מלכה בירושלים

by Tami Shem-Tov, תמי שם-טוב (Author's Hebrew Name), Rachella Sandbank

משתתף במצעד הספרים תשע"ו. מי זה יושב בחצר גדולה ומסתת באבן? "קוראים לי בוריס," הוא אומר לילדה שמסתכלת עליו. "ולמה את עצובה?" כי אמא הבטיחה תחפושת ובסוף לא קיימה. "ולמה תרצי להתחפש?" מלכה יודעת שיש רק תחפושת אחת בשבילה, אבל היא עדיין לא יודעת שעוד רגע קטן אחד תתחיל להתגשם המשאלה שלה: להתחפש למלכה. בירושלים החורפית של תחילת המאה העשרים, מלכה הקטנה מגיעה למקום שבו נעשים נסים ונפלאות, מעשה ידי אדם. מלכה בירושלים הוא הספר השני בסדרת "חלוצים של תרבות", שנוגעת בחייהם של יוצרים שעשו מהפכות קטנות בחיי המדינה שבדרך.

Genres: Picture Books

Audible Audio

Published July 29, 2025

About the author

See also תמי שם-טוב , תמי שם טוב

תמי שם-טוב נולדה בקרית אונו. עבדה כעיתונאית בשבועון 'לאשה' וכעת עוסקת בכתיבה (מחזות וסיפורים) ונפגשת עם ילדים ובני-נוער. ספרה הראשון, "רק בשביל מילי" זיכה אותה בפרס זאב לספרות ילדים ונוער לשנת תשנ"ט. ספרה "מהפכת התפוזים של מתי" עובד על-ידי המחברת למחזה והועלה במסגרת פסטיבל הצגות ילדים בחיפה. ספרה האחרון "ואיך קוראים לך עכשיו" זיכה אותה בשני פרסים: פרס יד-ושם למפעלים חינוכיים ובפרס זאב לספרות ילדים ונוער לשנת תשס"ח.

Reviews

[Kathryn]

I think this works as just pure fantasy wish-fulfillment from a child’s perspective. As a mom, I wanted more of a “moral of the story.” I, personally, didn't really like the little girl's attitude. I can understand her disappointment that her mother did not make her a beautiful Queen Esther costume for Purim as promised, but it's very clear that the mother is overwhelmed and overworked trying to care for the family (there's a new baby) in what appears to be not particularly affluent circumstances in Jerusalem in the early 1900s. I am not blaming the girl for feeling upset and disappointed as this is certainly a natural response but I was hoping she might learn and grow during the story. What happens is that she meets an artist who takes her to an art school where the students make her a beautiful dress and crown so she can be Queen Esther and when she walks back through the streets of Jerusalem, everyone is in awe of her. I didn't understand how the art students had so much time and materials available to spontaneously make this for her. I would have liked her to have somehow realized that it is not the clothes that make the queen or perhaps she could have given the crown to her mother to show she realizes how hard her mother works and that her mother loves her even if she cannot fulfill all her promises? The story is fictitious but artist the girl meets is Boris Schatz, a real artist who started the Bezalel art school in Jerusalem in 1906. There's a brief bio of him in the back, but no Sources. This story didn't really appeal to me as given the girl's attitude, but I am not Jewish and may be missing some context that would have helped me appreciate the overall story better and I welcome comments from those who might be able to explain it better to me.

[Jill H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malka's mother promised she would make her a Queen Esther costume for Purim but she doesn't have time to do so. Malka is disappointed and as she walks along the streets of Jerusalem she see a man hammering on a stone. She finds out his name is Boris and she tells him her story about she doesn't have a costume for the Purim holiday the next day and he leads her to some talent weavers who help make a dream come true for her beyond what she can imagine!

A lot of children will probably be able to understand through this story that the Purim holiday was important to Malka and they can probably eventually apply it to real life of maybe why their family and friends might also get excited about the holiday. They will be able to see how fun it was for Malka to get dressed up participate with the holiday using the costume that was made just for her!

This story does a great job of explaining who the man Boris in the story was and there is also an author's note going into more detail about who he was. Children will learn that not only was Boris a sculptor and painter but he also founded a royal school of art in Bulgaria and an art school in Jerusalem, which sounds like it still exists today.

I received this book free for the purpose of reviewing it.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malka, a young girl in the early 1900s, runs through the streets of Jerusalem in search of a Purim costume fit for a queen. ("Malka" means "queen" in Hebrew.) She comes across a helpful man named Boris (Schatz, founder of the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design). The artisans of Bezalel help create Malka's Purim gown.

I liked the whimsical illustrations, the font, the breezy plot paths, and the surprising inclusion of Bezalel as a central part of the story. I would love to read about Jewish and Israeli art, design, and crafts more in children's stories.

First read: April 2022
Second read: February 2026

[Julie Ditton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautiful picture book is a popular favorite. This historical fiction, which is set in early twentieth century Jerusalem, tells the story of a young girl who is disappointed that her overworked mother did not have the time to make a costume for Purim. This problem will resonate with many youngsters who wish to dress up for the costume parade at their congregation’s Purim celebration. When Malka comes across a sculptor who brings her into an art school, they create a beautiful costume for her. Although the story’s wish fulfillment is pure fantasy, the background is real. This story serves as a framework for a biography of Boris Schatz, a Russian sculptor and painter who opened an art school in Jerusalem called the Bezalel Academy of Arts. Avi Offer’s captivating watercolor illustrations are enchanting. Tami Shem-Tov has written an entertaining story and the backmatter provides biographical information about Schatz.

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a clever way to introduce readers to an historical person who had a dream and worked to make it come true, helping others achieve theirs.

[Joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Storyline is mediocre, but back story of included character Boris Schatz is intriguing.

[Bridget's Quiet Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Purim Malka wants a marvelous costume. She dreams of being Queen Esther. Unfortunately, her mother was too busy doing laundry and taking care of the baby. Malka walked through the streets of her little village thinking about a costume. She met a man hammering a stone. She told him of her dilemma and he offered to help. He ran a school for artists and informed his students that she was in need of a costume fit for a Queen. Weavers created a robe, goldsmiths made a crown, and painters painted a picture of her. Do you think Malka became the Queen Esther, just like she dreamed?

This isn’t just a Purim story or a little girl’s dreams. This story shares community and art. Boris Schatz was a Russian sculptor and painter in 1867. He opened an art school in Jerusalem called the Bezalel Academy of Arts. He was known for a sculpture of Judah Maccabee which was exhibited in Paris. Parents and teachers can use this tool to teach Jewish art, culture and history as well as, faith.