Reviews for Shlemiel Crooks

The average rating for Shlemiel Crooks based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2020-02-03 00:00:00 Elizabeth Boyle Two bumbling crooks, a talking horse, and the ghost of Pharaoh walk into a saloon. This isn't a setup for a joke ' it's the premise of Anna Olswanger's terrific picture book, Shlemiel Crooks (NewSouth Books). Narrated in gleeful, Yiddish-inflected English and graced with a dash of magical realism, Shlemiel Crooks is a joy to read aloud. Paula Goodman Koz's colorful illustrations immerse the reader in a whimsically-realized American Jewish neighborhood of 100 years ago. The year is 1919, and St. Louis saloon-owner Reb Elias is out late studying Torah. Two crooks ' "onions should grow in their navels" ' hear the whispers of Pharaoh's ghost, who persuades them to steal the Passover wine from Reb Elias' unattended saloon. Unfortunately for these to shlemiels (Yiddish for "fools"), their horse begins to shout, "Crooks! Crooks!" The talking horse wakes the neighbors, who begin yelling at the top of their lungs. Everyone gets their just desserts: the would-be thieves flee empty-handed, while Reb Elias ends up one horse the richer. Despite its fantastical elements, Shlemiel Crooks is based on a true story. The author is the real Reb Elias' great-granddaughter. The book's backmatter includes a photograph of Elias Olschwanger and his wife Dora, as well as the two articles from the St. Louis Jewish Record that inspired the story. The articles are reproduced in the original Yiddish and accompanied by a translation. The story's basis in American Jewish history makes Shlemiel Crooks a wonderful resource for conversations about Jewish life and culture, particularly surrounding the holiday of Passover. Family and classroom discussion guides can be found on the publisher's website. Beneath this light-hearted parable is a deeper message about Jewish resilience. While the spirit of Pharaoh ' the antagonist of the Passover story ' lingers on in Shlemiel Crooks, Pharaoh is no match for Reb Elias, who has the prophet Elijah on his side. (The narrator slyly suggests that the talking horse is Elijah's doing.) More importantly, Reb Elias has the support of his entire neighborhood in chasing the thieves away. "Didn't [Pharaoh] know," says that narrator, that "after thousands of years of being without a place to hang their hats, the Jews had learned a thing or two about sticking together?" Like the Israelites in the Passover story, Reb Elias outmatches the powerful Pharaoh, and he doesn't do it alone. Shlemiel Crooks was gifted to me by NewSouth Books to review for the Multicultural Children's Book Day 2020 event.

Review # 2 was written on 2020-03-11 00:00:00 Sean Werner It is not apparent what age this book is written for.