The Little Crooked Bookshelf

I KNOW AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A DREIDEL
by Caryn Yacowitz
illustrated by David Slonim
(Arthur A. Levine Books 2014)

This week's pick is from Cottager Anika Denise.

What it's all about ...
A raucous take on the beloved folk song; in this rendition: Bubbe swallows an errant Chanukah dreidel… and hilarity ensues.

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf …
In the pantheon of Chanukah books, many (lovely ones) focus more solemnly and reverently on the holiday's history and beloved traditions. This is not that book. It's a funny, silly, irreverent read-aloud, which just so happens to pack in a heap of traditional Chanukah trappings too. Further adding to the zany appeal, is illustrator Slonim's nod to iconic works of art on each spread—such as Edvard Much's The Scream, Warhol's Soup Cans, and Andrew Wyeth's Christina's World, to name just a few.

My favorite lines …
"I know an old lady who swallowed a dreidel,
A Chanukah dreidel she thought was a bagel. . . .
Perhaps it's fatal."


My favorite illustration…

Why kids will love it ...
It's a super funny book. And young readers interested in art history will appreciate identifying the famous works of art parodied in its pages.


Why grown-ups will love it …
Ideal for one-on-one reading, or holiday story times, this modern classic is sure to please, with gags for grown ups and kiddos alike.