RevieWs
Sing Time
Faraway Summer
(Alef Design Group),
by Bruce Siegel,
with illustrations by Joshua Siegel
I Reviewed by Dini Cohen
(Morrow Junior Books)
I
by Johanna Hurwitz
Reviewed by Starr Friedman
Faraway Sum-
This book is
mer is the journal
about a man
of Hadassah
whose son's
"Dossi" Rabi-
upcoming bar
nowitz, who is
mitzvah reminds
vacationing in
him of the time
Vermont courtesy
he accompa-
of the Fresh Air
nied his brother
Society, an orga-
Gerald, or
nization that sends poor children in
"Jerry the Jerk," to meet the rabbi
New York out west for two weeks.
before Jerry's bar mitzvah.
I thought that the plot was interest-
He was restless, so began
! ing, spiced up with well-developed
exploring the synagogue. While
I characters. You can sense Dossi's
wandering
he met the cantor, Eli
bie
came
and
put
her
arms
around
Matzo Ball Moon
I excitement and amazement when
Eleanor and asked if she had seen
Jacobs. From Eli he learns about
(Clarion Books)
I she first milks a cow, and almost
Elijah. Eleanor said she didn't but
Judaism and what "sing time"
I see her seething with anger when
by Leslea Newman,
pointed to the moon. She told her
means.
1 she finds out that Emma left Dossi's
illustrations by Elaine Greenstein
bubble, "There's the matzah-ball
From the book one can learn
library book out in the rain.
Reviewed by Natalie Rose Lichtman I moon, Bubble, and it's just for you." I things he or she never thought of.
I would recommend this book to
Eleanor and her bubble joked
I think that the author was trying to
I like this book. This is a very spe-
1 anyone who is a girl, Jewish or not,
express the meaning of "sing time"
about how delicious the moon
i cial book about a girl named
I between the ages of 8 and 12.
not as a time to sing, but as the
looked. "Let's go get our spoons,"
Eleanor and her bubbie. Eleanor's
Although I found it a quick, easy
Bubble said. But instead of going
idea that song is time.
bubble makes matzah-ball soup
I read, the book was nicely written
back to the table, Eleanor and her
Bruce Siegel is a really good
I and I enjoyed it, partly because it 1 every Passover. This year, Eleanor
bubble stood together, gazing at
writer and he expresses ideas of
helped her by making the soup.
was in journal form and partly
the moon with wonder at the big
Judaism, music and tefillah
Bubble made an extra-special
because it gave a glimpse of what
bumpy, lumpy, yummy looking
(prayer) with so much feeling.
matzah ball for Eleanor.
it might have been like to be a
I The illustrator drew his pictures in
matzah-ball moon.
When Eleanor's brother Joshua
poor girl living during the year
I love this book because Eleanor
a Style which pulls the reader
came
home from school, he smelled
1910.
and her bubble remind me of me
into the picture. I think the
good soup. When Joshua saw
book is appropriate for ages 8-
and my nanny. Her name is Molly
Eleanor's special matzah ball, he
Starr Friedman is a fifth-grader
Furst. My nanny makes matzah-ball
12.
at West Maple Elementary in West I wanted her to share but Eleanor
This is one of the best books I
soup that tastes better than any
said, "No. Bubble said this is an
Bloomfield. She especially loves
have ever read. The author sent L,
matzah-ball soup in the whole uni-
extra-special one just for me!" Then
reading fiction. One of her favorite
me such an emotional message
t verse. Whenever I have matzah-ball
their mom and dad came in. They
books is The Wizard of Oz.
that I read and reread the book a
soup at restaurants and seders, I
! said, "Happy Passover!" Right
number of times. I really, really
always say I like Nanny's so much
before the seder, everyone snuck a
enjoyed the book and I think oth-
more!
maztah ball — even Joshua. After
Would you like to be a review-
ers will enjoy it, too.
the seder, it was time to open the
er for The AppleTree? Children
Natalie Rose Lichtman, 7, is
door for Elijah, the prophet who
aged 6-14 should send us a let-
in the first grade at Highmeadow
Dini Cohen, 10, is in the fifth
will
one day come and bring
ter telling a little about them-
grade at the Sally Allen Alexandc-i\/
1 Common Campus in Farmington
peace to the world. When Eleanor
selves (age, what kinds of
Bais Yaakov School for Girls in
1 Hills. She lives with "my mom and
saw the moon, she thought, "The
books they like to read, hob-
Oak Park. She enjoys being with
1 dad and my dog, Casey, and two
moon is so big and bumpy and
bies). Mail to: Make Me A
friends, writing and reading
1 fish.' Her favorite activities are
lumpy and yummy looking! It looks
Reviewer! c/o AppleTree,
books, especially mysteries
1 reading and swimming on the team
just like a matzah ball." She called
27676 Franklin Road, South-
and those focusing on the Holo-
1 at the Woodbrooke Hills Swim
her bubble to come and see. Bub-
field, Ml 48034.
caust.
Club.
I
I
1
5/15
1998
80