Bone Button Borscht

On a dark winter's night, a ragged beggar dreams of a warm hearth and a delicious meal — and sets out to find just that. In this retelling of the classic folk tale "Stone Soup," a stranger teaches the poor villagers what can be accomplished with a few buttons and a little cooperation.

One clever beggar plus six bone buttons equals one miracle soup and a delicious, delightful story.

Children's Literature

Written in the folk tale tradition, which seems to be enjoying a revival, this is a story of a beggar's attempt to return the feeling of community to a small Jewish village. As he goes begging one cold winter night he encounters a mood of indifference. When he reaches a synagogue, he devises a plan to bring the community together. With the help of the resident shamas and the buttons on his coat, he tricks the village into working together for the good of everyone.

Aubrey Davis is a Toronto author and storyteller. He likes to tell and write puzzling, often funny tales that make people think. His last book, Bagels from Benny, has won the Canadian Jewish Book Award (children's literature) and the Sydney Taylor Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries.

Dusan Petric is an award-winning children's book designer and illustrator whose books include The Enormous Potato and Lickety-Split. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.