You Never Know: A Legend of the Lamed-Vavniks: A Legend of the Lamed-Vavniks

Jewish tradition inspires this original tale about Schmuel the shoemaker, called Poor Stupid Schmuel by the townsfolk of Plotchnik because of his habit of forgetting to charge his customers. When a 40-day (and 40-night) drought threatens the town, the rabbi and other worthies pray for rain, but only when Schmuel prays does rain indeed fall. The rain continues for another 40 days and nights; once again, only Schmuel's prayers restore balance. A dream shows the rabbi that Schmuel is one of the 36 righteous men who, according to legend, are born to every generation (lamed-vav is Hebrew for 36). But when the townspeople go to Schmuel's shop, he has disappeared: a Lamed-vavnik's identity must remain secret. As in their previous Jewish folktales Dybbuk and The Angel's Mistake, Prose and Podwal bring an unusual agility to their work. The text unspools its mystical themes within familiar grooves--a butcher, baker and candlestick maker join their prayers to those of the rabbi; the wind howls and a cold wind blows out the lamps and candles as the congregants beg God to stop the rain. And even when depicting the downpour, Podwal's art--spontaneous in its lines, Chagallian in its referents--feels light and springlike. Fresh and memorable. Ages 5-up. (May)