Talia and the Haman-tushies

  • Interest Level: Preschool - Grade 2
  • Reading Level: Grade 1

It’s almost Purim, and Talia’s sure that Grandma said they’re going to bake “haman-tushies.” Eww!

But as Talia helps Grandma with the recipe and learns the story of Purim—from the bravery of Queen Esther to the schemes of wicked Haman—she discovers a lot about these holiday cookies that she didn’t know. The third in Marshall’s play-on-words Talia stories including Talia and the Rude Vegetables and Talia and the Very YUM Kippur. The book includes a recipe for Hamantaschen at the end.

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Interest Level Preschool - Grade 2
Reading Level Grade 1
Genre Picture Books, Social Studies
Copyright 2017
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Kar-Ben Publishing ®
Language English
Number of Pages 24
Publication Date 2017-01-01
Text Type Fiction
BISACS JUV033020, JUV017090
Dewey [E]
Graphics Full-color illustrations
Dimensions 10.625 x 8.875
Lexile 570
Features Reviewed

Author: Linda Elovitz Marshall

Linda Elovitz Marshall is an award-winning author of almost thirty books for children. Linda's Jewish-themed books include Talia and the Rude Vegetables, Talia and the Very YUM Kippur, Talia and the Haman-Tushies, and The Mexican Dreidel. Her work has been translated into almost a dozen languages and adapted for dance, theater, and radio. She lives in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State and in New York City.

Illustrator: Francesca Assirelli

Francesca Assirelli studied painting at the Accademia delle Belle Arti in Naples. She has illustrated many Italian, French, and English children's books, including Talia and the Rude Vegetables and Talia and the Very YUM Kippur. She loves children and animals, especially squirrels!

Reviews

The Jewish Chronicle

“Giggles guaranteed for ages three to five.”—The Jewish Chronicle

Jewish Book Council

“In this next installment in this picture book series about misheard words and Jewish life, Talia visits her Grandma around Purim time, and Grandma tells her the story of Purim while they make Hamantaschen together. Talia thinks Grandma has called them ‘Haman-tushies,’ which she plans never to eat because they sound so yucky. Much to her relief, Grandma sets her straight in the end, explaining that they really are ‘Haman’s pockets,’ and Talia and her grandmother then enjoy the delicious cookies together.

Grandma’s version of the Purim story is very simple, leaving out all the potentially unpleasant parts about Queen Vashti and about how Haman was hanged in the end. The meaning of the story comes through though, and this version would be appropriate for children ages 4 to 8.

The illustrations, which appear to have been made from paintings, are clear with a cheerful palette and make the story easy to follow for young children. There is also a recipe for Hamantaschen at the end, which would be a great follow-through activity for young readers and their adult companions.”—Jewish Book Council