RevieWs

Oh, Hanukkah

Beni's First Wedding,

If it isn't now, there will be at
least
several times in your life
story and illustrations by Jane Bre-
by Cathy Goldberg Fishman, with
when you need to get a baby
skin Zalben (Henry Holt and Co.)
illustrations by Melanie W. Hall
gift, and you will spend a ridicu-
(Simon and Schuster)
lous amount of time debating
I Ms. Zalben is uniquely talented as
Reviewed by Rachel Elizabeth
between blankets and clothing
an artist. If you've ever seen any of
Applebaum
and cute, cuddly toys. Believe
her "Beni" books, charting the life-
me, they have enough of all of
I The illustrations were beautiful and I ! cycle events of a little bear, you
those. This little
I know her illustra-
think the story had a lot of mean-
book, however, is
tions are lovely. The
ing. It told the story of Chanukah
so charming a
I texts are, in gener-
and how the family celebrated by
mother will simply
I al, quite nice, as
singing, dancing, playing dreidel
never tire of it —
I well, educating
I and making latkes. They lit the
nor will her child.
readers about Jew-
menorah/hanukkiah and each can-
I Love You As
: ish customs by
dle represented a reason. The first
Much...
is a short,
telling a story. This
was light; the second was hope;
sturdy board book
one has strange
the third was strength; the fourth
that begins with
moments, presenting
was faith; the fifth was happiness;
various mother ani-
what appears to be
the sixth was giving; the seventh
JANE BRESKIN ZALBEN
mals telling their
a fairly traditional
was knowledge; and the eighth
children how much
wedding (the bride
. was freedom. I think the ages that
they
love
them:
as
much as the for-
wears a veil over her face and
. are appropriate for this book are
est has trees, as the desert is dry,
walks around the groom seven
from 5 years old. I really enjoyed
as there is grass on the hill. Always,
times, brachot (prayers) are said
this book and I learned a lot.
each quote is accompanied by a
under the chuppah), but then hav-
gentle, delightful picture. Best of all
ing the groom give his new wife "a
Rachel
is the end, where the human mother
great big kiss." Huh? Well, if you
Applebaum,
tells
her infant "I love you as much
can overlook such curiosities, alon g
9, lives in Birm-
as a mother can love."
with an insufferable bow to political
ingham where
11•4100,0011004.
correctness at the end (where the
she attends
author describes wedding customs
Quarton Ele-
The Little Buggers:
for ALL faiths), Beni"s First Wedding
mentary
is enjoyable enough if only for the
School. She
Insect & Spider Poems
beautiful drawings. UMW*
loves to read,
by J. Patrick Lewis,with illustrations
especially the Baby Sitters Little
by Victoria Chess (Dial)
I Love You
Sisters series, the American Girl
As Much ...
series, joke books and biogra-
Like the Three Stooges, this book
phies. Recently, she read_ biogra-
will not appeal to all tastes
phies of Helen Keller and Harriet
— but those who enjoy it
Tubman.
likely will do so fervently,
passionately. There are
poems about beetles and spi-
AP Better you should watch
ders, shy yellow jackets, ter-
reruns of "Three's Company."
mites and even those dread-
ful silverfish. The drawings
%POI Is this the best they could
are great — beastly, yet
do?
tasteful — and the poems
VW', Nothing great, nothing
are often amusing. Many of
these works will make no
awful.
by Laura Krauss Melmed, with illus-
sense whatsoever to young chil-
4 0►1►►■10 Try it, you'll like it.
trations by Henri Sorensen (Tupelo
dren, so don't buy this for your
Books)
I
favorite
8-year-old. If you've got an
WI ► WV* Meeee0000w!
Reviewed by Elizabeth Applebaum
odd older cousin, though — the
This is the cat's pajamas.
AppleTree Editor
type who pours ketchup on every-

thing and actually enjoys "Green
Acres" reruns — this just might be
the perfect gift. 41004104*

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reviewer for The AppleTree?
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children aged 6-14, who
should tell us a little about
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school) and what they like to
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48034.

,

r 0A

7/10
1998

62

Clarification

The June 26th issue of
The Jevvish News r-nis-identified
Esther Rothenberg, who attend-
ed the Uncle Moishy concert. at
Yeshivat Dorchei Torah.

