Sholom's Treasure: How Sholom Aleichem Became a Writer

This winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award for Young Readers is just charming and works on many levels. Mordecai Gerstein's illustrations complement the text perfectly. It is a biography for younger readers; a story reminiscent of a fairy tale with a mean step-mother and a dreams that comes true; and a lesson that you will succeed if you pursue your passion.

Sholom's Treasure is the 2006 winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award in the Younger Readers Category, presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries for the best in Jewish children's literature. An interview with the author and illustrator may be heard on the Jewish literature podcast The Book of Life at www.jewishbooks.blogspot.com (the January 2006 episode), and information about all Sydney Taylor Book Award winners is available at www.SydneyTaylorBookAward.org. The subtitle of this book, "How Sholom Aleichem Became a Writer" accurately describes this childhood portrait of the famous author. From toddlerhood to the teen-age, we learn of the influences on the writer's work, from his shtetl upbringing to his collecting of interesting curses uttered by his stepmother. The story ends with the boy's realization that he will become a writer; his adult life is not depicted. This is not a shortcoming; anyone who has seen Fiddler on the Roof knows who Sholom grew up to be, but this book satisfies our curiosity as to how he became that person. This picture book biography is a perfect blend of text and illustration. The writing is simple and clear, engaging and full of interesting detail and well-placed dialogue. The illustrations are busy, at first glance perhaps too much so; yet further examination reveals that they are incredibly alive and that they perfectly complement and flesh out the text. The use of cartoon-style series of small illustrations interspersed with full-page scenes moves the story along and supports the pacing of the text. Faces and body language are expressive and vivid. Sholom comes to life as a lovable rascal despite the potentially distancing old-fashioned clothing and long side-curls. Sholom's Jewish identity is unapologetically front and center in this biography. Explanations of Jewish life are not necessary, as the story itself smoothly defines all terms and customs. The Jewish aspects of the story are not coyly told for insiders nor stiffly recited to educate non-Jews, but are described matter-of-factly; Sholom's culture is an integral part of his individuality and of his life story. This is a vital, engaging, living-and-breathing portrait of one of modern Judaism's most famous and beloved champions. The book stands along beautifully but would also make a perfect introduction to Sholom Aleichem's own works. Grades 2-5

Illustrator Mordicai Gerstein never ceases to amuse me. Sometimes his pictures are too loosey-goosey to hold my attention (as with any of the books he's illustrated for Elizabeth Levy) while other times he bowls me over with his originality and spice (as with the adorable "Seal Mother"). I did not, on the outset, have high hopes for "Sholom's Treasure", I admit. Sure I knew the name Sholom Aleichem. That's the fella who wrote the stories that "Fiddler On the Roof" was based on, yes? But how interesting could a children's biography of him be? I'm not a huge biography fan to begin with. Seems to me that most picture book bios are deathly dull David A. Adler-like affairs. The are usually the perfect way to put the kiddies to sleep. Fortunately there are smash-hit artists like Erica Silverman and the aforementioned Mr. Gerstein to put me in my place whenever I think this way. "Sholom's Treasure" is definitely one of Gerstein's best books, helped in no small way by Silverman's skill at winnowing out a slice of the great man's life that makes for a fabulous story. Evil stepmothers, a treasure, hardship, glory, putting a bully in his place, it's all here! Best of all, it's the kind of thing kids will actually want to hear about. He was born Sholom Rabinowitz and was one of twelve children. He lived in Russia in 1859 and attended kheyder like the other boys. Though a fabulous student, Sholom was also a class clown. Mimicry was his talent though nobody appreciated it as much as he would have liked. In his spare time he and his friend Shmulik would discuss how to locate a treasure that they were sure was buried under a nearby hill. Unfortunately the family had to move soon thereafter and then Sholom's mother died. When his father remarried, the new stepmother was not exactly a kindly sort. Still, Sholom was able to have a fair amount of small adventures and triumphs in his own way. In the end, he realized exactly what kind of treasure it was that he would someday present to his father. He was going to be a writer. An Afterword describes how Sholom spent the rest of his life, the number of works he created (more than six thousand stories, essays, plays and novels) and where and when he died. There is also a particularly well written list of Sources and Archival material used by Silverman to tell this truly interesting tale. Usually I do not trust award winners. This particular story won the 2006 Sydney Taylor Book Award and so I picked it up with the faintest moue of apprehension gracing my lips. I mean, award winners tend to have one thing in common - they're dull dull deathly deadly dull. And winners of awards for a specific ethnic or religious minority have such a small pool to pull from to begin with that often I find myself deeply disappointed with what I find. "Sholom's Treasure" breaks that rule squarely in two and does so with a kind of manic glee. The glee can be attributed directly to two participants - Silverman and

In an opening author's note Erica Silverman tells of being taken to a Broadway production of "Fiddler On The Roof" by her grandmother. She writes that as she watched the musical she felt she was looking into the world of her grandmother's childhood. When she questioned her grandmother after the playing, saying she wanted to learn more, the reply was "Read Sholom Aleichem." That's on the spot advice for all. Born in Russia in 1859 as Sholom Rabinowitz, he became known as Sholom Aleichem, "a Yiddish greeting that means `Peace be with you.'" There was very little peace to be found in his turbulent childhood, but as the author notes, although he was quite cognizant of the difficulties and deprivation around him he was somehow able to see humor in almost any situation. And, he believed that "laughter was healthy, even necessary, to survival." Anyone who has seen "Fiddler On The Roof," which is based on his stories knows the truth of that statement. One of 12 children, Aleichem loved to hear his father read stories, and he thoroughly enjoyed watching the pleasure this gave to others. Evidently, he, too, decided he wanted to make others happy so he became a bit of a clown, an accomplished mimic. However, it wasn't too long before greater hardships visited his small village, Voronko. His father lost his share of a business, and the family moved to Pereyaslav, a veritable city with wooden sidewalks. Once there, his parents bought a rather dilapidated inn. Two months after Aleichem's bar mitzvah a cholera epidemic enveloped Pereyslav, and his mother died. What would become of his family now? Erica Silverman has crafted a trenchant, thoughtful biography, and it is illustrated by the incomparable Mordicai Gerstein. Last year's Caldecott Medal winner, his pictures are often humorous, always touching. We learn that in Aleichem's will he asked that his name "be recalled with laughter." It is - with laughter and gratitude. - Gail Cooke