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Elizabeth Applebaum
AppleTree Editor

NEW ON CD

some violence — though not too terri-
ble — in the "comic book," which
parents should consider before allow-
ing younger children to view.) These
include a puzzle and a game in
which players are challenged to
copy a tune played by the Forget-
Me-Bots. Oooh, it's so much fun to
hear the delightfully chilling laugh
when you lose.
Will the Jewish Hero Corps come
through? I'll never tell.
4100WW*1411

Hebrew. There's also something
called "Tumba" which according to
the CD comes from the "Palestinian
Nation."
The song "Hello" on this CD won
first place in the 1997 Brasswind
Music Publishing Songwriters'
Contest.
*041,101

The illustrations also are colorful
and charming, making for a
I book that will be read again
and again.

WOW',

NEW IN PRINT:

„.4
., 4

—

AR4

t.

Sarah Marwil Lamstein
Cechy Lang

Jewish Hero Corps in
'The Menace of the
Forget-Me-Bots'

by Alan Oirich (Jewish Multimedia
Center)

I This "comic book on CD" is so much
I fun it will be difficult to actually fork it
over to the kids. It's that good. There%
I a story, featuring the evil "forget-me-
: hots" who try to erase all memory of
Jewish culture and knowledge. As the
adventure begins, mild-mannered Mr.
I Chandler is flying on a plane when
he gets news that the evil creatures
already are hard at work. In
1 moments, he will turn into Menorah
1 Man. (How can you not love a video
program with a sense of humor? Just
1 as Chandler is jumping out of the
plane to become a superhero, the air
I hostess calls, "Mr. Chandler? Your
1 kosher meal is here ...")
Menorah Man joins forces with
I Dreidel Maidel, Yarmulkah Youth,
Magen David and Hypergirl, who
secured her magic powers after acci-
dentally creating an atomic matzoh
that gives her "hyperstrength."
The images are great (complete
with cartoon-like blurbs) and so is the
writing (at one point the revolving
Dreidel Maidel appears on the tun-
: dra, described as "a green zoom
[that] blurs onto the stark plateau."
This also features games that chil-
dren of all ages will enjoy. (There is

Around the World in a
Harpbeat

Harpbeat is an Ann Arbor-based
duo featuring Donna Novack and
Maria Flurry on percussion and
harp. Some of their songs are origi-
nal, many are traditional; all are
fun. Yes, this is a long, long way
from those harp players on
"Lawrence Welk," who invariably
wore pastel-colored, 100 percent
polyester dresses and lovingly, if
unintentionally, put viewers to sleep.
Songs featured on this CD or cas-
sette include "Take Me out to the
Ballgame," "Sakura," an especially
nice "Kookaburra" and "Old
MacDonald." The women sing
beautifully, and the . music is always
upbeat (sorry, I couldn't help myself)
— certainly pleasant enough to lis-
ten to many times (which can,t be
said of all children's tapes these
days).
As you may already have suspect-
ed, coming from Ann Arbor,
"Around the World in a Harpbeat"
also is politically correct. There's a
terrific version of the classic
"B'shana Haba'a," in which some-
one does quite a good job with the

Drawing Your Way
Through the Jewish
Holidays

written and illustrated by Eleanor
Schick (UAHC Press)

Annie's Shabbat

by Sarah Marwil Lamstein, with
illustrations by Cecily Lang (Albert
Whitman and Co.)

This nice book was written by
native Detroiter Sarah Marwil
Lamstein, who says it is "based on
my own childhood celebration of
Shabbat, a joyous family time kept
faithfully by my parents, Milton and
Lenore Marwil ... Sadly, my mother
passed away three months ago, but
my father continues to observe the
Shabbat with undiminished gusto."
Annie's Shabbat tells the story of
a day in the life of a young girl
whose family loves the Sabbath. As
the day approaches they lovingly
prepare the table. Tradition is rich
here, where stories always begin
"Wump upon a time!" and grand-
parents teach about Jewish history
and the challah is warm and tasty.
You'll want to be invited for a visit.

Even if you are absolutely certain
you cannot draw, here is a user-
friendly guide to help you create
the perfect Kiddish cup, challah
and other Jewish objects. Ms.
Schick's guide is well-designed,
with step-by-step illustrations
and brief text explaining each
item. ❑

OPIPWIPW

41►

Better you should watch

reruns of "Three's Company."

WHIP Is this the best they could

do?

41VM Nothing great, nothing

awful.

1 1•400411100

Try it, you'll like it

IV40,40440 410 Meeee0000w!

This is the cat's pajamas.

3/27
1998

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