[HANASHIR:10574] A Hanukkah/Klezmer Picture Book

[Karen Gall <klg8...>]

I found the best children's Hanukkah picture/story book in Chapters 
yesterday!  Shira's Hanukkah Gift written by Joan Betty Stuchner with 
beautiful illustrations by Richard Row.  According to the title page, it was 
formerly known as "The Kugel Valley Klezmer Band".  It is published by 
Scholastic Canada Ltd.

The setting is Canada and the story relates how a 10 year old girl fills in 
for the regular fiddle player in a Klezmer band at a Hanukkah party gig.  
The illustrations are so well done that I was sure that I could hear the 
klezmer music in my head as I read the story.

This is a wonderful story for sharing the passion for klezmer music with 
your kids. I had to buy the book and make my youngest (he's 17 now) promise 
that I could read it to him.

I can see how this story could be even be used in a kids' concert setting 
with narration and music - the way that Peter and the Wolf incorporates 
instruments and a story.  The klezmer band plays at the beginning - 
introducing the separate instruments and then the sound of the full band.  
As Shira secretly practises on her toy fiddle she would get better and 
better.....You just have to read the story :-}

Karen
klg8 (at) hotmail(dot)com


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