Elijah's Violin and Other Jewish Fairy Tales

Howard Schwartz's Elijah's Violin will appeal to both those who love fairy tales and those who love Jewish folklore. The stories have elements of more familiar fairy tales - birds that speak, mute princesses, magic mirrors, love, fear, good, and evil. However, Jewish elements make the stories distinctive. King Solomon appears in several of the tales, as does Asmodeus, King of the Demons in Jewish folklore. Schwartz's retellings are deft and lyrical and Heller's art complements the stories beautifully. If you're looking to be transported to a palace made of water or wish to go on a journey with a pirate princess, look no farther than Elijah's Violin.

I have read Elijah's Violin numerous times and think it is a wonderful ride through fairy tales and fantasy. Children will love this book, I have been reading it since the age of 7, and am still enjoying it to this day. I suppose I have a slight bias since the author is my father, but I still think it's a great book!