The Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol
Description
Ten tall tales about a legendary Ukrainian trickster who can outwit anyone—from the team behind the award-winning Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins.
Quick-thinking, funny, and always clever, the Jewish folk hero Hershel—based on an historical figure who lived in Ostropol, Ukraine—is one of folklore's greatest tricksters.
In this classic volume by the creators of the award-winning and much-beloved Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, a Caldecott Honor Book and Sydney Taylor Award Honor Recipient, Hershel down faces a stingy innkeeper, fierce bandits, and more, armed with nothing more than his own quick thinking.
Based on tales passed down through oral histories, Yiddish anthologies, and other collections of Jewish folklore, The Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol offers a glimpse into the shtetl village community of nineteenth-century Ukraine, and is a perfect introduction to a little-known but much-beloved folk hero.
A perfect gift for any occasion, including Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Hanukkah, or graduations, The Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol will delight all readers who love a clever twist.
Praise for The Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol
"Ten superbly retold Hershel of Ostropol tales, many of which are unavailable in popular collections...ideal for reading aloud."—School Library Journal
"10 funny Yiddish folktales about the Jewish trickster Hershel are rooted in the shtetl village community of the nineteenth-century Ukraine. Kimmel says that Hershel was a real character, a wandering beggar, who endeared himself to the common folk by making the pompous and arrogant look foolish….With their wry idiom, these are stories for telling across generations. Kimmel points out that–like Coyote, Anansi, and B’rer Rabbit–this trickster belongs to all of us. As in the Caldecott Honor Book, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, Trina Schart Hyman's wild, beautifully detailed drawings capture Hershel's farcical interchange with the village creatures and characters."—Booklist
"Kimmel (Rimonah of the Flashing Sword, p. 386, etc.) makes each of Hershel's escapades an ingenious delight, short enough to hold the attention of young children but clever enough for their older siblings. Hyman's wonderful black-and-white pictures leave readers wanting more. Kimmel's retelling aptly captures the ethnic origins of the collection."—Kirkus Reviews