What Zeesie Saw on Delancey Street

by Elsa Okon Rael

Book Overview

Zeesie feels very grown-up indeed For on this night, her seventh birthday, Zeesie is going to her first package party with Mama and Papa. She even has a brand new dress and a dollar bill -- her birthday gift -- all for herself The package party is grand, with great towers of wrapped surprise packages to be auctioned to raise money for other new immigrants to the community. Such wonderful smells, tastes, and sounds, and oh, so much to see... But as Zeesie soon discovers, not everything and everyplace is meant to be explored, and what she does see that night on Delancey Street leaves her with a new knowledge about giving and receiving.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689805497
• ISBN13: 9780689805493
• Release Date: October 1996
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 10.3" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 5 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Absolutely outstanding

This would be a fine book even if it were only a well-executed example of those "learn about a culture" books. But it is much more. The book teaches -- without the heavy-handed EXPLANATIONS that so often destroy the flow and writing and make the whole thing seem so artificial -- about Jewish values and the complexities of social responsibility, justice and dignity, without ever TELLING them to the reader. The author lets the story speak for itself, and the message comes through all the more clearly, not less, for her forbearance. Just terrific. Worth the price for the kids on your list (and I don't think it's only appropriate for under-eights).

Excellent!

This is an oustanding book for children. My daughter received it as a gift, and it is one of those rare books that adults feel delivers a powerful message, but children love anyway! The book gives an interesting look at an immigrant Jewish community without ever being pedagogical, and, even better, teaches a wonderful philosophy of social justice and "charity" without being in the least preachy and (even rarer) without stating in words the point the story has just made. You will love this one