This book was about a writer I hadn't heard of, and it didn't really make me want to read his books. ( )

This is a delightful picture book, featuring Sholom, an iconic Yiddish writer. It presents his early life in a humorous manner as he jokes and charms his way through life. Despite hardships, Sholom used the power of words to bring some light and hope to those around him. Overall this was a wonderful book, one any child would enjoy. ( )

This enchanting book, written by Erica Silverman and illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein, tells the story of the young Sholom Aleichem discovering his ability to make people laugh as well as create great literature. Before reading the story, the author’s note gives a brief introduction to her interest in Sholom Aleichem after seeing his play Fiddler On The Roof; however in creating a children’s book to tell the tale, Silverman shares with her audience an inspirational account of his becoming a writer. Encouraged by laughter, Sholom was always looking to see the bright side of even the most difficult situations. Coming from a poor family and becoming a successful writer is never an easy task, but maintaining a positive outlook and knowing that it can be done might help young children with the same desires find encouragement from this tale. The descriptive illustrations are almost reminiscent of a comic strip in the way each scene is portrayed in action and imagination is shown in brightly colored spaces that seem to rise from the children’s heads, which adds a playful quality to the visual interpretation of the story.
This book can be used as an inspirational piece to encourage children to find their passion in life. Librarians could find this book useful for story telling, but it can also inspire a book making/story writing hour where children can come up with their own accounts, draw pictures and then tie the pages together creating their own masterpiece. Elementary English teachers might also find this book helpful as an introduction to the author and gateway into further reading or viewing of a play. ( )