Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Gefen Publishing House (2009), 36 pages
Description
What is the best way for travelling musicians to schlep their instruments to a wedding in a faraway village? Why, in an old baby carriage, of course! But when the mischievous carriage takes off by itself and rolls from village to village, oy vey, oy vey, only a sweet klezmer song can save the day. Join the Klezmer Bunch on a bumpy journey all the way to the wedding ceremony and sing along with the happy bride and groom. A wedding like this has never been seen A yidl mit fiddle and violin. The relatives drank vodka Till their beards dropped. And the in-laws gobbled goose and pastrami Till their bellies popped. Amalia Hoffman captures the spirit and soul of klezmer with charming and whimsical illustrations where the music is playfully intertwined with every detail of village life.… (more)
Library's review
A tale of wedding music, featuring the instruments as characters along with the musicians and Eastern European towns. Great, fanciful illustrations. A great deal of Yiddish vocabulary and (silly) humor. - Marla S.
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member firepile
At first, I wasn't entirely sure how LT's Early Reviewer algorithm chose me for this book. I do have a few children's books in my library, and a few books of music, but this still seemed like an odd choice for me. I requested it on a whim, because it looked like a delightful look at at Jewish
I expected the story itself to be the emphasis, but instead, it's the illustrations that really shine. The story is actually really rich and not dumbed-down like some children's stories. There is a glossary at the end to clarify the scattered Yiddish terms appearing in the story proper, but they're placed perfectly in context and invite a discussion between parent and child, setting the stage for a transmission of culture through language (whether it is your culture or not!) The illustrations are wonderful and busy, and I can just imagine a child wanting to examine every little detail. I could almost hear the fiddling in the background. A true sign that I love this book? I want it to be seen by more people, and will actually send it to my niece and nephews who are Jewish so they can enjoy it as much as I did.
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musical culture. Now that I've read it, I'm so glad I was chosen to review this book!I expected the story itself to be the emphasis, but instead, it's the illustrations that really shine. The story is actually really rich and not dumbed-down like some children's stories. There is a glossary at the end to clarify the scattered Yiddish terms appearing in the story proper, but they're placed perfectly in context and invite a discussion between parent and child, setting the stage for a transmission of culture through language (whether it is your culture or not!) The illustrations are wonderful and busy, and I can just imagine a child wanting to examine every little detail. I could almost hear the fiddling in the background. A true sign that I love this book? I want it to be seen by more people, and will actually send it to my niece and nephews who are Jewish so they can enjoy it as much as I did.
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LibraryThing member mamajoan
This is a delightful, whimsical book about a group of klezmer musicians, their instruments, and a baby carriage come to life. I read it with my kids, ages 3 and 6. They both enjoyed it a lot (and I did too). The illustrations are bursting with color and humor, the story is entertaining, and the
The pictures are really beautifully drawn, with lots of little details that I'm sure we'll be perusing again and again, discovering new tidbits each time. The story itself is simple and appealing, and offers some good opportunities for discussion with my older child, particularly about what a Jewish wedding is like. As soon as we had finished reading the book for the first time, my 6-year-old grabbed it from my hands so that he could turn back to his favorite page (read it once and he already has a favorite page!) and take a longer look at the pictures and study the funny words.
This is a great book for kids, especially if you need a break from all the "usual" kid stories. You don't have to be Jewish or know anything about klezmer to enjoy this book (in fact, the author includes some background information about klezmer music at the beginning and end). Recommended.
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bits of song lyrics scattered throughout were fun, especially since I had to make up my own melodies. My older child was delighted by the silly story, while my younger one just enjoyed laughing at the idea of a runaway baby carriage and the pictures of little birds calling for mommy. The pictures are really beautifully drawn, with lots of little details that I'm sure we'll be perusing again and again, discovering new tidbits each time. The story itself is simple and appealing, and offers some good opportunities for discussion with my older child, particularly about what a Jewish wedding is like. As soon as we had finished reading the book for the first time, my 6-year-old grabbed it from my hands so that he could turn back to his favorite page (read it once and he already has a favorite page!) and take a longer look at the pictures and study the funny words.
This is a great book for kids, especially if you need a break from all the "usual" kid stories. You don't have to be Jewish or know anything about klezmer to enjoy this book (in fact, the author includes some background information about klezmer music at the beginning and end). Recommended.
