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March 17, 2000/10 Adar II, Vol. 52, No.28
Colorful holiday of Purim 'told' through illustrations
SYBIL KAPLAN
Special to Jewish News
A few years ago, a book came out with a story of Queen Esther that portrayed her as a heroine with a full personality. It was called "Esther's Story" by Diane Wolkstein, and was written in the form of a diary that Esther might have written herself.
Now, Mordicai Gerstein in his book "Queen Esther, the Morning Star," (Simon & Schuster, $16 hardbound) retells the story of Esther and her heroism as Queen of Persia. The story isn't much different than the one we all know, but the intricately detailed illustrations are so unique, each could be cut out and framed.
There is also some whimsical playfulness in the illustrations. For example, depicting Haman with a pointed head and pointed beard and evil, slanted eyes; or showing the tears falling from the eyes of the Jews when they learn of their impending demise.
Children ages 5-10 will find this book to be a new version of the story. But now they can also delight in looking at the extraordinary illustrations.
Here are some other new books about the holiday season:
Cathy Goldberg Fishman and Melanie W. Hall teamed up for three earlier books about Jewish holidays - "On Hanukkah," "On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur," and "On Passover."
Now, in "On Purim" by Fishman (Atheneum, $16 hardbound) a young girl celebrates this holiday and relays its aspects to the reader as she designs herself a Purim mask.
She retells the story of Purim, and questions why people wear such masks; she watches her grandmother make hamantashen (Purim cookies); she constructs shalach manot baskets; she attends the carnival and parade; she hears the Megillah; and she finally figures out why we wear masks on Purim.
All of these ideas are accompanied by almost magical looking, colorful and warm paintings by Hall.
Children age 5 and older may find the book informative and interesting to read, while learning about the holiday from another child's point of view.
What do a Jewish Cinderella and Purim have in common? Without spoiling this charming book, "Raisel's Riddle" by Erica Silverman (Farrar, Straus, $16 hardbound), here is a book for Purim reading with an interesting connection to the Purim story.
Raisel is an orphan, living in Eastern Europe in the 1800s. She is tutored by her grandfather, with whom she lives. A turn of events makes her into a "Jewish Cinderella."
Susan Gaber, a children's book illustrator, enhances the book with detailed, subtly colored paintings.
This book, intended for 5- to 8-year-olds, could be a wonderful springboard for many discussions between children and parents.
What new material can one write about Purim? Barbara Cohen was a well-known writer of children's books. Shoshana Mekibel is a Kiev-born artist who now lives in the United States and illustrates children's books. Their combined skills produced a unique book for Purim - "Here Come the Purim Players!" (UAHC Press, $12.95 hardcover).
The setting is the Prague ghetto and the Purim players go to Rebbe Zalman's house to hear the story of Purim re-enacted by villagers. After the traditional story is told, Zalman serves refreshments.
The setting is probably sometime in the 16th to 18th century.
The colorful and intricate illustrations show care and research by Mekibel on the styles and customs of that time period. Although the book is aimed at kindergarten through third-graders, if it were combined with something about the Jews of Czechoslovakia, it could be interesting for older youngsters, as well.
This book offers a unique take on the Purim story and deserves appropriate praise for originality.
Sybil Kaplan is a book reviewer, journalist, writing teacher, lecturer and synagogue librarian from Overland Park, Kan.
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