Publisher's Synopsis
You don't need to be Jewish to love Levy's rye bread, nor do you need to read Yiddish to appreciate these wise tales. This engaging audio collection offers access to modern works--translated for the first time into English--for anyone who appreciates a well-told story rich with timeless wisdom. A year-round audiobook for families. Includes a comprehensive introduction on Yiddish culture.
These eighteen stories for a changing world, never before translated into English, by writers from Eastern European countries including Russia and Poland, focus on excellent storytelling, strong characters, and creative ideas. The stories express solid principles and open-minded attitudes, and a sense of both familiarity and adventure in the face of difficult times.
As the old Eastern European Yiddish-speaking world began to clash with modernity, Yiddish authors created new stories to capture the imaginations of children growing up in times of social and historical upheaval. These stories have largely been overlooked or forgotten, until now. These hidden treasures from the early- and mid-20th-century rich Yiddish literary tradition each provide a satisfying read, while the entire collection runs the gamut of storytelling modes used to bridge new and old worlds. Authors include some of the most respected Yiddish writers of their time, who were known in their homelands and then in America, such as Moyshe Nadir, Jacob Reisfeder, Sonya Kantor, and many others. The ethos binding the stories focuses on messages that continue to ring true today while reinvigorating the idea of values largely usurped from contemporary society.
Audiobook Table of Contents:
What Is Yiddish, Anyway by David Stromberg, read by George Guidall
(excerpt from "In the Land of Happy Tears" read in Yiddish by Shane Baker)
"In the Land of Happy Tears" by Moyshe Nadir, read by Peter Berkrot
"An Autumn Tale" by Leon Elbe, read by Barbara Rosenblat
"Broken In" by Jacob Kreplack, read by Mark Feuerstein
"The Moon and the Little Boy" by Leon Elbe, read by Tara Sands
"The Little Boy with the Samovar" by Jacob Reisfeder, read by Peter Berkrot
"The King Who Licked Honey" by Moyshe Nadir, read by George Guidall
"The Kingdom of Ants and Mushrooms" by Sonya Kantor, read by Barbara Rosenblat
"The Wise Hat" by Moyshe Nadir, read by Tony Roberts
"The Diamond Prince" by Jacob Reisfeder, read by Mark Feuerstein
"The Bird Catcher" by Jacob Kreplack, read by Tony Roberts
"The Paper Kite" by Leon Elbe, read by Mark Feuerstein
"Two Sisters" by Jacob Reisfeder, read by Tara Sands
"A Fight" by Jacob Kreplack, read by Peter Berkrot
"The Broken Mirror" by Moyshe Nadir, read by George Guidall
"A Squirrel's Diary" by Sonya Kantor, read by Barbara Rosenblat
"Gur Aryeh" by Rahcel Shabad, read by George Guidall
"A Treasure in the Snow" by Jacob Reisfeder, read by Tony Roberts
"The Enchanted Castle" by Rachel Shabad, read by Tara Sands
Glossary of Untranslatables, read by George Guidall
Acknowledgments & About the Authors, read by David Stromberg
