Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This isn't just a holiday-themed spoof of the classic cumulative song-Slonim (Digger, Dozer, Dumper) takes readers through a nothing-sacred salute to art history. It all begins as the old lady gulps down a growing litany of Jewish-related food and nonfood items (brisket, candles) in search of a remedy for the triggering mishap of the title; she inadvertently swallows a "Chanukah dreidel she thought was a bagel" after her cat knocks it onto the cream cheese-schmeared item. All the while, Slonim's illustrations parody, among others, Hopper's Nighthawks, Wyeth's Christina's World, Munch's The Scream, and van Gogh's Starry Night, complete with menorah. An artist's note at the back identifies all of the original works. It's meshugenah in the best sense of the word. Ages 4-8. Author's agency: Adams Literary. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-This version of the familiar cumulative song is given a humorous twist: "I know an old lady who swallowed a dreidel, a Chanukah dreidel she thought was a bagel...Perhaps it's fatal." The song progresses through various traditional foods and symbols, such as oil, latkes, brisket, gelt, and candles, all leading to a large non-fatal "BURP!" Following the original rhyming scheme calls for some verbal acrobatics, which the author handles well, with the exception of substituting "some sauce" for applesauce. Slonim makes an intriguing decision to base the cartoon pictures on famous works of art. "I wanted the art parodies to help the book transcend Chanukah, speaking to the universal human experience of family gatherings and celebrations." So, the old lady is depicted as a winking Mona Lisa, while her family appears in American Gothic and a menorah lights up Van Gogh's The Starry Night. This artistic "what-is-it" adds another layer to the book that is generally appealing and occasionally irksome (the old lady as the young woman in Wyeth's Christina's World.) Still, given the over-the-top silliness of the song, adding a visual game to it doesn't seem excessive and might just spur young readers to locate the original works. A unique addition that could generate a few parodies of its own. Includes an artist's note.-Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
The American Gothic parody on the first wordless spread -- showing Ma and Pa, a boy, a catand a menorah -- previews this freewheeling volume, part warm family holiday story, part art appreciation book, and part cumulative rhyme. Yacowitz's clever Hanukkah-themed text lists the items swallowed by the bubbie: latkes, gelt, candles, dreidel ("Perhaps it's fatal" is the refrain). Slonim's humorous cartoony illustrations -- a well-designed mix of spreads and panels -- tell their own story, courtesy of the old masters. Bubbie stands in for the Mona Lisa, the figure in The Scream, and Rodin's Thinker; homages to Warhol, Rockwell, van Gogh, Wyeth, Hopper ("Mel's All-Night Latkes" diner), and others make cameo appearances. An artist's note is appended. elissa gershowitz (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The old folk song is given a Hanukkah spin in a parody that blends Jewish tradition with art appreciation. The kerchiefed grandma swallows a tiny dreidel placed atop her cream-cheesed bagel by the family cat, setting off the familiar chain of events. She swallows the oil, the latkes, 10 barrels of applesauce, a 20-ton brisket, a "mine full of gelt, before it could melt," the menorah and candles until she is finally full. A large burp makes her feel better. The silliness, cadence and rhythm of the verse all work with the original tune; it can be a tongue twister at times but will keep kids engaged. "I know an old lady who swallowed a menorah / A mountainous menorah, while we danced the hora." Acrylic-based drawings using charcoal, pen and pencil place this bubbe in various scenes taken from classical paintings, providing an educational twist. She appears in comical versions of Munch's The Scream and Vermeer's The Milkmaid. The applesauce in a red-and-white can spoofs Andy Warhol's Campbell Soup Cans, and the menorah is set against the background of van Gogh's The Starry Night. Adults will see the humor but might wonder about the artist's point in his note stating that "a new look at famous works of art seemed like the perfect way to help people of all backgrounds enjoy this fresh take on an ancient holiday." Fun, in an odd sort of way. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
