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Published by The Collective Book Studio
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
A joyous modern-day twist on a Wise Men of Chelm folktale written by a fresh Jewish voice filled with humor, some juicy Yiddish terms, and smart, savvy kids brimming with innovative solutions.
"An enjoyable, rollicking read. Fun by the light of the moon—or anytime." —Kirkus Reviews
Oy, Chelm. Long known as home to the “wisest” people in Yiddish folklore. But what is Chelm like today? What if the kids were more clever than the rest of the townsfolk?
When the misguided adults of modern-day Chelm believe the moon has plunged into the lake, it’s up to the Schlemiel siblings to convince the grown-ups that their fears of a fallen moon are unfounded.
Join Sarah and Sam in this hilarious twist on a classic Yiddish folktale as they use teamwork, innovation and patience to save the day...and night!
Here is a book that will expand young readers’ knowledge of Jewish culture beyond holidays, history, and the Holocaust.
"An enjoyable, rollicking read. Fun by the light of the moon—or anytime." —Kirkus Reviews
Oy, Chelm. Long known as home to the “wisest” people in Yiddish folklore. But what is Chelm like today? What if the kids were more clever than the rest of the townsfolk?
When the misguided adults of modern-day Chelm believe the moon has plunged into the lake, it’s up to the Schlemiel siblings to convince the grown-ups that their fears of a fallen moon are unfounded.
Join Sarah and Sam in this hilarious twist on a classic Yiddish folktale as they use teamwork, innovation and patience to save the day...and night!
Here is a book that will expand young readers’ knowledge of Jewish culture beyond holidays, history, and the Holocaust.
About The Author
Audrey Barbakoff is a librarian, educator, and entrepreneur. She holds a doctor of education and a master of library and information science. As a Jewish mother, she is passionate about sharing the vibrancy of Jewish humor, languages, and stories with the next generation. Audrey lives with her husband, two children, and chickens on an island in Puget Sound. Though she has written several professional development books for librarians, this is her debut picture book.
About The Illustrator
Rotem Teplow is an Israeli illustrator who lives with her husband and two sons in a small village in Israel, near the Dead Sea. She enjoys yoga, reading books, and illustrating beautiful scenery. A graduate of Shenkar College of Design, she currently illustrates for newspapers and children's books worldwide.
Product Details
- Publisher: The Collective Book Studio (April 23, 2024)
- Length: 32 pages
- ISBN13: 9781685556037
- Grades: P - 3
- Ages: 4 - 8
- Lexile ® AD550L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®
- Fountas & Pinnell™ P These books have been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient™ Leveling System
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Raves and Reviews
"An enjoyable, rollicking read. Fun by the light of the moon—or anytime."
– Kirkus Reviews
"Centuries-old folktales transposed into a modern setting beget a cognitive dissonance that may have little ones pointing to present-day foils of smartphones and Google. The back matter features a helpful Yiddish glossary."
– School Library Journal
"Smatterings of Yiddish, warm illustrations, and a diverse cast make this picture book a multicultural winner."
– Foreword Reviews
'Readers should enjoy the kids’ savvy and the way the Chelmites, portrayed with various abilities and skin tones, stand in for “clueless” adults everywhere.'
– Publishers Weekly
"Children will grin while hearing or reading this story because in this one the kids are so much smarter than the grown-ups."
– San Diego Jewish World
"This is a delightful retelling of the Yiddish story of the foolish people in Chelm. With gorgeous illustrations and humor, kids will love seeing themselves as (sometimes) being wiser than their elders!"
– Misha Stone, Librarian
"This vibrant retelling of a classic Jewish/Yiddish folktale proves everything old can be new again!"
– George Shannon, award-winning author of more than 40 picture books including One Family, White is for Blueberry, and Lizard's Guest
"Audrey Barbakoff's wonderful retelling of a classic Jewish story is a gift to children and their adults. […] Who knew that saving the moon could be such a delight from tip to toe!"
– Reb Zann Jacobrown, Pardess Jewish Community and illustrator of Palace of Pearls: The Stories of Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav
"This humorous story reminds readers that sometimes it takes the creativity and reason of a child to solve the most curious of problems."
– Ericka Brunson-Rochette, Youth Librarian
"A funny, sassy take on folklore that truly captures what it's like to be a kid in a world where grown-ups make no sense."
– J.S. Puller, author of Captain Superlative and The Lost Things Club
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Schlemiel Kids Save the Moon Hardcover 9781685556037
- Author Photo (jpg): Audrey Barbakoff (0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
