Around the table

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

This collection of five stories set a century ago expresses the richness of Judaic culture while recounting experiences of holiday preparations and family gatherings. Structured as recollections, most of the selections focus on childhood attitudes and perceptions. ``The Purim Dinner,'' for example, reveals a boy's fear and dislike of a rich, intimidating uncle. ``Chanukah Money'' conveys the anticipation of two youngsters making their rounds to collect rewards of kopeks and guldens from relatives. In translating Yiddish to English, Shevrin ( Holiday Tales of Sholom Aleichem ) does an admirable job of preserving the wit, wisdom and ethnic flavor of Aleichem's narration. Presenting life as a vigorous mosaic colored by human emotions, this book, which begs to be read aloud, is a tribute to tradition and family loyalty. Illustrations not seen by PW . Ages 10-13. (Oct.)

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-- As in Holiday Tales of Sholom Aleichem (Aladdin, 1985), Shevrin succeeds in capturing Aleichem's intimate, seemingly effortless style and the wry, witty dialogue of his characters. The theme of this collection is the joys and tribulations of Jewish family life in 19th-century Russia. The stories are mostly set during Passover, Purim, or Chanukah. Whether it is being buttoned into a coat so tight that the narrator's eyes pop out of his head, being the first to burst into improper laughter at a rich uncle's crowded dinner table, or having one's dreams shattered when a fascinating stranger and guest turns out to be a thief, the narrators experience the bittersweet taste of life. The strength of the selections lies in the characters, who are revealed in all their quirkiness, inconsistency, and warmth through their actions and words. The realistic pencil drawings successfully capture a dramatic or amusing moment in each story. There is an interesting introduction in which Shevrin discusses the difficulties of translating from Yiddish into English and also gives some biographical information about Aleichem. Enjoyable for individual reading or as a family read-aloud. --Susan Giffard, Englewood Public Library, NJ