The Many Problems of Rochel-Leah

by Jane Yolen, Felishia Henditirto (Illustrator)

Overview

A "rousing historical tale"—Publisher's Weekly

Once upon a time, girls were not allowed to learn to read. This is the story of a girl who decided to change that.

Inspired by a true story from award-winning author Jane Yolen's family history, The Many Problems of Rochel-Leah is a stirring tale of what it feels like to be denied equality and the persistence it takes to work for change and fair treatment.

More than anything, Rochel-Leah wanted to learn to read. She wanted to read stories, and recipes, and poems that set your hair on fire. But in her small Jewish village in 19th century Russia, only boys learned to read, as they had for centuries. Still, Rochel-Leah was determined. She asked her mother and her aunties, but they couldn't read either. Her father told her to learn to cook instead. She even asked the rabbi, who said there were rules. But Rochel-Leah knew something important—she knew that rules could be changed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681156392
Publisher:	Behrman House, Incorporated
Publication date:	09/03/2024
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.38(w) x 10.88(h) x (d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Jane Yolen’s book count is in the mid 400’s, and she has also written a poem a day for 18 years for subscribers, was a book editor for Alfred Knopf’s children’s books and had her own children’s book imprint for Harcourt Brace. Jane Yolen’s books and stories and poems have won the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, two Christopher Medals, three World Fantasy Awards, three Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards, two Golden Kite Awards, the Jewish Book Award and the Massachusetts Center for the Book award. She has also won the World Fantasy Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Science Fiction Writers of America’s Grand Master Award, the Sydney Taylor Body of Work Award, and the Science Fiction Poetry Associations Grand Master Award (the three together she calls the Trifecta). Plus she has won both the Association of Jewish Libraries Award and the Catholic Libraries Medal. Also the DuGrummond Medal and the Kerlan Award, and the Ann Izard story-telling award at least three times. She began the New England SCBWI regional group and ran it for ten years. She currently splits her time between Hatfield, Massachusetts and Mystic, Connecticut.

Felishia Henditirto has been drawing for as long as she can remember. She has a BFA in graphic design. Her work has been exhibited in the Asian Festivals of Children's Content in Singapore and in the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, Slovakia.  This is her first children's book. When she's not illustrating, she can be found behind a book or helping out in her family's motorcycle shop in Sumedang, Indonesia.

Editorial Reviews

07/22/2024

Yolen draws on family lore to tell this rousing historical tale of a Jewish girl determined to read despite prevailing norms in her 1830s Russian shtetl. “More than anything in the world, more than anything in God’s universe, Rochel-Leah wanted to learn to read.” Approaching various family members for assistance, the protagonist finds that her female relatives haven’t been taught to read, while her male relatives say no or grow bored. A request to the rabbi initially seems another dead end, but after realizing that his ambivalent response leaves an opening, Rochel-Leah begins eavesdropping on lessons until he relents, finding divine will in the child’s drive for literacy. Ribbons of text—in English and Hebrew—wind across Henditirto’s digital renderings, which rely on paper textures and brushwork to create a layered effect that appropriately highlights the illuminating power of reading. An author’s note and glossary conclude. Characters are portrayed with pale skin. Ages 4–7. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Yolen draws on family lore to tell this rousing historical tale of a Jewish girl determined to read despite prevailing norms in her 1830s Russian shtetl. “More than anything in the world, more than anything in God’s universe, Rochel-Leah wanted to learn to read.” Approaching various family members for assistance, the protagonist finds that her female relatives haven’t been taught to read, while her male relatives say no or grow bored. A request to the rabbi initially seems another dead end, but after realizing that his ambivalent response leaves an opening, Rochel-Leah begins eavesdropping on lessons until he relents, finding divine will in the child’s drive for literacy. Ribbons of text—in English and Hebrew—wind across Henditirto’s digital renderings, which rely on paper textures and brushwork to create a layered effect that appropriately highlights the illuminating power of reading. An author’s note and glossary conclude. Characters are portrayed with pale skin. Ages 4–7." —Publisher's Weekly

From the Publisher