Barbara Davilman

The premise of the book is hilarious: Dick and Jane, all grown up and still living in suburbia. But this isn't the suburbia of Ward and June Cleaver. It's the suburbia of Desperate Housewives with a Yiddish twist.

It made me nostalgic for my years living in Miami Beach. Oy ve, where did the years go? Even the goyim who didn't grow up hearing Yiddish will love this book.

Dick and Jane's wholesome little world becomes new, modern, and complicated while teaching the average Gentile a little useful Yiddish. Fun, funny, and just sarcastic enough.

2/7/11 Loaned this to someone and, just getting back, I had to read it again. Here's an excerpt that illustrates why I love this little book so much.

From the Glossary

rachmones (rahch-MUN-ness) -- compassion, fellow feeling, empathy, pity. "The Rachmones" would also make a very nice name for a sensitive Yiddish punk rock show more group. show less

A hilarious satire of Dick and Jane incorporating and teaching Yiddish phrases.

This book right here reminds me of home more than any other book that I own. This isn't teaching Yiddish more than it is teaching Yinglish which brings back so many happy memories. The few happy memories of childhood. Yinglish was the language of safety. I never read any of the Dick & Jane stories when I was younger, but this really brings me home.