No problem this year as what to get the children for the
Afikomon. And even if your children are only Hebrew-reading,
they will be able to intuit the information and just love
this new book to pieces. (By next year, the Hebrew version
should be available, new and non-chometzdik!)
Remember Moshe Mendel? You may have met him in his first
appearance, in "Moshe Mendel the Mitzva Maven and his
Amazing Mitzva Quest." If so, this book needs no further
introduction. It is another marvelous production that can
beguile your children for hours, days, weeks, years. You
will never finish exploring the millions of details that
make up this king size book-adventure. I am NOT
exaggerating.
Everyone has their own magical concept of a Candyland
Paradise, but no one can beat supertalented Shiffy A. and
her depiction of Shehakol Castles. You can explore and
explore the double page wonderland, feast your eyes, and
still discover new detail when you open the book again! It's
almost as if it were a live movie! There is a chocolate
drawbridge, a soda bottle fountain that spouts orangeade, a
peppermint gumball cabin, rock candy mountain, icing hill
for skiing, cotton candy trees, a Swiss cheese maze and...
and... and... enough to make you really reel. And that's
only two of the many dozens of magical pages.
This is far from only a fun book. It is a serious halachic
work, researched thoroughly for years, but presented very
PALATABALLY and tastefully. You can browse around -- who can
resist it -- but settle down to study, as well, and get
plenty of healthy hashkofa in the bargain. You can
also quiz yourself through the many imaginative puzzlers
provided in the back. For example, a tickler sends you back
to Mezonos Land:
"Help! The following items have been lost! Can you find them
all?
wallet / pacifier (two) / cellular phone / camera / $100
bill / ball" and so on.
Or: Mitzvos to find in Shehakol Castles:
1. Shiluach haken. 2. Bris mila. 3.
Hashovas aveida and even No. 10: Gid
hanasheh.
A serious work for all of its fun and glamor.
What do some of the experts have to say? Rabbi Noach
Orlowek: "The Wonderful World of Berachos is an
excellent tool for helping children become aware that
everything we experience in this world comes from Hashem and
can be uplifted through berachos, thus enriching our
everyday lives. Sweetness and learning should go together,
and in this book they are twins."
Rebbetzin Ruchoma Shain: "From babies to bubbies... a true
work of art... for everyone who wants to become not only
captivated but also knowledgeable in the halochos of
berachos."
Rabbi Chanoch Teller: "...a feast for the eyes and a delight
for the soul. The author/illustrator has turned her
prodigious creativity and talent to a most worthy
achievement and I have no doubt that families will learn
from and cherish this educational, entertaining volume."
The cover is almost a perfect preview of its contents, with
a magnifying glass smack in the middle of Shehakol Castles.
This really says it all: you will have to examine this book
minutely to taste its full flavor and glean the almost
endless features it offers, from delightful to serious.
Delicious is really the word. Its incredible flavor is both
mouthwatering and mindwatering!
It comes on glossy (washable) paper or laminated. You will
surely find yourself buying one for yourself and others for
those very special gifts. Bubbies -- be prepared to get one
for each family and one for yourself. And to avoid in-
fighting, get yourself a copy of the first one, still
available, "Moshe Mendel the Mitzva Maven and his Amazing
Mitzva Quest."
If your local bookstore is temporarily out of these, they
can be obtained directly from Shiffy at Panim Meirot 1.
Call: 02- 5378645. She can also refer you to others who sell
them in different locales throughout Israel.
A keep busy book at many, many levels, delightful,
informative. Indispensible. Betayavon!
