The first 4 books in the “Animals Build Character Series” was 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. Book One: The Grizzbears Discover the Golan. HC (978936778218); PBK (9781936778256); Kindle. Book Two: The Grizzbears Make New Friends. HC (9781936778010); PBK (9781936778041); Kindle Book Three: Momo Fox Learns How to Be a Good Neighbor. HC (9781936778065); PBK (9781936778089); Kindle Book Four: Excitement in the Air for All! HC (9781936778515); PBK (9781936778195); 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, Editor Book Reviews for Children & Teens The Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter 1054 Holly Circle Lake Zurich, Illinois 60047 847/926-7902<tel:(847)%20926-7902> (work) 248/444-3292<tel:248%2F444-3292> (mobile) www.jewishlibraries.org<http://www.jewishlibraries.org/> Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9am-2pm and Wednesday 4-6 pm & Sunday 9am-12pm (when school is in session) On Mon, Feb 6, 2017 at 11:39 AM, Mazo Publishers <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Just Published! Book 5 in the Animals Build Character series: Recommended for ages 5-10 "Summer Vacation With The Grizzbears" by Aviva Hermelin We have a limited quantity of this book available for children's libraries, available through our sponsored book series, meaning there is no cost to your library to receive and put in your circulation. Children’s Bookwatch, at Midwest Book Review, wrote about Book 2: The Grizzbears Make New Friends: Listen and Learn From the Animals. "The Animals Build Character Series demonstrates that wise animals can make good counselors and teachers." "Engaging, creative narrative is amplified by unusually colorful illustrations of the wise animal friends in the story." "A great teaching book for children of different ages, cultures, and backgrounds." Themes in the series: Family Values ~ Relationships ~ Compassion ~ Helping Others Leadership ~ Responsibility ~ Sensitivity ~ Trust Love ~ Respect ~ Hope ~ Prayer ~ And More... At the end of each chapter, there are questions to initiate conversation with the readers and listeners, focused on the importance of living a life based on positive values and good character traits. These stories will create an ideal atmosphere to introduce themes and concepts for personal growth and development. Please reply back to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> if your library would like to add this set to its collection. We hope that all requests can be sent, but we are limited, so reply soon. Please include all your details Learn more about the Grizzbear book series by clicking this link: www.mazopublishers.com<http://www.mazopublishers.com> __ Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) ================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
__ Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) ================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: [email protected] To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: [email protected] Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list [email protected] https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
