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`Elizabeth Applebaum
AppleTree Editor

Purim Play

(Little, Brown and Co.)
by Roni Schotter
Reviewed by Molly Roth

Every year in the month of Adar,
Frannie's family has a Purim play.
But this year Frannie's cousins who
also are in the play are sick with
the flu. How can they put on the
play? Who will play Mordechai
and Haman? Frannie's brother,
/-) David, will be in the play — if he
can be Ahaseuras. Who will play
Haman now?
Purim Play is about a girl named
Frannie who has -a traditional
play, or spiel, about Purim every
year. I think that children 4 and up
would like this story because the
moral is: It doesn't matter how old
you are, as long as you are
young at heart.
The pictures in this bock are as
colorful as the rainbow. You can tell .
that the illustrator took her time
drawing the pictures. The cover is
very eye-catching (which is a good
quality in a book), and the detail in
the pictures are radiant!
My teacher says, "A good book
has good nouns, verbs and
writer's tricks." Well, this book
has all of the above. Its best
writer's trick was, "In our play, he
likes to play the king with the
/-/ name that sounds like a sneeze:
Ahaseuras!"
So now you probably have a
good idea of the story. It is well
written and has a good format.

Molly Roth,
who turns 10
this month, lives
in Huntington
Woods and
attends Burton
Elementary
School. She likes
writing and read-
ing humorous fiction.

Mothe_ !prayer: The Preg-
nant Woman's Spiritual
Companion

by Tikva Frymer-Kensky (Riverhead
Books)
Reviewed_by Diana Kathryn Wolfe

A prominent scholar of Judaic

women's studies and past profes-
sor at the University of Michigan,
Frymer-Kensky began her studies
in 1978, centering her attentions
Esther's Story
on the intricacies of biblical law.
by Diane Wolkster (Mulberry Books)
After extensive investigation of
Reviewed byJennifer Schoenbart
Judaic culture, she discovered that
though women were portrayed
The ages for which I think this book
prominently within a text that was
is appropriate are 8 years old and
primarily male-motivated, ironically
up. The illustrations are very beauti-
there was virtually no mention of
ful. They are bright and colorful.
the commonality of women and
They help to describe the story and
the birth experience.
make it easier to understand.
There were no texts written to
I really enjoyed this story. It tells
ease a woman's fears or answer
about how Esther helped save the
her questions about the birth
Jewish people. Because of what the
process, or the expectations of her
Jews had seen they agreed to have
role in the creation of humanity.
a holiday called Purim. Jews
Nothing existed which spoke
throughout the world continue to
directly to a woman to help dis-
remember and celebrate the holi-
place her anxiety or connect her
day of Purim. It was fun to read this
to the richness of the shared histo-
book and I think other people
ry of the adventure of childbirth.
would like it also.
In an attempt to quell a silence
she heard echoed through the
Jennifer
halls of a late-night maternity
Schoenbart,
ward 17 years ago, Frymer-Ken-
7, lives in Oak
sky uses her book to provide a
Park and
wondrous insight into the phrases
attends Avery
of pregnancy. Filled with beautiful
Elementary
images and stirring poetry, this
School. She has
work offers focus, beauty, valida-
"two sisters, a
tion and affirmation of the miracle
mom, dad, and
of pregnancy. Containing prayers,
fish, a dog, and two birds." One of
poetry, incantations and medita-
her favorite books is Charlotte's
tions (some dating from Babylon-
Web.
ian days, some written by the

author), this is a lyrical approach
to preparing for, enjoying and
celebrating conception, pregnan-
cy and childbirth. Touching on
all aspects of the pregnancy expe-
rience, Frymer-Kensky creates a
place for women to revel in such
things as menstruation, morning
sickness, ancient superstitions,
the growth of the child, labor
and delivery — with equal enthu-
siasm.
Truly an interdenominational
book, its pages will offer comfort
and familiarity to women of all reli-
gions and backgrounds. As well,
this is not just a primer for those
who are pregnant or considering
pregnancy. It offers wisdom into
the physical, emotional and spiritu-
al experience of womanhood.
Frymer-Kensky delves into the sym-
bolism of ancient texts, prayers
and amulets, exploring their signifi-
cance as they specifically pertain
to the connection between God
and the power of creation inherent
in every woman and man. Artful
and intelligent, this work provides
a path of comfort and awareness
for both men and women, a
unique source to better understand
the wonderment of the heart and
soul of creation and life.

Diana
Kathryn
Wolfe, a
Southfield resi-
dent, is a free-
lance writer and
theatrical techni-
cal director. She
hos a 7-year-old
son, Zachary Bennjamin.

4/17
1998

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