Allison Marks

Reviewed by Carla Trueheart for Readers' Favorite

A Gefilte Fishy Tale by authors Allison and Wayne Marks is a unique children’s book with a fun theme that should please both children and adults alike! This adorable book opens with a glossary filled with Yiddish words in case the reader is not familiar with some of the terms used in the book. The young reader will learn the meaning behind such words as Mazel Tov, Kugel, Bubbe, Challah, and Oy! After that begins the tale of the jar of Gefilte fish that will not open. The family is looking forward to the Gefilte fish, but because the jar is stuck, an adventure begins to find someone in town who can open up the jar. The family visits a mechanic and a dentist, among others in town, and even enlists the help of their family members. They even ask a bodybuilder to open the jar. Everyone tries and tries, but the jar just won’t open!

Throughout A Gefilte Fishy Tale, authors Allison and Wayne Marks have sprinkled Yiddish words making the book not only fun but also educational. As an adult reader, I picked up some of the language and enjoyed the journey to open the pesky jar of Gefilte fish. The book is beautifully illustrated as well, with pictures that add much to the story and keep the tale going for a young reader. The language is easy and fun, with rhymes that are both clever and humorous. The book concludes with a recipe for Gefilte fish muffins and even a song called Shabbat a Lot. There is much to love about this book, and it is highly recommended for all children or adult readers who want to share the fun adventure with their children, grandchildren, or other youngsters in their lives!… (meer)

Marks, A. & Marks, W. (2017). The Art Lesson: A Shavuot Story. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Kar-ben Publishing.

This story is about a little girl named Shoshanna. She loves creating beautiful works of art with her grandmother. One day, during their weekly art lesson, Grandma Jacobs showed Shoshanna a special way of folding and cutting paper. This technique is traditionally used to make window hangings in order to celebrate the holiday of Shavuot. Shoshanna tried over and over to replicate the lovely design that her grandmother had made, but she couldn’t quite manage. After Shoshanna grew frustrated, her Grandmother looked at her work and helped Shoshanna see that what she’d created might not have been what she’d set out to make, but that it was beautiful all the same. Shoshanna took her creations home and decorated her room for Shavuot. Years later, when Shoshanna is grown up, she teaches her granddaughter how to make the same paper hangings. This book is suitable for children ages 3-8 years.… (meer)