Poems for Jewish Holidays - Hardcover

Kindergarten-Grade 5 Sixteen poems celebrate 12 Jewish holidays. The poems vary from the traditional ``Had Gadya'' taken from the Passover Haggadah, to the more playful, contemporary ``First Night of Hanukkah'' by Ruth Rosten and the more sensitive and moving ``Tisha B'Av,'' by Meyer Hahn, which commemorates a Jewish day of mourning. Several of the poems were commisioned for this volume, and therefore do not appear anywhere else. Images effectively convey the moods of different holidays. However, it is Bloom's black-and-white illustrations that make this a truly distinguished book. Each of the ten full-page charcoal paintings captures the different aspects of the Jewish experience while keeping with the spirit of the poem. ``Tu Bi-Shevat,'' the Jewish Arbor Day, is accompanied by a picture of the pioneers cultivating their land in Palestine, the light shining through the clouds representing the hope they felt despite adversity. The poem for ``Simhat Torah,'' a joyous holiday, appears in a circle; the illustration shows a modern Chasidic circle dance in which the characters fairly leap off the page. Fine poetry and moving illustrations combine to make this an excellent choice to fill a void in collections serving Jewish patrons.Micki Nevett, Temple Beth Emeth, Albany, N.Y.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.