Once Upon a Shabbos

by Jacqueline Jules

Bears don’t live in Brooklyn, but both Shira and Jacob encounter one on their trip to the store to buy honey for Bubbe’s Shabbos kugel. This whimsical fairy tale will tickle the funny bone and teach a few Yiddish words in the process.

Genres: Jewish

Paperback

First published June 28, 1998

About the author

I am a children's author, teacher, librarian, and poet. My books include the Zapato Power series, the Sofia Martinez series, Pluto is Peeved, Unite or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation, Duck for Turkey Day, Never Say a Mean Word Again, and Feathers for Peacock. Please visit me at http://www.jacquelinejules.com

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming back a year after writing my initial review to say that this is by far THE best book I’ve read in my three year old classroom. It’s a simple story, with Bubbe realizing she has no honey for her Shabbos kugel and sending her loved ones to get it for her. One by one, each one is met by a bear, who demands that they “give me your honey or I’ll eat you up!” Each time, they hand it over and run to Bubbe, who responds with skepticism and sends the next one. Its repetitive plot and language is perfect for my students, who smile and laugh at all the same parts every week (“uh oh, Jacob doesn’t see the bear!”) and love saying it along with me. I had a parent send me a video of her child saying “are you meshuge? There are no bears in Brooklyn!” at home! My students request this book every Friday - it’s become a staple of the Shabbos circle we look forward to every week, complete with the dinosaur and chicken soup for Shabbat songs. I’ve tried to read a few other classics but this is the one we always come back to! They laugh at the last page every time - “the bear is wearing a kippah!” - and we speculate about letting a bear come into our homes of classroom for Shabbat. Absolutely one of the best books for preschool. I’ve even said it over (after years of reading it every Friday you have it close to memorized!) for middle schoolers and they loved it! Just an all-around great book that I recommend for any preschool class. Yes, it’s a bit longer than I’d normally read with my threes, but they absolutely adore it. I can’t recommend it enough!

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

A darling book with a story that provides an opportunity to introduce some Yiddish words to the reader, along with a message that ferocious-seeming folks may be lonely or sad and in need of compassion. This one went straight into the Little Free Library for the neighborhood kids to enjoy.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute story about a bear, lost in brooklyn, that meets up w/a v.new york bubbe.
i'd have liked it better w/a pronounciation guide for the yiddish words. i'm afraid of what the book would sould like if i tried to read it aloud.

[Chris Aldrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining bit of cultural literature.