Barbakoff

A joyous modern-day twist on a Wise Men of Chelm folktale written by a fresh Jewish voice filled with humor, some juicy Yiddish terms, and smart, savvy kids brimming with innovative solutions.

＂An enjoyable, rollicking read. Fun by the light of the moon--or anytime.＂ --Kirkus Reviews

Oy, Chelm. Long known as home to the ＂wisest＂ people in Yiddish folklore. But what is Chelm like today? What if the kids were more clever than the rest of the townsfolk?

When the misguided adults of modern-day Chelm believe the moon has plunged into the lake, it’s up to the Schlemiel siblings to convince the grown-ups that their fears of a fallen moon are unfounded.

Join Sarah and Sam in this hilarious twist on a classic Yiddish folktale as they use teamwork, innovation and patience to save the day...and night!

Here is a book that will expand young readers’ knowledge of Jewish culture beyond holidays, history, and the Holocaust.

Audrey Barbakoff is a librarian and CEO. She is the author of Twelve Steps to a Community-Led Library (forthcoming) and Adults Just Wanna Have Fun: Programs for Emerging Adults. After a decade in public libraries, she founded Co/Lab Capacity to help libraries center their diverse communities. She holds a Doctor of Education and a Master of Library and Information Science. Her writing draws on her identity as a Jewish woman and passion for revitalizing Yiddish language, humor, and stories. Audrey lives with her husband, 3-year-old son, and chickens in Bainbridge Island, WA.

Rotem Teplow is a freelance illustrator living and working in Israel. She graduated from Shenkar College of Design and currently works with publishers, newspapers and magazines worldwide, including Kar-Ben Publishing, Little Bee, Groundwood Books, and Kalaniot Books.