‘The Melody’ Tells Story Based on Ancient Jewish Tale

The Melody

Written by Oded Burla, illustrated by Assaf Benharroch, and translated by Ilana Kurshan

Kalaniot Books, 2022

“The Melody” tells a tale about a beautiful melody. One day the melody thinks, “Why am I here?” It decides to find someone to listen to its music.

The melody goes from the mountain to the trees, the stones, the river, a crow, a mole, a horse, and finally to a mother with her baby. The melody asks each one, “Will you listen to me?”

But no one will listen. The mountain says nothing. The trees say they have their own song. They have no use for the melody. The stones are silent. They want to sing, but cannot speak.

The river waters are moving so fast they can't stop to learn the melody. 

The crow said he couldn’t sing all night. He would be mistaken for a nightingale. “I don’t want to be something I’m not. I’m happy being a crow.”

The mole said, “Who would I sing to in my underground burrow? The worms?”

And the horse said, “Nay, nay. I don’t want to be called the singing horse. No thanks!”

Finally, the melody finds a mother sitting with her baby in a garden. The melody enters into her heart, and she begins to sing a lullaby to her child. The song she sings is the melody.

Illustrator Assaf Benharroch brings the story to life with beautiful, colorful images.

This story is based on the ancient Biblical story that God offered the Torah, or Jewish Bible, to the people. Each nation decided not to accept the Torah because it could not abide by the Torah's laws. When the Torah is presented to the Jews on Mount Sinai, they welcome it.

Like the mother in this story, each Jew is meant to teach the Torah to the next generation, keeping its melodies alive.

This story was originally written in Hebrew by Oded Burla. It first appeared in the collection, “Who Wants to Be a Scarecrow,” and was published by Sifriyat Poalim, Tel Aviv, Israel, 1996. 

Ilana Kurshan has translated this edition of the story into English for Kalaniot Books, Moosic, Pa. Kalaniot is an imprint of Endless Mountain Publishing Company. It publishes children's books about Jewish culture and history. 

Oded Burla was an Israeli writer, poet, and artist. Burla wrote and illustrated 70 books. He is considered one of the founders of children’s literature in Hebrew. He passed away at 94 in 2009.

About the Illustrator

Assaf Benharroch is an Israeli illustrator and artist. He is a partner and art director at Studio Poink and teaches digital illustration at Shenkar College of Engineering and Design. He lives with his wife and three young sons in the Israel countryside.

About the Translator

Ilana Kurshan is the author of “If All the Seas Were Ink,” which was published by St. Martin’s Press and won the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature. She also translates books from Hebrew to English. She is the Book Review editor at Lilith magazine. She lives in Jerusalem.

Colorful picture book tells story of Persian Passover

A Persian Passover

Written by Etan Basseri and illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh

Kalaniot Books, 2022

“A Persian Passover” tells the story of big brother Ezra and little sister Rosa helping prepare for Passover in 1950s Iran.

Ezra likes to run as fast as he can during their errands. At the beginning of the story, he accidentally runs into their neighbor Mrs. Pirnazar. She tells him it is okay. It is good to be fast, but it’s also important to be careful.

The two children take flour to the synagogue. There they hand it to a team of bakers who use the flour to make a stack of matzahs for them.  Matzah is unleavened bread that is eaten for Passover.

As he races home, Ezra trips and falls. The bag of matzah drops into a puddle. It is ruined. The children go to the market, and ask merchant friends if they can borrow any matzahs.

Mrs. Davidian says she has no extra matzahs, but she gives the children some scallions for Passover. Mrs. Roshan also tells them she has no matzahs to share, but she gives them candied almonds.

Then the children run into their neighbor Mrs. Pirnazar. They tell her what happened. She says she has plenty of matzah to share. She also says she will be alone at Passover.

The children invite Mrs. Pirnazar to the Passover seder at their home. They tell her they have learned anyone who needs a place for the seder is welcome. A seder is a Jewish ritual service and dinner celebrated on Passover.

The story ends as the family sits together to enjoy the seder. Mama tells Mrs. Pirnazar that Ezra told them about his accident. She thanks her for helping them, and says they are happy to celebrate Passover with her.

