How Yussel Caught the Gefilte Fish by Charlotte Herman and Katya Krenina

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3
Herman's story of a family's traditional celebration of the Jewish Sabbath suffers from an insubstantial plot. On Yussel's first fishing trip with his Papa he catches three big fish. Although none of the creatures looks like the round fish balls that his Mama makes every Shabbat, the two take them home. Yussel helps Mama prepare the meal, but is unable to understand what makes a gefilte fish. He goes to the synagogue, then shares the Sabbath meal with his extended family. Finally the boy understands that the peace evident in the family's celebration is the "special spice" that transforms a fish into a gefilte fish. The family in Krenina's attractive illustrations is dressed in the style of Eastern-European Jews of the late 19th century. Painted on backgrounds of pale green and shades of beige and brown, their round, stylized faces are reminiscent of paintings from the 1930s and '40s. While the story is well written and nicely illustrated, it seems improbable that a child who watches his mother cook the same meal each week wouldn't know that "gefilte fish" is the name of a cooked dish rather than a kind of fish. And Shabbat peace is a pretty heady ingredient (albeit a magical one) for a plate of fish balls. A marginal purchase.

Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

Ages 5^-8.

Naive Yussel is thrilled when his father takes him fishing but disappointed when he catches only ordinary fish and not a single gefilte fish for Shabbos dinner. His father doesn't care, however. Nor, it seems, does his mother, who lets him in on the joke by allowing him to help her turn his ordinary fish into the treat he's so fond of. Herman weaves a few Yiddish terms into her lovingly told story, which depicts a simpler time gone by. Krenina's artwork seems a trifle stiff, but the deep glowing colors she uses evoke a sense of warmth that perfectly matches the feeling of the story as Yussel comes to understand not only what goes into the making of his favorite dish but also the affection that permeates the holiday at which it is served. A glossary is appended.

Stephanie Zvirin

A young boy accompanies his father for the first time to catch the fish that will be made into gefilte fish for the Sabbath meal. Sunrise, sunset, and candles provide different kinds of light in the illustrations of early morning fishing and festive family meals. The boy's pleasure and excitement and the strong family feeling add up to a Shabbos treat. A recipe is appended. Glos.

This lovely story of tradition and family security has moments both gentle and funny, and a recipe for the main dish. Yussel loves Shabbos. On that day of peace, his parents don't work and they all visit with friends and relatives or go to the park. Yussel's favorite part is the meal of special round balls of gefilte fish. Every week, Papa rises early to catch the strange fish, and every week, Yussel yearns to go with him. One morning, Yussel's wish comes true. Through a tender day at the lake with Papa, Yussel learns exactly what a gefilte fish is. His trip and his ultimate contributions to the family ritual are enhanced by Krenina's fanciful illustrations; these evoke both the excitement of landing the fish and the warm gathering of family that night at sunset. (glossary)

(Picture book. 4-7)

Here is a story that beautifully combines the adventurous spirit of a father-son outing with the quiet inner joy of the Sabbath.

Yussel loves gefilte fish -- those large, delicious fish balls that Mama serves on Friday night at the Shabbos meal. Early every Friday morning, Papa leaves to catch the fish. And now, finally, Yussel is old enough to accompany him. At dawn they set off, and soon Yussel has caught a fat, gold-colored fish. "Nice and zaftig. It reminds me of your Aunt Goldie", says Papa. But since it's not round like a fish ball, Yussel is disappointed it's not a gefilte. And when he catches a trout (lively like cousin Hannah Rose) and a pike (stubborn like Uncle Harry), he's disappointed, too. What will they do without gefilte fish for the Shabbos meal?

In this gently humorous story of wide reach and warm words, Charlotte Herman evokes that remarkable feeling of a child's growing participation in a family occasion. Katya Krenina captures Yussel's moods -- and his final fuller understanding -- with illustrations shot through with the light of early morning and of Shabbos candles.