Yossi and the Monkeys: A Shavuot Story

by Jennifer Tzivia MacLeod, Shirley Waisman (Contributor)

Yossi has no money to buy the food and flowers his family needs for Shavuot. He tries selling the kippahs his wife sewed, but he has no luck―until a mischievous monkey shows up. The monkey's antics attract customers and win Yossi's heart . . . but did Yossi's new friend come to stay?

Genres: Jewish, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday

32 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2017

About the author

Jennifer Tzivia MacLeod is the proud mother of four kids (two big and two little). In August 2013, she moved with her family from Toronto, Canada to northern Israel.

Reviews

[Jill H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is meant for parents, teachers, and other people that work with children to read.

Yossi doesn't have enough money for ingredients to make blintzes and braided challahs or to buy his wife flowers for Shavuot. After his wife suggests that they try to sell something to earn money he comes up with an idea to make kippahs. His wife goes to work making the kippahs and Yossi tries his best to sell them, which he is unsuccessful with doing until a monkey comes along. The monkey takes them from Yossi. He makes people laugh as they come across him and Yossi. Since he was wearing a kippah people wonder how much they are and start purchasing them. One day the monkey who Yossi has named Zelig (which means blessing) disappears and Yossi finds him a place that he is respected by his fellow monkey friends.

I liked how both Yossi and his wife worked together with his idea of selling Kippahs so they could have enough money for the Shavuot holiday. It was interesting to learn that Yossi fed Zelig the monkey apples versus bananas.

Zelig the monkey and Zelig's friends will probably make many children laugh at what they do. Children will learn from this book not only what Shavuot is but when King David's birthday is as well.

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

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yossi needed money for Shavout. His family always ate braided challahs and blintzes with cheese. He went to market to sell Kipphas his wife made. A monkey stole his Kippahs and juggled with them. People saw the monkey and wanted to buy the Kipphas. Yossi named the monkey Zelig and they became friends. Soon Yossi had enough money to buy food and flowers for his wife. After a two-day rain Yossi looked for Zelig and discovered he had been with the circus. Would Yossi ever see Zelig again?

Author Jennifer Tzivia MacLeod has created a fun story sharing the Jewish holiday of Shavout. Lively illustrations are hilarious and full of color. Simple sentences make this story an excellent read for any beginner. Parents and teachers can start a discussion about Jewish culture.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing groundbreaking, but fun enough to entertain its target audience. Doesn't really have much to do with Shavuot specifically. The art style is kind of interesting.

[Julie Ditton · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the holiday of Shavuot coming soon, Yossi needs money to by flowers for his wife and ingredients for challah and cheese blintzes for the celebration. His wife suggests that he go to the market to sell her hand made kippahs.(A kippah, or yarmulke, is a small cap worn by Jews as a sign of respect far God.) No one wants to buy his wares, until a monkey appears, puts one on and starts juggling the others. They have great success, and soon Yossi is selling lots of caps and vests. But when the monkey goes missing Yossi find his new friend.at home in the circus Children will love the adorable +illustrations of all the monkeys in this sweet story. Although this story takes place at Shavuot, most of the explanations about the holiday are in the forward. Because of this, the book has a wider appeal. Although a Shavuot story for Jewish children, it can easily be enjoyed by children of any faith all year long.