Zishe the Strongman

September 15, 2010
Grades K-3 Based on a true biography, this picture book in warm sepia tones tells of a Polish Jew who emigrated to the U.S. in the early twentieth century and became a famous circus strongman. The story begins dramatically; on the opening spread, Zishe uses his teeth and a leather strap to haul a wagonload of 10 men down Manhattans Fifth Avenue before a cheering crowd. Then Rubinstein tracks back to Zishes childhood as the son of a poor blacksmith in Lodz, Poland. At three, Zishe could swing a nine-pound hammer. A few years later, he could bend a metal bar with his hands. With all his strength, he was gentle, too; one spread shows him playing cello for children in the local hospital. His reputation as the heroic Samson attracted crowds as he traveled across Europe, continuing his amazing feats in the U.S. A back page fills in more of the biographical details. This title makes a lively addition to other stories of Yiddish immigration.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)