The first 4 books in the “Animals Build Character Series” were reviewed in the September/October 2016 issue of AJL Reviews : Hermelin, Aviva. Animals Build Character Series: Listen and Learn from the Animals. Jerusalem: Chaim Mazo, 2016. Gr. K-3. 42 pp. each. $17.95 HC; $9.95 PBK; $6.95 Kindle. The author/illustrator created these books to teach about character development. The lessons are presented in short chapters with questions for thought and discussion at the end of each one. (“What do you think about when you see the sunset?” “What does it mean to you to pray?” “What are some examples you have of self-discipline?”). The text is accompanied by colorful modernistic illustrations. In Book One, the animals are introduced to the reader. They include a bear family, carob-addicted Giveret (Hebrew for ‘Mrs.’) Deer practicing for an animal Olympics, orphaned and depressed Momo Fox, and wise Saba Owl. In Book Two, Miss Lulu Fox starts teaching at the Golan Animal School, and Momo Fox is smitten. Book Three finds Saba Owl counseling Momo Fox, and Momo later apologizing to the deer for not rescuing her when she was injured. Everything wraps up in the fourth and final book, with Giveret Deer breaking her carob habit and winning the steeple chase in the animal Olympics and Momo and Lulu Fox getting engaged. Some of the text is highly questionable for the suggested age range in terms of content and vocabulary: “Sometimes she [Giveret Deer] was nervous and even unsettled, probably from the caffeine and carobs;” “The pain was excruciating! And the fur on her leg was very bloody;” “Momo felt a freedom from the fact that he was now able to talk about it, instead of just being embarrassed and disappointed in himself;” “I pray only to be more worthy of your love, and give of myself in every way to you.” So many missed opportunities - no maps of Israel, no pictures of animal habitats (Giveret Deer is shown in what looks like a human kitchen), two Hebrew words left untranslated, no overt Jewish content nor discussion of Torah or mussar (Jewish character development). And just plain misses: There have been no bears sighted out of captivity in Israel in almost 100 years, and the ones that inhabited the Golan were Syrian Brown Bear, not Grizzly; owls are nocturnal, carob does not contain caffeine and deer usually graze on grass. Safed and Tiberias are cities in the Galilee, not the Golan Heights. The assignment of human activities and emotions to animals is both disturbing and anathema to Judaism. Chava Pinchuck, Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel Please note that Midwest Book Review is a fee-based review service offered to small press and self-published authors. The review cited below was paid for by the publisher and/or author. We encourage AJL members to seek out reputable review sources, such as AJL Reviews, Jewish Book Council, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, etc. before purchasing items for their collection. Rachel Kamin, Director The Joseph and Mae Gray Cultural & Learning Center North Suburban Synagogue Beth El 847/926-7902 or rka...@nssbethel.org<blocked::mailto:rka...@nssbethel.org>
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9am-2pm and Wednesday 4-6 pm & Sunday 9am-12pm (when school is in session) From: Hasafran [mailto:hasafran-boun...@lists.osu.edu] On Behalf Of Chaim Mazo Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2017 1:48 AM To: hasafran@lists.osu.edu Subject: [ha-Safran] "Summer Vacation With The Grizzbears" Midwest Book Review Featured "Summer Vacation With The Grizzbears" in their 'reviewer's choice' category. Here is an excerpt: "Exceptionally entertaining and thoroughly 'kid friendly' in organization and presentation, "Summer Vacation With The Grizzbears" is very highly recommended for family, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections." Here the link to Amazon http://amzn.to/2qbous6 For ages 5-10 Also distributed in both hard and soft cover by Ingram. Chaim www.mazopublishers.com<http://www.mazopublishers.com>
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