding for all readers, whether new to the stories or lifelong fans.

The hilariously foolish Wise Men of Chelm come from classic Yiddish folktales. It is said that in the early days of creation, God told an angel to sprinkle foolish souls evenly around the world. But the angel dropped his bag, and all of those fools spilled out into Chelm. Isaac Bashevis Singer introduced many English speakers to the Chelm stories, but he focused on the adults. What about the kids of Chelm?

Meet Sarah and Sam, who devise a brilliant plan to convince the grown-ups that their fears of a fallen moon are unfounded. Teamwork, innovation, and lots of patience prove infinitely more effective than those silly old ways of thinking.

Here is a book that will expand young readers' knowledge of Jewish culture beyond holidays, history, and the Holocaust.

Industry Reviews

"An enjoyable, rollicking read. Fun by the light of the moon-or anytime." * Kirkus Reviews *
"Centuries-old folktales transposed into a modern setting beget a cognitive dissonance that may have little ones pointing to present-day foils of smartphones and Google. The back matter features a helpful Yiddish glossary." * School Library Journal *
"Smatterings of Yiddish, warm illustrations, and a diverse cast make this picture book a multicultural winner." * Foreword Reviews *
'Readers should enjoy the kids' savvy and the way the Chelmites, portrayed with various abilities and skin tones, stand in for "clueless" adults everywhere.' * Publishers Weekly *
"Children will grin while hearing or reading this story because in this one the kids are so much smarter than the grown-ups." * San Diego Jewish World *
"This is a delightful retelling of the Yiddish story of the foolish people in Chelm. With gorgeous illustrations and humor, kids will love seeing themselves as (sometimes) being wiser than their elders!" -- Misha Stone, Librarian
"This vibrant retelling of a classic Jewish/Yiddish folktale proves everything old can be new again!" -- George Shannon, award-winning author of more than 40 picture books including One Family, White is for Blueberry, and Lizard's Guest
"Audrey Barbakoff's wonderful retelling of a classic Jewish story is a gift to children and their adults. [...] Who knew that saving the moon could be such a delight from tip to toe!" -- Reb Zann Jacobrown, Pardess Jewish Community and illustrator of Palace of Pearls: The Stories of Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav
"This humorous story reminds readers that sometimes it takes the creativity and reason of a child to solve the most curious of problems." -- Ericka Brunson-Rochette, Youth Librarian
"A funny, sassy take on folklore that truly captures what it's like to be a kid in a world where grown-ups make no sense." -- J.S. Puller, author of Captain Superlative and The Lost Things Club

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