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LibraryThing member BekiLynn
This is a delightful tale told with lyrical language and wonderfully whimsical illustrations. The story of 4 musicians, ready to travel at a moment's notice to villages far and near to provide music for local celebrations, big and small, is filled with laughter and song and countryside romps
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following a baby carriage with a mind of its own. The cover alone pulled me in and I was thrilled with the yiddish language and lore depicted throughout the book. This one is a winner and a keeper for sure, certain to delight readers in the 3-5 range. Show Less
LibraryThing member BeachWriter
Amalia Hoffman is a chronicler of Jewish traditions. In her latest book, The Klezmer Bunch, she attempts to convey some of the rich heritage of klezmer music for younger readers through her illustrations and a simple story that serves primarily as a device for introducing concepts. While the
Klezmer - the word comes from two Hebrew words meaning instrument and song - is the music that has been played for centuries at Jewish weddings and celebrations. Klezmorim - the musicians - traditionally relied on instruments that could be transported easily, violins and clarinets, hammered dulcimers (tsimbl) and smaller percussion instruments.
Hoffman tells the story of a band of klezmorim who are recruited to play at a wedding in neighboring village. They decide to use a baby carriage to carry their instruments, but the carriage has a mind of its own and goes wheeling about the countryside with the desperate musicians in hot pursuit. Will they catch up to the wayward carriage in time to prevent a disaster at the wedding? It is a children's book, after all.
If the story isn't terribly engrossing, the illustrations more than make up for it. With bright colors, cheery animals and smiling musicians, the pages almost vibrate with the infectious spirit of klezmer music. The drawings have a Chagall-like feel that evokes the Jewish villages of 19th century eastern Europe. If they want for anything, it is the happy sound of klezmer music itself. It's too bad the publishers did not choose to include a CD with the book.
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artwork faithfully conveys the rich and joyous nature of the music, the story is less successful.Klezmer - the word comes from two Hebrew words meaning instrument and song - is the music that has been played for centuries at Jewish weddings and celebrations. Klezmorim - the musicians - traditionally relied on instruments that could be transported easily, violins and clarinets, hammered dulcimers (tsimbl) and smaller percussion instruments.
Hoffman tells the story of a band of klezmorim who are recruited to play at a wedding in neighboring village. They decide to use a baby carriage to carry their instruments, but the carriage has a mind of its own and goes wheeling about the countryside with the desperate musicians in hot pursuit. Will they catch up to the wayward carriage in time to prevent a disaster at the wedding? It is a children's book, after all.
If the story isn't terribly engrossing, the illustrations more than make up for it. With bright colors, cheery animals and smiling musicians, the pages almost vibrate with the infectious spirit of klezmer music. The drawings have a Chagall-like feel that evokes the Jewish villages of 19th century eastern Europe. If they want for anything, it is the happy sound of klezmer music itself. It's too bad the publishers did not choose to include a CD with the book.
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LibraryThing member brewergirl
This is a charming book about klezmer musicians traveling to play at a wedding ... complete with instruments and a runaway baby carriage. The pictures are wonderful! There is even a glossary at the back to translate the Yiddish words.
LibraryThing member lquilter
This is a fun children's picture book: A klezmer band is invited to a wedding and a buggy takes off with their instruments. Charming illustrations, brightly colored, and artsy. I appreciated the inclusion of a woman in the klezmer band. Overall, a delightful introduction to Yiddish culture.
LibraryThing member hawkinsfamily
Review of “The Klezmer Bunch” written by Amalia Hoffman
This is a well written children’s picture book with a nice moral for the kids to learn from. The story reminds me of the children’s tale of the goose that people were stuck to as they were all pulled along where the goose and its master
This is a well written children’s picture book with a nice moral for the kids to learn from. The story reminds me of the children’s tale of the goose that people were stuck to as they were all pulled along where the goose and its master
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went. In this case it is escaping musical instruments that people are chasing. The artwork is also well done. Show Less
LibraryThing member nicole_a_davis
An educational story, but not a very engaging story. I can't really imagine kids being excited about it. The Jewish events I have been to or witnessed and the klezmer music I have heard are always so lively and passionate. But this story did not convey to me that passion.
The illustrations were
The illustrations were
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okay--I liked the creative compositions and imaginary details, but the drawing didn't seem very skilled. The people and some of the anthropomorphic creatures (the animals and instruments) were simply funny looking, and funny as if the artist didn't know how to draw people, not because this was her developed style. Show Less
LibraryThing member burnit99
A moderately charming children's book about the Klezmer Bunch, four traveling Jewish musicians who played klezmer music for joyous occasions. Here, they are to play for a wedding in a distant town, and must figure a way to transport their instruments. Some charm and whimsy, but I can't really see
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this being of much interest to any others besides the Jewish child target audience. And even they would probably see it as more of an educational read than a fun one. Show Less
LibraryThing member adaq
This is a fun children's picture book: A klezmer band is invited to a wedding and a buggy takes off with their instruments. Charming illustrations, brightly colored, and artsy. I appreciated the inclusion of a woman in the klezmer band. Overall, a delightful introduction to Yiddish culture.
ISBN
9652294470 / 9789652294470