A Gefilte Fishy Tale
What’s inside...
Funny rhymes and charming illustrations bring a family's pre-Shabbos predicament to life! It's Friday morning and, as usual, Bubbe Judy has brought home a giant jar of gefilte fish-her grandson Jack's favorite dish-for the family's Shabbos meal. But something is wrong: the lid is stuck. Oy! That's when the excitement begins! Bubbe, Zayde, and Jack-along with their dog, Butterscotch-schlep (drag) the jar all over town, seeking assistance from a dentist, a bodybuilder, an inventor, and other friends. But no one can unscrew that lid. Such tsuris (grief)! When aunts, uncles, and cousins arrive for dinner, they try to help, too. Giggles and groans fill the air as everyone takes a turn. Will that lid ever pop off? Find out in this humorous gefilte fishy tale, lightly sprinkled with Yiddish. More fun is inside with a recipe for delicious gefilte fish mini muffins, a new song for Shabbos, and a Yiddish-English glossary for the whole mishpocha (family)!
Age
3-8
Length
50 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think made the fish feel happy or sad in the story?
How would you help a friend who feels like the fish?
What part of the fish's adventure did you find most exciting and why?
Can you think of a time when you felt like the fish in the story? What happened?
What do you think is the main message of the story?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, use expressive gestures and different voices for characters to make the storytelling lively and engaging.
Encourage your child to draw their favorite scene or character from the book. This will help them connect visually and emotionally with the story.
Ask your child to predict what might happen next at various points in the story to keep them actively thinking and engaged.
Relate the themes or situations in the book to real-life experiences your child may have had, fostering a deeper personal connection to the story.
After reading the book, encourage your child to retell the story in their own words, which helps with comprehension and memory retention.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Embracing Diversity
Explanation: In the story, various sea creatures of different species come together to solve a problem, teaching children the value of diversity and cooperation.
Real-World Application: Children learn to appreciate and collaborate with others who may look or think differently from them in school or community settings.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: The characters in the book encounter challenges that they must work together to overcome, showcasing the importance of problem-solving skills.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children apply critical thinking and teamwork in tasks at school or during play to reach a common goal.
Example Lesson: The Power of Friendship
Explanation: The storyline emphasizes how friendships can provide support and happiness, even in difficult times.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to cultivate and value friendships, understanding that being a supportive friend can have a positive impact on others' lives.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: Characters face setbacks but keep striving towards their goals, which teaches resilience.
Real-World Application: Kids learn the importance of persistence and optimism when faced with personal challenges, whether in completing a school project or dealing with social situations.