Copyright 2004, published by Clarion
Babka, the Gorgeous Genius." And
Books (wvvvv.houghtorimifflinbooks.com) then everything ends happily ever
Hardback. 40 pages. $15.
after.
Families searching for a nice, new
As with many of her stories, Zalben
Jewish book need to look elsewhere.
includes a recipe — for chocolate
At first glance, Baby Babka, a chap-
babka — at the end of the book.
ter book for children aged 10 and
Parents are warned: "Children should-
younger, very much appears to be a
n't try making this recipe without a
Jewish book. There's the whole babka
grownup" as it is quite complicated.
thing, of course, and characters like
Zach and Sam and Morty and Sophie.
The Mystery Bear by Leone Adelson,
Further, Zalben is best known for her
with illustrations by Naomi Howland.
charming Jewish stories about Beni
Copyright 2004, published by Clarion
the Bear.
Books (vvwvv.hou&onmifilinbooks.com)
There's really nothing Jewish about
Hardback. 32 pages. $15.
Baby Babka, though. It's a cute
The Mystery Bear is like a chocolate-
enough, but fairly routine story about
covered, buttercream-filled, strawber-
older siblings, Beryl and Sam, trying
ry-topped, freshly baked cupcake. It's
to deal with a new baby in the family.
so delicious, so yummy you just can't
Beryl is hoping for a new sister and is
get enough.
admittedly disappointed when it's
As the story begins it's the end of
Zachary. Then she decides she has had winter, and Little Bear is just waking
enough of attention-
stealing baby brother
altogether.
Fortunately, Uncle
Morty comes along to
tell the children about
when he was a boy. His
sisters were so jealous
they tried to sell him at
their lemonade stand:
"FOR SALE. ONE
ADORABLE GOR-
GEOUS GENIUS. A
NICKLE. TODAY
ONLY. LOANS
ACCEPTED."
In the end, however,
the girls decide they
love baby Morton and
help him learn his first
words, get to school,
etc.
Beryl and Sam quick-
ly realize the wisdom of
Morty's words and sud-
by Leone Adelson
denly fall in love with
Illustrated by Naomi Howland
Zachary. They even
teach him a magic trick
of sorts, which is when
he becomes "Baby

up from his long
hibernation. He's hun-
gry, all right; and in
no time he smells
something very good.
The aroma is coming
from a house near the
river, and Little Bear
quickly scurries off.
But what's this? Just
outside the house is a
strange crowd. They're
all in costume (some
even dressed as ani-
mals) and singing.
They march into the
house, and Little Bear
decides to take a long
look.
Rabbi Lawrence A. Holtman and Or, Ron IN
son
"Don't just stand
with
Photographs
by
Bill
Aron
there dressed up in
Id by R4bbi Smtdy
your wonderful bear
suit," the
father of the
it's the perfect tale for Purim — or
family says to Little Bear.
just when you want a lot of fun.
"Come in, come in, whoever
you are! Eat! Drink! It's
What You Will See Inside A
Purim!"
Synagogue by Rabbi Lawrence A.
So Little Bear steps right in
Hoffman and Dr. Ron Wolfson, with
and helps himself to honey,
photos by Bill Aron. Copyright 2004,
apple juice, raisins and a
published by SkyLightPaths
hamantash.
(www.skylightspath.com ) Hardback.
Soon, everyone is trying to
32 pages. $17.99.
guess the face behind the
Despite its Jewish cover and title,
wonderful "bear costume." Is
this is not really a book for Jews but,
it Bela the tailor ("Bela makes
instead, gentiles who know absolutely
wonderful suits. See how it
nothing about Judaism. It is an
fits him — not a wrinkle.")?
extremely basic introduction to
Heshel the herring man ("I'd
Judaism. And while the authors say it
know his bandy legs any-
focuses on Conservative and Reform
where.")? Only one person,
congregations, it is, in fact, very much
little Itzik, suspects the truth,
about what goes on at a Reform tern-
but no one believes him.
ple.
At last, though, the guests
What You Will See Inside A
uncover the identity of their
Synagogue is pleasantly reader friendly.
bear guest, and there's total
There are lots of beautiful photo-
pandemonium.
graphs, a good guide to pronunciation
The Mystery Bear is that rar- at the bottom of each page, and basic
ity in the world of younger
descriptions of Jewish objects and
Jewish children's books: an
important events in history.
original story. With cute illus-
trations and a lot of silliness,
GIFT' HORSE on page 38

What You Will
See Inside

A SYNAGOGUE

12/31

2004

37