The Uninvited Guest and Other Jewish Holiday Tales: And Other Jewish Holiday Tales

This outstanding collection from the author of In the Month of Kislev spans the Jewish holiday calendar from Rosh Hashanah to Passover. Drawn primarily from traditional sources, the entries offer a kaleidoscopic view of faith and ritual throughout the centuries, from a creation tale from the Midrash to shtetl stories featuring the fools of Chelm. In the leisurely yet dramatic style of an Old World storyteller, with vivid descriptions that evoke faraway times and places, Jaffe spins the Hanukkah story of Hannah, who outwitted a king; a Moroccan Passover tale of a selfish brother; and even a folktale for the weekly Sabbath. Useful information includes a brief historical introduction to each story, a glossary of Hebrew and Yiddish terms and lively source notes. Elivia's ( Billy and the Bad Teacher ) delicate crayon-and-watercolor illustrations are rendered with fluid, folk-inspired forms loosely suggestive of Chagall. While her style is homogeneous, it is also versatile enough to adapt to the range of moods evoked by the stories, including the raw energy of a roiling sea on Yom Kippur and the placidity of children collecting branches for a village sukkah. Ages 8-12. (Oct.)