Ezra promises not to rush through the seder. Then he repeats a lesson he learned from Mrs. Pirnazar when he accidentally ran into her.   

“It’s good to be fast,” Ezra says, “but it’s also important to be careful.”

The book is beautifully illustrated with colorful artwork by Rashin Kheirizyeh. Author Etan Basseri says the story is based on listening to his father talk about growing up Jewish in Iran.

At the end of the book, there is information about Passover. It says Jews celebrate Passover every spring. During the Passover seder, they tell the story of how the Jews were slaves in Egypt. God freed them and gave them the Torah.

Matzah is a symbol of freedom. When the Jews were escaping from Egypt, they had to leave quickly. They could not wait for their dough to rise. They baked flat bread.

There are many symbols of Passover on the seder plate. A diagram shows some of the foods and what they symbolize.  

Under the heading “Jews in Persia,” the author gives some history. Jews have lived in the Middle East since the sixth century BCE. In the beginning, Iran was called Persia. Today the culture and main language of the region is still called Persian. Today many Iranian Jews have immigrated to Israel and the United States. However, some remain in Iran.

The book also includes a glossary and a recipe for hallaq, which is Persian-style charoset. Charoset is a sweet, dark paste made from fruits, nuts, and spices. It is eaten during the Passover seder.

Illustrator Rashin Kheiriyeh helps tell the story with colorful illustrations that show expressive characters and details of the Persian village where they live.

The publisher Kalaniot is an imprint of Endless Mountain Publishing Company, Moosic, Pa. Kalaniot publishes children’s books about Jewish culture and history.  

About the Author

Etan Basseri was born and raised in Berkeley, California with a mix of Persian and Ashkenazi Jewish customs. He now lives in Seattle with his wife and children, where he is always responsible for making the Passover charoset. This is his first book.

About the Illustrator

Rashin Kheiriyeh is an internationally recognized award-winning illustrator, author, and animator who has published over eighty children’s books and received fifty national and international awards, including the 2021 Sheila Barry Best Canadian Picturebook of the Year, a Sendak Fellowship, and the Bologna Book Fair New Horizons Award. She has a master’s in graphic design and a doctorate in illustration, and is a lecturer in the art department at the University of Maryland. She lives in Washington, D.C.  

  

Children learn about Stacey Abrams in new picture book

Stacey Abrams

Written by Melissa H. Mwai

National Geographic Partners, 2022

Early readers can learn about Stacey Abrams in a new picture book published by National Geographic Partners.

Children may be inspired by Abrams. Though she was shy, she became a leader fighting for fairness and voting rights.

Abrams was the first lawyer in her family. She was the first black woman to be nominated for governor by a major political party. She was the first black woman to give the State of the Union response. The NAACP gave its first Social Justice Impact Award to her. The NAACP is a group that fights for equal rights.

As a young adult, she was the student vice president at Spelman College. She became a state representative in Georgia. She ran for governor of Georgia. She lost, but started a group called Fair Fight. People shared their stories about how they encountered problems when they tried to vote. Some voting places turned voters away because they had run out of paper. Others weren’t allowed to vote because they had the wrong ID cards.

The next year, Abrams started a group called Fair Count. It helped people fill out the 2020 census. It also helped people know how and where to vote. During the COVID-19 pandemic people were afraid to vote in person. Abrams gave speeches and told people to vote by mail or vote early. More Americans voted in the 2020 election than in any other in U.S. history. Abrams helped millions of people’s votes and voices be heard.

“Stacey Abrams,” is written at Level 2, which is for children who are reading independently. It is designed with short chapters and pictures on every page. Two pages list “cool firsts” about her, and another two pages highlight “cool facts” about her. The book ends with a short quiz and a glossary.

About the Author

Melissa H. Mwai is passionate about research and learning. She has a library science degree and works in education. As an Afro-Latina, she advocates for diverse representation for young readers. Melissa is thrilled that her debut book is about Stacey Abrams' inspirational life and voting activism. She is a registered voter and lives with her husband, two kids, and a pet bunny.

