The Schmutzy Family

PreS-Gr 1—This delightful picture book chronicles a week in the life of the Schmutzy family, focusing on the mother and her six children. True to their name, the Schmutzys relish messiness, whether they're playing with mud pies or jam. Doting Mom-the star of the story-wades in the swamp with her brood and doesn't bat an eyelash at the sight of frogs in the sink or handprints on the wall. At the end of the sticky, sloppy week, the family scrubs the house and themselves for Shabbos dinner. Children of all backgrounds will relate to this story of preparing for a formal meal and all the restraint and self-control involved in a sit-down dinner. The dramatic contrast between the Schmutzys' everyday life and their Sabbath will invite discussions about the differences between "clean" and "dirty" and the time and place for each one. Readers will laugh at the antics of the children and their dog. Rosenberg's text is elegant, affectionate, and humorous. Meisel's cartoonlike watercolor-and-ink illustrations sprawl across the borderless pages, embodying the story's creative expansiveness. Children will enjoy picking out details not mentioned in the text, like raccoons and salamanders peeking out of corners. The glossary defines words like "schmutz" and "challah," but context clues make the vocabulary understandable to all. This book explores Jewish traditions in a unique and vibrant way, offering a loving portrait of a freewheeling family many readers will wish they had.—Jess deCourcy Hinds, Bard High School Early College, Queens, NY