Five Little Gefiltes

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Overview

When five curious young gefilte fish have the chutzpah to sneak out of their jar and set off to explore the world, they are followed by a loud OY VEY!—Mama Gefilte isn’t too happy to see her little ones leaving the nest. But she’s taught them well, and at the end of their adventures, each one proves himself a mensch—making Mama one proud gefilte indeed.

Dave Horowitz’s playful rhyming tale, its illustrations packed with comic asides, will have readers giggling out loud and looking for opportunities to practice their Yiddish—with help from the handy glossary at the end of the book.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

With this endearing if uneven parody of "Five Little Ducklings," Horowitz (The Ugly Pumpkin) initiates youngsters into the joys of Yiddish-just in time for Passover. After explaining what gefilte fish is (though non-Jewish readers may not be helped much by a definition that compares them to "matzo balls made out of fish"), the author sends the five title characters out of their jar to explore New York City. Mama Gefilte's cries of "Oy vey!" meeting with decreasing success as, one by one, the gefiltes are lured away: "One little gefilte went out one day./ A big yellow taxi schlepped him away./ Mama Gefilte cried out Oy vey!'/ but not a single gefilte came back that day." Comic asides abound, enabling Horowitz to stuff even more Yiddishisms into his story, including the always evocative "tuches" and "plotz." Of course, all the gefiltes do eventually come back to their meshugana Mama " 'cause each was a mensch!" Horowitz's gefiltes actually do look an awful lot like matzo balls, but their hats give them character, and his compositions play up the puns (e.g., a movie ad for Goldie Lox and the 3 Schmears). Simms Taback's Kibitzers and Fools this is not. Think of this as pretty tasty schmear. All ages. (Feb.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

You do not have to be Jewish to enjoy reading the tale of the five little gefiltes, but knowledge of some Yiddish helps. There is, however, a vocabulary list at the end to consult if needed. After noting that gefilte fish are not really fish but edible balls of chopped fish, Horowitz uses clever rhymes along with their mama's exclaimed "Oy Vey!" refrain to tell the story of the five gefiltes who venture out of their jar. Each day one gefilte does not come back, to Mama's distress. As they go out to a play, or for a swim, or to a buffet, or in a taxi, one by one they disappear. Sad Mama, sitting in the park, is finally "kvelling" with joy when all her gefiltes return. The jolly nonsense is visualized with cut paper, charcoal, and colored pencils on double-page spreads. Very simple city settings include background silhouettes of buildings and, frequently, storefronts with funny signs. Speech balloons give a few characters a chance to express feelings such as "What a shnook" or "Such chutzpah." The family is depicted as simple ovals with a few lines that still manage to communicate their feelings quite clearly. As the guys note on the jacket, "Such a nice book."

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School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2
Remember the five little ducks that wandered away from their mama? In this parody, the troublesome offspring are balls of chopped fish traditionally served as an appetizer to a Jewish meal. The gefiltes wander across an early-20th-century New York City, visiting theaters and delicatessens, swimming in the bay, and riding in a yellow cab, with a smaller number returning home each time. Whenever she loses a child, Mama Gefilte cries out, "Oy Vey!," and the book is well spiced with Yiddish phrases and New York speech patterns. Of course, all ends happily when the five gefiltes return, because "each was a mensch" (a really good person). With the right adult guidance, this story may amuse youngsters while helping them to absorb some Yiddish. It might even encourage them to expand their tastes-although gefilte fish is not a dish popular with kids, who are more likely to agree with the character who utters "Feh! that's disgusting." It's silly, but all in good fun.
—Heidi EstrinCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

In this variation of that favorite rhyme of children's librarians, "Five Little Ducks Went Out One Day," five little gefiltes leave their jar and cause their mother to cry "Oy Vey!" Gefilte fish is a traditional Jewish stuffed-fish dish usually served as an appetizer. These five enjoy New York City activities such as going to the theater to enjoy "Goldie Lox & the 3 Shmears," swimming in the great New York Bay and crashing the buffet line in the deli. After Mama Gefilte moans and groans alone on a park bench, they all come back. Those who enjoy reading goofy rhymes with a Yinglish flavor may find something appealing in this otherwise silly endeavor that doesn't always scan properly. The illustrations are full of humor aimed more at adults, and the little gefiltes resemble nothing so much as misshapen lumps of clay. Nostalgic looks back at the lively culture of immigrant Jews are worthy of applause, but this effort? Feh! (glossary) (Picture book. 4-7)

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780399246081
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
Publication date: 2/1/2007
Pages: 32
Sales rank: 274,734
Age range: 4 - 8 Years
Product dimensions: 10.54 (w) x 7.32 (h) x 0.38 (d)

Meet the Author

Dave Horowitz

Dave Horowitz wrote and illustrated Beware of Tigers, The Ugly Pumpkin and Soon, Baboon, Soon. He lives in Rosendale, New York.
Dave Horowitz wrote and illustrated Beware of Tigers, The Ugly Pumpkin and Soon, Baboon, Soon. He lives in Rosendale, New York.

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Anonymous

Posted October 30, 2007

A reviewer

I just bought this for my 3 year old twins, since they love my homemade gefilte fish. I'm hysterical and I haven't even read it to them yet!! It is so clever and creative and written for adults too. Make sure you don't miss any of the written illustrations. You'll be laughing and smiling. It is also a great way to introduce early yiddish!!! It will definitely be a book I buy for gifts as well.
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Five Little Gefiltes

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Children's Literature

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Meet the Author

Dave Horowitz

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