The Schmutzys live in the country, so from Sunday to Thursday the children’s creative play means mud pies in the kitchen and frogs in the sink. But as the week comes to a close, it’s a different story: on Friday the kids clean up the enormous mess and help Mama prepare for Shabbat, and on Saturday the squeaky clean family goes to shul (synagogue).
This book has so much going for it, from the energetic, modern illustrations to the use of Yiddish (defined in a glossary), and from new vocabulary (“malodorous”!) to the repetition and alliteration that are great in a readaloud for 3- and 4-year-olds. We also appreciated that The Schmutzy Family avoids gender stereotypes. But what won us over most of all is the book’s empowering message that no matter where you live, or how you live, Judaism can be a part of your family’s life. After all, if the Schmutzy family can do it, anyone can!
July 18, 2018