Joseph and the Sabbath Fish

November 1, 2011

Gr 1-3-In this retelling of an ancient folktale, Joseph loves to celebrate the Jewish Sabbath by inviting friends and strangers to a festive meal each week. Neighbor Judah declares that this is a waste of money and correctly predicts that Joseph's fortunes will suffer. When Judah dreams that his own property will go to Joseph, he tries to escape his fate by converting all of his cash into one large ruby that he sews into his hat before setting sail for foreign shores. Of course, the ship sinks, and Joseph ends up with the fish that ate the ruby, restoring his wealth. Bedraggled Judah, having learned his lesson, ends up back in Israel helping Joseph celebrate the Sabbath with an open heart. Marilyn Hirsh's version of the same folktale, Joseph Who Loved the Sabbath (Viking, l986), has an elegant simplicity that contrasts with Kimmel's heavy detail and more complex story line. The strong folktale elements of the earlier version (poor vs. rich, death of the villain) have been softened in the update, adding some subtlety but losing some impact. The celebration of the Sabbath itself is described in more detail by Hirsh, but has been reduced to a festive meal in Kimmel's version. Both retellings include colorful, stylized illustrations; the rounded style of the new art has more appeal for modern readers. Libraries owning Hirsh's version can consider this update an optional purchase, but for others, it is a solid addition.-Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

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