Ella's Trip to Israel

by Vivian Bonnie Newman, Akemi Gutierrez (Illustrator)

Overview

Excited Ella and her stuffed monkey, Koofi, take a family trip to Israel. Ella enjoys visiting all the
famous places in Israel, but Koofi experiences Israel in his own special way!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781512488500
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/01/2011
Series:	Israel
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	24
File size:	6 MB
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Akemi Gutierrez was an assistant animator for Walt Disney Features, where her films included Mulan, Pocahontas, and Tarzan. Now a full-time children’s book illustrator, drawing and painting are her favorite things to do. Akemi lives in Los Angeles, California.

Vivian Newman has an M.S. in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College of Education and a certificate in Jewish Early Childhood Education from Hebrew College. In addition to writing, she is an Educational Consultant for PJ Library, an initiative of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Her previous chldrens books include EllasTrip to Israel and Tikkun Olam Ted.

Editorial Reviews

"Ella, along with her parents and her stuffed animal Koofi the Kof (monkey), fly to Israel. On the plane Ella spills mango juice on Koofi. As the smiling stewardess wipes the juice off Koofi she says, 'Eyn ba'aya. No problem,' which becomes a refrain throughout this delightful book. Ella and her family visit the Kotel where a boy accidentally rips Koofi's tail to which Ella's mother says, 'Eyn ba'aya,' as she sews the tail back on Koofi. When the family visits an outdoor market in Tel Aviv, Ella drips tahini on Koofi to which her mother exclaims, 'Eyn ba'aya,' as she cleans Koofi's fur. At the Dead Sea, Koofi, along with the other tourists, gets covered in mud and in the Gallil, Ella squirts Koofi with milk as she milks a cow. After each incident the phrase 'Eyn ba'aya' is repeated. When the family returns home and looks at their picture album they realize that Koofi's stained fur is a reminder of the places they visited in Israel. Akemi Gutierrez's pastel watercolor drawings of happy people compliment the text. There is one small inaccuracy in the drawings. Ella's mother wears a green sleeveless blouse and yellow skirt throught the book. She would not have been permitted to approach the kotel without covering her arms. This once inaccuracy does not detract from the enjoyment of the book. It is also curious that there is never a depiction of an Israeli flag at any point. Ella's Trip to Israel is a simple travelogue of Israel for the very youngest readers." —Jewish Book World

From the Publisher

Gr 2—In this playful and appealing picture book, young Izzy is busy inventing a machine that will rid the house of hametz, primarily foods such as bread and grains that are forbidden during Passover. Seeking out all the nibbles and crumbs that have accumulated throughout the year can be daunting, so it's understandable when Izzy's mother says the mere thought of cleaning is giving her a "bread-ache." But Izzy assures her that help is on the way in the form of "His special invention! His brand new machine!/The Super-McDuper Passover McClean!" a robot-type creation that swallows up everything in the room and spits it back out clean and hametz-free. The well-paced, snappy and expressive rhyme is accompanied by watercolor-and-pencil spreads in spring colors that perfectly suit the energetic text. With his plaid shirt, big round glasses, and baseball cap, Izzy looks the part of a child who loves to tinker with stuff in his room, and his McClean is anthropomorphized into a visually amusing character with jagged teeth and a big metal belly. When Izzy, his mother, and his brother sit down for Seder, the house is "Passover clean—not a speck of real bread." Given that many families begin to clean weeks in advance, kids everywhere will be wishing for a Passover McClean of their own.—Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library

School Library Journal