Sunday, February 18, 2007

Solomon and the Ant, retold by Sheldon Oberman

Here are forty-three clever, witty, and illustrative stories sure to delight students of all ages. This collection is a goldmine for storytellers. Oberman has gathered stories from many Jewish traditions - trickster tales, riddles, King Solomon, and the prophet Elijah. Each is short and told so clearly that the jewel at the heart of the story shines through every time. It is recommended for grades 5 and up....but many of the stories have delighted younger audiences at my school. The seven page introduction was a little long. Surely the material before and after each story would have sufficed. A simple "Sheldon Oberman did not live to actually hold this book in his hands; nevertheless, he held the stories in his heart" would have been more in keeping with the spirit of these fabulous folktales.

Grades 5 - 8

1 comment:

dafeulner said...

I would like to second this book. These stories are so rich and full of wisdom and would add a whole new aspect to our collections. The documentation, commentary and source notes are very detailed.