978-1-58838-165-1
1-58838-165-X
$15.95 hardcover
9 1/2 x 11 1/2
36 pages
color illustrations
Junebug Books
A 2006 Sydney Taylor Honor Book
Younger Readers' Category
Association of Jewish Libraries
Listen to a podcast featuring Anna Olswanger on The
Book of Life
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“In the middle of
the night on a Thursday, two crooks—onions should grow in their navels—drove
their horse and wagon to the saloon of Reb Elias Olschwanger, at the
corner of 14th and Carr streets in St. Louis. This didn’t happen yesterday. It was 1919.” So
begins Anna Olswanger’s imaginative and charming folktale based on the Yiddish community of her
great-grandparents in the early 20th century. In original and engaging storytelling, Shlemiel
Crooks brings to life the theft (and recovery) of the community’s Passover wine, and gives readers of
all ages and of whatever religious persuasion a close look at the customs of a significant
immigrant group.
Praise for
Shlemiel Crooks:
...this is a book that children and their parents will enjoy, for its delightful
story and for its glimpse of a colorful Jewish community of another time. Paula
Goodman Koz supplies richly-hued illustrations.
--Jewish Woman Magazine
The fun, colorful illustrations complement Olswanger's humor. Children and
adults alike will laugh out loud.
--The Jerusalem Post
The best thing here...is Olswanger's Yiddish storyteller's voice,
particularly the hilarious curses she weaves into the story...
-Booklist
Newcomer Koz delivers arresting woodblock print artwork
featuring thick black lines and a deep, jewel-tone palette.
-Publishers Weekly
Well told and illustrated.
--The New York Times Book Review
...the vivid images will appeal to a child's sense of humor and
imagination.
--Chicago Jewish Star
Written with stylized humor and charm, Yiddish flavor positively
drips from each sentence. Simply splendid.
--Jewish Standard
Koz's colorful illustrations reflect Olswanger's humor.
--The Jewish Week
An entertaining and well executed tale that is chock full of
subtle humor.
--The Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books
The strong, almost rough, linocut illustrations establish an
earthy urban milieu, adding humor and more tam to a savory story.
--Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter
Here’s a chance for your family’s best storyteller to brush up
on his or her humorous stage presence and Yiddish accent . . .
Inspiring!
--The Jewish Ledger (New Jersey)
Buy this book—you should only have good luck coming out of your
ears—and you’ll laugh out loud. A delight!
--Arthur Yorinks, author of Hey, Al, a Caldecott Medal winner
Delightfully told in a colloquial, folksy style, sprinkled with gentle
humor from Anna Olswanger, and beautifully illustrated with strong
woodcuts from Paula Koz.
—Uri Shulevitz, Caldecott Medal Winner for The Fool of the World
and the Flying Ship: A Russian Tale
The distinctive music of the storytelling and the atmospheric
illustrations create an early twentieth-century urban folk tale with
character, humor, warmth, and grit.
—Steven Kellogg, award-winning author and illustrator of over 100
children's books, including the Pinkerton series
Shlemiel Crooks manages to be both poignant and laugh-out-loud
funny. A Gem.
—Sid Fleishman, Newbery Award winner for The Whipping Boy
Two dopey burglars, a talking horse, a wagon loaded in Passover wine,
and Pharaoh and Elijah duking it out in St. Louis make for a great
Passover story. All we need is W.C. Handy to set it to music: 'St. Louis
Ganovim!'
—Eric Kimmel, winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award for Gershon's
Monster: A Story for the Jewish New Year
about the author
Anna Olswanger
is a writer and literary agent in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. She was coordinator of the Jewish Children's Book Writers Conference at the 92nd Street Y.
about the illustrator
Paula Goodman
Koz is an artist in Williamsburg, Virginia.
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