Once upon a time, girls were not allowed to learn to read. This is the story of a girl who decided to change that.
Award-wining author Jane Yolen mines her family history to bring us this stirring tale of what it feels like to be denied equality and the persistence it takes to work for change and fair treatment.
More than anything, Rochel-Leah wanted to learn to read. She wanted to read stories, and recipes, and poems that set your hair on fire. But in her small Jewish village in 19th century Russia, only boys learned to read, as they had for centuries. Still, Rochel-Leah was determined. She asked her mother and her aunties, but they couldn't read either. Her father told her to learn to cook instead. She even asked the rabbi, who said there were rules. But Rochel-Leah knew something important--she knew that rules could be changed.
"Rochel-Leah wants to learn to read, but she lives in a Russian shtetl in 1830. Only boys learn to read. When no one will teach her, she spies on the boys' school. The rabbi decides to bend the rules. Eventually she becomes a teacher. This picture book is a delight! The illustrations are full-page color and gorgeous, displaying the time period and community, as well as Rochel-Leah's passion for literacy. The vocabulary is simple, with a few Hebrew words. End notes explain those words and the author's relationship to Rochel-Leah. Ages 4-7."--Historical Novel Society
"Despite her deep desire to read the Torah like her brothers and the poetry her papa cherishes, Rochel-Leah's dreams are out of reach. Growing up in a small shtetl in 1930s Russia, for her the cultural expectation is clear: education is for boys only. Not ready to accept that these rules can never be adjusted, Rochel-Leah seeks the help of both her parents and her rabbi. But when none of them can provide a solution, Rochel-Leah takes matters into her own hands. With determination, resourcefulness, and a little dose of creativity, Rochel-Leah finally finds the answer she is looking for. Yolen spins a powerful tale of perseverance and the pursuit of knowledge. Told with a careful balance between illustrations and well-patterned text, themes of gender equity and importance of education are evident throughout, according to the author's note, "true-ish" story. Jewish cultural elements are folded into the narrative as well, with context clues always skillfully incorporated. Color and shape are used adeptly throughout to gently whisper messages of hope that pierce the darkness of Rochel-Leah's current situation. Thoughtful design considerations, such as font size and layout, elevate the text and illustration, making this story an excellent choice for sharing and discussing. VERDICT With important themes, and careful crafting, this is worth considering for most libraries."--School Library Journal
Jane Yolen's book count is in the mid 400's, and she has also written a poem a day for 18 years for subscribers, was a book editor for Alfred Knopf's children's books and had her own children's book imprint for Harcourt Brace. Jane Yolen's books and stories and poems have won the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, two Christopher Medals, three World Fantasy Awards, three Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards, two Golden Kite Awards, the Jewish Book Award and the Massachusetts Center for the Book award. She has also won the World Fantasy Association's Lifetime Achievement Award, the Science Fiction Writers of America's Grand Master Award, the Sydney Taylor Body of Work Award, and the Science Fiction Poetry Associations Grand Master Award (the three together she calls the Trifecta). Plus she has won both the Association of Jewish Libraries Award and the Catholic Libraries Medal. Also the DuGrummond Medal and the Kerlan Award, and the Ann Izard story-telling award at least three times. She began the New England SCBWI regional group and ran it for ten years. She currently splits her time between Hatfield, Massachusetts and Mystic, Connecticut.
Felishia Henditirto has been drawing for as long as she can remember. She has a BFA in graphic design. Her work has been exhibited in the Asian Festivals of Children's Content in Singapore and in the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, Slovakia. This is her first children's book. When she's not illustrating, she can be found behind a book or helping out in her family's motorcycle shop in Sumedang, Indonesia.
Apples & Honey Press
Target Age: 4-7
Pub Date: September 03, 2024
0.4" H x 10.4" L x 8.1" W
32 pages
hardcover