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Ungar, Richard
6 Reviews
(3)
K-3
The people of Chelm (a city of fools) receive a giant menorah from a nearby mayor. The townspeople's plans to thank him never quite work out, which makes for a frustrating Hanukkah--until young Yitzi finds a simple, festive solution. The amusing, conversational storytelling style invites readers to settle in; wildly bright watercolor monoprints reflect the Chelmites' confusion and sense of wonder.
Reviewer: Shoshana Flax
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2016
(4)
4-6
Caleb, top time snatcher, travels through time acquiring objects for the highest bidder. A former orphan who was adopted and trained by the morally ambiguous Uncle, Caleb likes his work. But when Uncle forces the time snatchers to snatch kids as recruits, Caleb questions his future in time travel. Flat secondary characters detract from Ungar's interesting premise.
Reviewer: Jenn Matters
(4)
K-3
On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, young Reuven follows his village's rabbi to see whether the learned man, as rumored, ascends to heaven to meet with God. Instead, Reuven discovers how the community's spiritual leader serves earthbound souls in need. Rather garish watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations accompany this text-heavy adaptation of a story by turn-of-the-twentieth-century writer I. L. Peretz.
Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn
(3)
K-3
In Ungar's third story about Rachel, the townspeople of Chelm are tired of being thought of as foolish. Eventually, it is Rachel's book that leads Chelm to build a library, which is a wise thing to do. The story, inspired by Samuel Tenenbaum's story "Chelm's School," is told with vigor, and the brightly colored illustrations catch the spirit of the humorous tale.
Reviewer: Amy Kellman
(3)
K-3
It is Passover in Chelm, and Selma slaves over a hot stove to entice the prophet Elijah to sample the best soup ever. But it is Selma's daughter's kindness to a peddler that actually produces the longed-for visit. Intensely colored illustrations explode with fuschia, orange, green, and blue.
Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn
(4)
K-3
One of the favorite Chelm stories concerns the moon's "capture" in a rain barrel. In this version, young Rachel succeeds where the efforts of the adults fail. The stylized watercolor and colored-pencil artwork emphasizes the story's gentle humor and feeling of community rather than the foolishness of the characters. The telling is an adaptation of a story written by Samuel Tenenbaum; the lack of source notes is disappointing.
Reviewer: Amy Kellman
6 reviews
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