I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Dreidel

by Caryn Yacowitz, David Slonim (Illustrator)

Overview

You've never seen Hanukkah or the "I Know an Old Lady" story like this before . . . through hilarious takes on the world's greatest works of art!

A family drives through the snow to visit their beloved bubbe, who spreads out a Chanukah supper for everyone to enjoy. But one dish goes a little wrong:

"I know an old lady who swallowed a dreidel
A Chanukah dreidel she thought was a bagel...
Perhaps it's fatal."

Indeed, Bubbe's first bite leads to an insatiable taste for oil, latkes, applesauce, gelt -- even menorahs! But as the family tries to distract her from her gluttony, the items she devours grow ever larger. Will they be able to reconnect with her and bring her home for the last night of Chanukah -- or will her feasting in fact be fatal?
Beyond the joy of a Jewish take on this most American of folk songs, the illustrations here offer hilarious parodies of great works of art by da Vinci, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hopper, Rockwell, Matisse, Picasso, and other masters--adding a whole new layer of humor and culture to the familiar tune. You'll love this old lady, and want to visit her every Chanukah for years to come.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780439915304
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	08/26/2014
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	95,129
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	AD950L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Caryn Yacowitz is the author of PUMPKIN FIESTA, illustrated by Joe Cepeda, and THE JADE STONE: A CHINESE FOLKTALE, illustrated by Ju-Hong Chen. She lives in Palo Alto, CA. Please visit her website at www.carynyacowitz.com

David Slonim's many children's books include HE CAME WITH THE COUCH, I LOATHE YOU, and MOISHE'S MIRACLE, a NEW YORK TIMES Best Illustrated Books selection. He lives with his family in Chesterfield, Indiana. Please visit his website at www.davidslonim.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 09/15/2014
This isn’t just a holiday-themed spoof of the classic cumulative song—Slonim (Digger, Dozer, Dumper) takes readers through a nothing-sacred salute to art history. It all begins as the old lady gulps down a growing litany of Jewish-related food and nonfood items (brisket, candles) in search of a remedy for the triggering mishap of the title; she inadvertently swallows a “Chanukah dreidel she thought was a bagel” after her cat knocks it onto the cream cheese–schmeared item. All the while, Slonim’s illustrations parody, among others, Hopper’s Nighthawks, Wyeth’s Christina’s World, Munch’s The Scream, and van Gogh’s Starry Night, complete with menorah. An artist’s note at the back identifies all of the original works. It’s meshugenah in the best sense of the word. Ages 4–8. Author’s agency: Adams Literary. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

10/01/2014
K-Gr 3—This version of the familiar cumulative song is given a humorous twist: "I know an old lady who swallowed a dreidel, a Chanukah dreidel she thought was a bagel…Perhaps it's fatal." The song progresses through various traditional foods and symbols, such as oil, latkes, brisket, gelt, and candles, all leading to a large non-fatal "BURP!" Following the original rhyming scheme calls for some verbal acrobatics, which the author handles well, with the exception of substituting "some sauce" for applesauce. Slonim makes an intriguing decision to base the cartoon pictures on famous works of art. "I wanted the art parodies to help the book transcend Chanukah, speaking to the universal human experience of family gatherings and celebrations." So, the old lady is depicted as a winking Mona Lisa, while her family appears in American Gothic and a menorah lights up Van Gogh's The Starry Night. This artistic "what-is-it" adds another layer to the book that is generally appealing and occasionally irksome (the old lady as the young woman in Wyeth's Christina's World.) Still, given the over-the-top silliness of the song, adding a visual game to it doesn't seem excessive and might just spur young readers to locate the original works. A unique addition that could generate a few parodies of its own. Includes an artist's note.—Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library

School Library Journal

2014-08-12
The old folk song is given a Hanukkah spin in a parody that blends Jewish tradition with art appreciation. The kerchiefed grandma swallows a tiny dreidel placed atop her cream-cheesed bagel by the family cat, setting off the familiar chain of events. She swallows the oil, the latkes, 10 barrels of applesauce, a 20-ton brisket, a "mine full of gelt, before it could melt," the menorah and candles until she is finally full. A large burp makes her feel better. The silliness, cadence and rhythm of the verse all work with the original tune; it can be a tongue twister at times but will keep kids engaged. "I know an old lady who swallowed a menorah— / A mountainous menorah, while we danced the hora." Acrylic-based drawings using charcoal, pen and pencil place this bubbe in various scenes taken from classical paintings, providing an educational twist. She appears in comical versions of Munch's The Scream and Vermeer's The Milkmaid. The applesauce in a red-and-white can spoofs Andy Warhol's Campbell Soup Cans, and the menorah is set against the background of van Gogh's The Starry Night. Adults will see the humor but might wonder about the artist's point in his note stating that "a new look at famous works of art seemed like the perfect way to help people of all backgrounds enjoy this fresh take on an ancient holiday." Fun, in an odd sort of way. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews