Mendel's Accordion (Kar-Ben Favorites)
By Heidi Smith Hyde
Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing
Number Of Pages: 32
Publication Date: 2007-02-10
Sales Rank: 701791
ISBN / ASIN: 1580132146
EAN: 9781580132145
Binding: Paperback
Manufacturer: Kar-Ben Publishing
Studio: Kar-Ben Publishing
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2—This gentle, picture-book history of klezmer
music may have difficulty finding an audience. Mendel plays the
accordion and forms a traveling band, but when life gets difficult in
the old country, he leaves for America. On the way, he meets other
musicians and starts a new group. In New York, he marries
and has children and grandchildren, who love different kinds of
music. Finally, his great-grandson finds the old instrument in the
attic and has it fixed, and a new generation of klezmorim emerges. The
text is unremarkable and lacks transitions in places; but the simple
language is accessible and makes the complex story of
immigration comprehensible for a young audience. The attractive
folksy watercolor illustrations move the story along effectively and
capture life in the various settings. The characters are representative
of Jewish culture without being caricatures; the joy of music is clear
on their faces. An endnote discusses immigration, klezmer music and its
resurgence, and the history of the accordion. Libraries that serve
large Jewish populations may
find this specialized piece of historical fiction useful; however, it is an additional purchase for most collections.
