Journey to Paradise and Other Jewish Tales »

The folktales in this collection offer traditional jewish answers to some of the age-old questions that children of all cultures ask their elders: How are we judged by God?

About the Author

Howard Schwartz has won the National Jewish Book Award, The Sydney Taylor Book Award, and The Aesop Prize. He is Professor of English at University of Missouri.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-These eight magical tales reflect on the aspirations, mores, problems, and humor of the Jewish people. Drawn from the Israel Folktale Archives, the selections come from Eastern Europe, Tunisia, Israel, and Yemen. "The Flight of the Midwife" demonstrates that in Yemen, the midwife was noted for her courage, wisdom, and impartiality, even to the extent of attending to the birth of a female demon in the form of a cat. "A Student in Magic" has a familiar theme: that one need not travel far to seek the "prize," as it is usually nearby. The title story demonstrates the veneration held by Hasidic followers for their rabbis, even attributing magic powers to them. "An Apple from the Tree of Life" relates how the Jews strove to please a ruler so that he would leave them in peace. In "A Messenger from the World to Come," a poor trickster uses the gullibility of the Chelmites to obtain clothing for his family by saying that he is from "The World to Come" and that their deceased loved ones haverequested warm winter clothing. Schwartz is a master storyteller and Carmi is a proven illustrator, guaranteeing that this book will be a popular choice for a wide audience.-Marcia W. Posner, Holocaust Memorial and Educational Center of Nassau County, Glen Cove, NY Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|