 

 

Picture book teaches youngsters about Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris

Written by Tonya K. Grant

National Geographic Partners, 2022

Children who are only beginning to read independently can learn about Vice President Kamala Harris in a new picture book published by National Geographic Partners.

The book, “Kamala Harris,” is written at Level 2, which is for children who are reading independently. It has short two- to four-page chapters and pictures on every page. A couple pages list her “cool firsts” and another two list “cool facts” about Harris. The book ends with a short quiz and a glossary.

The simplicity of the book makes it easy for young children. They may be inspired by Harris. She is the first woman, the first black American, and the first South Asian American to be elected vice president.

Harris was also the first to do other things. She was the first black person and first woman to serve as attorney general of California.  She was the first black woman and first South Asian woman to serve as district attorney of San Francisco. And she was the first Indian American to serve in the United States Senate.

The book also tells readers that she failed the test to become a lawyer the first time she took it. She studied harder and passed the test when she took it again. This also encourages children, showing them that they can be successful even if they fail the first time they try something.

About the Author

Tonya K. Grant is an elementary school librarian and former classroom teacher. She is committed to promoting reading and strives to inspire all children to read and see themselves in books. Her magazine credits include Clubhouse Jr., Highlights, and ParentLife. She’s also published in two books in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. When she’s not reading or writing, she enjoys watching movies, knitting, and working out. She lives in McDonough, Georgia, with her husband and two sons. Follow her on Twitter - @TKGrant1  

‘Me & Mama” celebrates mother and daughter bond

Me & Mama

Written and illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020

Told from the perspective of a young black girl, “Me & Mama” celebrates the bond between mothers and daughters. The story goes through one rainy day spent together.

What makes the story special is Cozbi A. Cabrera’s lyrical prose and beautiful acrylic illustrations. The book won both a Caldecott honor and a Coretta Scott King honor.

“Good morning to you, sings Mama, bright as the sun,” the story begins. The little girl tiptoes to where her mama is and she smells cinnamon. Papa and Luca are still sleeping but “I want to be everywhere Mama is.”

The narrator looks outside, and sees “the wind is painting the outside window with beads of water.” 

She’s eager to splash through puddles, but her mother tells her, “Bathroom first.”

She compares her mother’s China cup to her plastic cup. She knows she has to be careful not to break Mama’s cup, but on the next page it is broken.

Mama doesn’t shout at her. She says, “Sometimes things break.”

Then the little girl compares her smaller toothbrush to her Mama’s bigger one.

She showers and describes it as “warm rain that gets you going.”

Mama reminds her to comb her hair, but she says she is hungry. Mama has a pot of oatmeal on the stove.

She compares her little bowl to Mama’s bigger bowl of oatmeal, and comments that Mama likes berries while she likes bananas.

Again, Mama reminds her to comb her hair. She chooses the blue barrette, and hands Mama the purply pink barrette because it matches her dress.

They get ready to go outside. The little girl compares her small yellow boots to Mama’s big red ones. She comments that their dog Max doesn’t wear boots.

Her Mama and she walk the dog outside in the rain. She notices moss in the sidewalk cracks, knot holes in trees, nests left behind in the winter, and stores likes boxes full of people.

She and her mother sing to the sky and splash in puddles.

As the day ends, the clouds are pink and the sun is sleepy. Mama puts her and her brother Lucas to bed.

Mama reads to them, and the little girl tries to read, too. They laugh together.

“You’re my best girl,” Mama whispers and gives her a kiss. She yells, “I love you, Mama!”

Mama turns out the light and the little girl closes her eyes to imagine pictures of things she saw that day.

This beautiful picture book would make a nice bedtime story. The acrylic illustrations fill the pages with detailed double spreads and full-page illustrations.

 My only criticism is that the day ends so quickly. The little girl never has lunch. She doesn’t do anything in the afternoon, have dinner, or spend any time in the evening. It seems to suddenly be bedtime after her morning walk with Mama.

