Miriam in the Desert

September 6, 2010
What happened to biblical heroine Miriam after her big moment on the shores of the Red Sea? In these pages, as seen through the eyes of her adoring grandson Bezalel, she's become an elegant, white-haired mother figure to the Israelites, reassuringly unshakable in her faith. And like any good grandmother—Jewish or not—she's a one-woman cheering section for her grandson's talents, foreseeing that Bezalel will design the legendary Ark of the Covenant. But Jules never quite makes a case for her heroine assuming center stage; the miraculous appearance of Miriam's Well slips by almost unnoticed, and for the most part, the prophetess is reduced to offering platitudes and play-by-play commentary ("Moses will bring us two stone tablets," she says as her brother climbs Mount
Sinai. "They will contain God's laws"). Ugliano's palette of blues, oranges, and greens exudes maternal warmth, and the compositions' curvilinear lilt is fitting for a character with such strong associations to music making and dancing. But it's probably not enough to dissuade readers from the belief that the real action is taking place between God and Moses. Ages 5–9.

August 1, 2010

Miriam, Moses's sister, is featured in the fourth in Jules's Bible series, offering encouragement and guidance to the Israelites as they continue their seemingly endless thirst- and hunger-filled journey through the desert following their escape from Egypt. Miriam's belief in God's miracles quells the groups' negative complaints. "Miracles, miracles / Praise God's might! / We see miracles / Day and night." Sweet water and manna wondrously appear to satisfy each one before the travelers reach the mountain of Sinai to receive God's Ten Commandments. Bezalel, the artist chosen by God to build the Holy Ark, is represented here as Miriam's grandson (and the narrator of the tale), who plays a crucial role in developing a new spiritual future for the Jews. Deeply colored pastel-and-acrylic double-page paintings effectively portray a legendary biblical setting in a guileless and unsophisticated style; the deep ochres and blues of the desert landscape provide a warm backdrop that takes the edge off the misery of the Israelites. They effectively match the original and simple dialogue-driven text. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-7)

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