Even Higher: A Hassidic Tale

A Lithuanian ""Litvak'' has reservations about the story that the local town's rabbi raises himself to heaven during the Jewish new year. He hides under the rabbi's bed and recites chapters from the Bible to stay awake. When the rabbi rises from his bed and dons peasant's garb, the Litvak follows him through town in the shadows cast by houses to the forest beyond. The rabbi chops down a tree and carries a bundle of sticks and logs to a poor woman's hut, feigning a business transaction. This is a gentle story of treading the path of doubt that leads to faithseeing is but one way to believe. The retelling of this edifying tale from the Hasidic tradition will appeal to young readers; Ivanov's watercolors are dominated by optimistic shades of yellow and green and the happy expressions on the faces of well-contented village folk. Ages 5-9. (August)