About the Author and Illustrator

Cozbi A. Cabrera has illustrated several acclaimed books for children, including “Stitchin’ and Pullin’: A Gee’s Bend Quilt,” and “Exquisite,” a picture book biography about Gwendolyn Brooks. She also wrote and illustrated “my Hair is a Garden.” She is a graduate of the Parsons School of Design. She has worked as an art director, clothing designer, quilter, and maker of munecas, cloth dolls that are collected all over the world. She is a native of Brooklyn and resides in Evanston, Ill., with her family. Her daughter wants to be everywhere she is. 

Animals secretly enjoy fair in wordless 'Midnight Fair'

The Midnight Fair

Story by Gideon Sterer and illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio

Candlewick Press, 2020

“The Midnight Fair” is a wordless story about how forest animals watch the excitement of a fair from behind their trees, and then come out after dark to enjoy all the rides, games, and treats on their own.

A buck operates a toss-the-ring game. A wolf tries his hand at the game and wins a goldfish. A bear puts on an apron and operates the hot dog stand. Animals relax in spinning tea cups.

Wolves, bears, deer, foxes and all kinds of other animals ride horses on the merry-go-round. They whirl around on swings, and ride a roller coaster under a full moon. Later they enjoy the bumper cars.

Finally, we see the people who operate the fair wake up, drive toward the fairgrounds, and then arrive in the dark with flashlights as animals sneak away carrying their prizes and treats.

Behind a morning mist, the animals dance around in the forest, seeming to celebrate their secret midnight fair. Then we see many of them go to their dens to sleep.

It will be fun for children to look through the pictures and discover how the wild animals enjoy the fair.

About the Author

Gideon Sterer is the author of many books for children. He grew up in the woods of upstate New York, where his parents owned a small zoo. After hours, he often let the animals out of their cages. Who knows what sort of midnight mischief they got up to? Gideon Sterer lives in Brooklyn.  Visit him on Instagram.    

 

About the Illustrator

Mariachiara Di Giorgio studied illustration in Rome and Paris and worked as a storyboard artist and concept designer for movies and advertising agencies. This background has had a powerful cinematic impact on her children’s books. Her picture books include “Professional Crocodile” by Giovanna Zoboli. Mariachiara Di Giorgio lives in Rome. Visit her at writershouseart.com.

‘Where’s Brian’s Bottom?’ amuses with fold-out book

Where’s Brian’s Bottom?

Written and illustrated by Rob Jones

Pavilion Children’s Books, London, 2021

‘Where’s Brian’s Bottom?’ is a fun concertino or fold-out board book in which Brian, a red dachshund, can’t find his bottom.

The story begins addressing the reader, “Have you seen Brian’s bottom? He can’t find it anywhere!”

Then the reader go from one room to another in the dog's house, looking for the back of Brian. The joke is that dachshunds are such long dogs. Photos hanging in the hall show the front and back of Brian in two separate photos.

As the reader moves through five rooms of the house, we keep seeing Brian’s body snaking through each room. The narrator asks an animal friend in each room if they have seen Brian’s bottom.

Pauline, the parrot in the hall hasn’t seen Brian’s bottom. Alan the gerbil in the living room hasn’t seen it either. Dave the turtle in the kitchen says he hasn’t seen any bottoms.

Derek the duck in the bathroom is asked if Brian has been on the toilet. Derek quacks he hasn’t seen a bottom. A piece of Brian is getting a bubble bath though.

Finally, we discover Brian’s bottom next to Cheryl the cat who is lying on the bed in the bedroom. The cat looks angry and says, “Meeoww! Meeoww! Can’t you see I’m trying to sleep!” And so ends the picture book.

An extra surprise comes when you flip the book over. In reverse, the wordless story begins with Brian’s head asleep on the bed with Cheryl the cat asleep on top of him.

Brian’s body winds through the rest of the rooms one by one. His animal friends are more active now. Ducks play in the bubble bath in the bathroom. Mice have a picnic of cheese while the turtle sleeps in the kitchen.

Alan the gerbil feasts on carrots in the living room and Pauline the parrot sings in the hall. A frog and a jug of milk sit outside the front door.   

Little children will be amused by this silly picture book.  

About the Author and illustrator

Rob James studied illustration at the University of Gloucestershire, UK, where he also discovered a love for making books, toys, and puppets. His first book, “Bernard,” won the People’s Book Prize in 2014.