The Diamond Tree: Jewish Tales from Around the World

A collection "selected and retold by" [a:Howard Schwartz|43963|Howard Schwartz|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1237548199p2/43963.jpg] and [a:Barbara Rush|419504|Barbara Rush|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], and according to the notes these were originally in Hebrew, and have been collected primarily for Israel, Iraq, and Eastern Europe. The tales vaguely resembled folktales that are more commonly known from Germany, UK, & France but were a bit different. A quick read for a family, or for most independent readers 7 and up. 3.5 stars rounded up because it's fairly unique... the only other Jewish tales I've encountered are picture-books about golems, or the wonderful 398.2 show more tales by [a:Eric A. Kimmel|2602|Eric A. Kimmel|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1507394162p2/2602.jpg].

I did particularly like the tale in which the mother rescued her children from the belly of the bear (not wolf) and put bread (not stones) in as replacement before sewing the beast back up. Happy ending for all! show less

This was a good compilation of Jewish folktales from many places. Some of the stories were very similar to other folktales I am familiar with, and some were brand new. I thought some of them were very unusual, to the point where I wasn't sure what the moral was.

A beautifully designed collection comprises fifteen Jewish tales that span many centuries and come for the most part from countries of the Middle East, Africa, and eastern Europe. There are stories that readers will recognize as familiar tales, moral tales that teach lessons, and there is even a story about a giant who went with Noah on the ark. This book would be good for a lesson focused around the Jewish culture

An excellent addition to a folklore collection.
For children and adults alike. Delightful illustrations.

This book is a collection of tales from various places in the world. Each tale is told in an old English point of view. The tales are in places such as Iraq and include bible tales like Noah’s Ark.

I was expecting tales that had a moral to them but the tales did not at all. I tried to read some of the tales to my daughter but she did not get it. I guess it may be better for older readers.

These tales could be used in the classroom for comparison in traditional fantasy. Students cold also write their own fairy tales based on tales from the book.

A collection of Jewish traditional nursery tales from many different countries.

Illustrated international folklore