Miriam Schlein (1926–2004)

Miriam Schlein describes the history and meaning of the Sukkot festival and the holiday of Simḥat Torah in this slender paperback picture-book. She discusses how the farmers of ancient Israel used booths, or sukkot, while harvesting their crops, and how the modern Jewish custom of building a sukkah for the harvest festival reflects both this, and the huts the Israelites used when they were wandering in the wilderness. Next she discusses how Simḥat Torah comes at the end of Sukkot, and show more marks the point in the Jewish calendar at which the reading through of the Torah concludes, only to begin again...

Published in 1983, Sukkot and Simḥat Torah is one of a number of slender little books about the Jewish holidays - Hanukkah, Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Shavuot - that Schlein published with Behrman House. It is informative, rather than story-based, and is paired with colorful artwork, done in a cute cartoon style, from Amye Rosenberg. Because it offers a basic, factual overview of the two eponymous holidays, I think this would make a good introduction to the subject, both for Jewish children and for Non-Jewish children not already familiar with Sukkot and Simḥat Torah. show less

A reasonable explanation of the meaning and rituals of the High Holidays, but the artwork feels out-of-date and the text less than inspiring. Men wear kippot and tallitot (women don't), men blow shofrot and appear on the bima (women don't). There is one girl wearing pants as a family does Tashlich, although the word is not used!

"More Than One" by Miriam Schlein explains how the number 1 can be more than just 1. Though this seems like an abstract topic the illustrations helps aid in the explanation of how 1 pair of shoes is 2 shoes and 1 week is actually 7 days. The book delves into the idea that sets of units come together to create 1 large unit of a different name. I found this to be a wonderful book when beginning place value in a math class. The book did a wonderful job of showing how place value is all around show more us. I felt the illustrations were very descriptive and gave a wonderful visual for this sometimes difficult topic. show less

I thought this book was a warm and loving story shared between a grandmother and her granddaughter. In the story, the young granddaughter wants her grandma to tell her a story. As the story is told,the granddaughter realizes that it is a story about her being brought into the world. After the mother delivers the news to her mother that she will become a grandmother, news gets around the family from uncles to cousins and all family members in between blood lines. Once she arrives, her family show more welcomes her with love and acceptance. I had mixed feelings about this book. Although I liked the fact that the story captured a sentiment of love and care shared between family, I thought the scene of her pregnancy could be viewed as controversial for young readers to be exposed to. If I were a parent, I would not have a problem discussing it with them, but I believe some parents would view this matter as inappropriate for toddlers and young readers. show less