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Book reviews for "Heller,_Linda" sorted by average review score:

The Castle on Hester Street
Published in Paperback by Jewish Publication Society (1990)
Author: Linda Heller
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Enough is enough
It's sad that great children's books go out of print of so often.

This one is about a grandfather's tall tales. He joshed his granddaughter Julie about Hershel the famous astronomer, who discovered the moon is a matzah ball. And Bessie, who used her exceedingly long braids as jumping rope.

And Moishe, the goat from his village in Russia, who pulled his wagon all the way to America--9,092 miles, singing a certain famous song all the way.

But grandpa's best tale was about his real trip on packed steamer to America, and meeting Julie's grandmother Rose.

Of course, he couldn't keep himself from embellishing the story for long, and soon wove in nonsense about a castle on Hester Street, so tall that pigeons couldn't fly to the roof and had to be carried by ladder. And since he was a button peddler, he told Julie of buttons made from diamonds and gold, buttons big as saucers, and buttons used as sleds.

Our copy was a hand-me-down from family, and since there is little chance of finding another, there is no chance we'll ever part with it. Alyssa A. Lappen

A clever way to introduce the immigrant experience.
A grandfather tells his grandaughter tall tales about each stage in his immigration to the U.S. and his early life in New York. Then the grandmother deflates each tale and explains how things really were back then. I find this two-step process to be a clever way to teach children about the experience which their grandparents went through, first hooking them with a silly story, and then hitting them with the facts. The book is especially useful for reading aloud to children whose grandparents can no longer tell the story themselves, or for inspiring children to ask their grandparents about their experience. This is a rather matter-of-fact review, so I should add that my children and I find this book funny and endearing, and have read it together many times.


Elijah's Violin & Other Jewish Fairy Tales
Published in Paperback by Oxford University Press (1994)
Authors: Howard Schwartz and Linda Heller
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A rare treat
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.

This is a great book!
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!


A Picture Book of Passover
Published in Paperback by Holiday House (1986)
Authors: David A. Adler and Linda Heller
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A Picture Book of Passover
This book gives the history behind where Passover came from. The author writes about the story of Moses, and how his life was saved. One day a burning bush spoke to him in the words of God, and told Moses that he would be the new leader. As much as Moses pleaded for the Pharaoh to release the slaves, he declined and pushed them harder. As a reult Moses put a plague onto Egypt. These ten plagues swept through Egypt that attact various things. The Pharaoh soon let the slaves free, and sent Mmoses away. However, the Pharoah felt he had made a great mistake, and went after the slaves. Moses parted the sea for the slaves to get away from the Pharoah, and as the Pharoah proceeded across Moses commanded the sea to go back. As a result the Pharoah and his followers were killed. Tthe Israelites became a free nation. This became a celebrated holiday called Passover.us

A very nice overview
This book is a very good way to prepare a child for Passover. It starts with the story of the Exodus, beginning with Jacob's dreams, and continuing through the Israelites journey out of Egypt. It ends with a quick description of the Passover rituals and seders. This book has just the right amount of detail -- not too superficial, but not so much a child (or an adult) will not understand. I definitely need to add this to my collection of children's books of Jewish Holidays.


Alexis and the Golden Ring
Published in Hardcover by MacMillan Pub Co (1986)
Author: Linda Heller
Amazon base price: $2.98
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Horace Morris
Published in Hardcover by MacMillan Publishing Company (1984)
Author: Linda Heller
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Lily at the Table
Published in School & Library Binding by Atheneum (1979)
Author: Linda Heller
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The Magic Stove
Published in School & Library Binding by Putnam Pub Group Juv (1983)
Authors: Mirra Ginsburg and Linda Heller
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A Picture Book of Hanukkah
Published in Paperback by Holiday House (1986)
Authors: David A. Adler and Linda Heller
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Picture Book of Jewish Holidays
Published in School & Library Binding by Holiday House (1999)
Authors: David A. Adler and Linda Heller
Amazon base price: $15.95
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Putting Families First
Published in Paperback by National Governors' Association (1993)
Authors: Karen Glass, Linda McCart, and Anne Heller
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