Here's an idea I've suggested (unsuccessfully) to a couple of synagogues:
What:Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman
* Overall theme quickly described: As Joseph’s clothing wears out, his
grandfather makes a new item out of what is left, until, when the final object
is lost, there is still the story of Joseph’s clothing wearing out and …
* but contains many spin-off topics
* History: shtetl life, Eastern Europe, economics, occupations, living
conditions, education, Jewish communities, clothing
* Relationships: grandparents, parents, friendship
* Music: based on Yiddish folksong, I Had a Little Overcoat (Hob Ich
Mir a Mantl), Yiddish music, Klezmer, folk-dancing
* Art: illustrated Jewish texts, use of art to tell stories (extra
wordless story in book)
* Tikkun Olam: Ecology / environmentalism / recycle / reuse
* Religious life: Friday night dinners, ritual objects, …
* Literature: compare with Joseph had a Little Overcoatby Simms Taback,
Bit by Bit by Steve Sanfield
* Spirituality: Hasidictale about the Baal Shem Tov and succeeding
generations told in the preface to The Gates of the Forest by Elie Wiesel and 9
1/2 Mystics by Herbert Weiner (p.69):
* At first, a rabbi saves his people by going into the forest, lighting
a fire, and saying a prayer. Over the generations, how to do each of these
three actions is forgotten, until all that is left is the telling of the
events. But in each generation it is enough.
* What is left after the artifacts are gone is the story of them. But
it suffices.
* Mathematics: recursion, downward spirals, loops, diminishing returns
* Short, does not need to be read in advance of programs; copies can be
provided
* Paperback; PJ Library book => many used copies available in community
When: Events
*
Where
* Field trips to related museums, restaurants, concerts, ....
* Museum of Jewish Heritage (NYC)
* Congregants’ homes; community locations
Why
* Create / increase a sense of community
* This book can truly be used by all ages (see above for adult uses)
* Promote the library (hey, I'm the librarian!)
* Discuss issues of personal, societal, and religious interest via the
safe distance of a book
* Serious fun
How
* Events
* Congregants share personal experiences and expertise
* Workshops, cooking and eating, lectures, discussions, services
* Paid speakers, performances, movies
* Publicity - local papers, flyers,
* Electronic / Social Network sites; blogs, wikis, evites, website
Some further notes on Joseph had a Little Overcoatby Simms Taback:
Caldecott-winning book with lots of details in the brightly colored
illustrations
(against a dark background). Children enjoy guessing what the next item of
clothing will be based upon the hole cut in the page. They can also read along
since the structure repeats: Joseph had a little [item of clothing] . It got
old and worn. So he made a [smaller item of clothing] out of it and [did
something].
What's left at the end in this version of the Yiddish song
are a book AND a moral: "you can always make something from nothing."
The song, with musical notation, is at the back of the book, along with an
author's note explaining that the illustrations are revised.
Can be used to discuss shtetl life. Also, what is left
when everything else has gone away is the story of everything going away.
Memory can survive events and things. But only if it is shared and handed
down/along to others. See Elie Wiesel's story about the generations of Hasidic
rabbis successfully who pray (with less and less information) to save their
community.
Or,
if you also read Something from Nothing and Bit by Bit, you can make a bar
graph showing the number of times the articles of clothing are used in all the
books. You can also make your own overcoat out of paper and cut it up to match
the story if you plan it carefully. Or bring in the various clothes mentioned,
show them at the appropriate time and let a small class try them on after the
book is finished.
There is also an earlier version of the book with different illustrations.
Rose Myers
Fairfield, CT
Stories are how we make sense of the world.
>________________________________
> From: Phoebe Potts <[email protected]>
>To: [email protected]
>Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2014 12:16 PM
>Subject: [ha-Safran] one school one book: librarians, please suggest title
>
>
>
>....for small Sunday school, grades K-8, that students can read with their
>families. Last year we did IBS's Stories for Children. Perfect blend of Jewish
>life, history and fantasy. Small children were read aloud to by parents. Not
>too juvenile for older kids. Looking for our next title, and could use your
>suggestions!
>
>
>Thank you so much!
>
>
>~Phoebe
>
>__
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